History: Volvo B59

The Volvo B59 was a rear-engined bus chassis manufactured by Volvo Buses in Sweden between 1970 and 1979

History

The first Volvo B59 was built for Københavns Sporveje (The City Transport Authority in Copenhagen, Denmark) in 1970. The bodywork of this bus was built by Aabenraa Karrosseriefabrik in Aabenraa. Although this was a prototype it entered ordinary service but was later withdrawn and purchased by Volvo for preservation at the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg.

Operators

Australia

• Brisbane, Australia. 98 buses were acquired by the Brisbane City Council and placed in service between 1976 and 1978
• Adelaide, Australia. 307 buses were placed in service between 1977 and 1979 by the State Transit Authority. Bus no 1002 was sent to Sweden for almost two years as a demonstrator))
• Melbourne, Australia. 100 buses acquired by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board

Denmark

• Københavns Sporveje (The City Transport Authority in Copenhagen, Denmark). At least 89 buses were purchased

Italy

• The Italian city of Rimini through ATAM acquired 17 trolleybuses built on the Volvo B59 chassis. The electric equipment for this version was provided by Ansaldo while the bodywork was fitted by Mauri. The buses were delivered between 1975 and 1978 and were used on the Rimini-Riccione trolleybus line.

United Kingdom

• Only one Volvo B59 was built to UK specification, with Marshall bodying a demonstrator for Ailsa Bus, the UK Volvo dealers, in 1972. It was demonstrated across the country, but compared with the Leyland National, it was too expensive with no orders placed. Subsequent operators included Parks of Hamilton and Stag Garage of Lochgilphead.

Others

Volvo B59's were sold also in:

• Belgium
• France
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• Switzerland

Versions

• Trolleybus version built for the city of Rimini with Ansaldo electric equipment and Mauri bodywork

Specifications

Successor

The Volvo B59 was succeeded by the B10R

Further reading

List of Buses
Volvo Buses