AYATS: The Story of Spain's Unique Motorcoach and Bus Builder! [Spanish Bus History]

[@siwynjones]

Those 80s Ayats coaches were gorgeous; modern lines with just enough chrome. We had a handful of Apollos and a Diana imported into the UK, and they must’ve been a sight to behold. Another great video, Jeffrey.

[@StephenAllcroft]

The Diana and the first two Apolos were on Magirus - Deutz chassis, the only ones in the UK at the time. Another pioneering feature of that generation of Ayats bodies was the power-operated luggage hold doors.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, they look like very beautiful coaches! Thanks for watching!

[@paulbennell3313]

Never heard of AYATS before. Beautifully, brilliantly bonkers! Thanks for bringing them to my attention.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Glad you liked the video!!! Thanks for watching!

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

We made a few trips in Spain in the early 1970's, and as a 12 year old child I remember how nice and comfortable their coaches were. The nearest coaches that I can compare in the video are those at 5.40 to 5.55. Never saw any of the chromed ones. One thing I remember rather vaguely is that some of the coaches had single wheels at the back rather than duallies. ☘

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, those coaches from the 1970s look real comfortable as well as having a great design! Thanks for watching again!!

Wow! Those 1950s and 1960s Ayats coaches are the most beautiful I've ever seen. That era was truly the pinnacle of automotive design. Hopefully, some of those coaches have been preserved in museums because nothing like that will ever be created again.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, they were beautiful! But it's doubtful any have survived, unfortunately. Thanks for watching!

[@crabbymilton390]

Amazing how many bus builders all over the world. Thanks for showing us Jeffery.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Oh yes, there's probably more than we can imagine!! Thanks for watching!

[@JTA1961]

Obvious that up until fairly recently storage was up top with pepo down below... not trying to criticize but I really had to stop & go back many times so I could appreciate the magnificent versions of each model. So much personality & pride invested. Well before arrival of the dreaded bean counters .

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thank you so much again!!!! I appreciate it so much!!! Oh yes, those buses were beautiful...we will never see anything like that again...but at least we have pictures!! Thank you again!!!

[@thestocktonflyer4059]

Amazing looking coaches 👌 Jeff thank you for bringing them to us 😊 keep up the great work 👍

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, they are really great looking! Thanks for watching once again!!

[@fraserjamieson8343]

Wow!!! Absolutely gorgeous!!! These reminded me of the buses of Malta as reported on in Road & Track Magazine many years ago. Truly breathtaking. Keep up the great work Jeffrey!!! Totally loving this series.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Fraser! Oh yes, the "juke box" buses on Malta! They were great! Glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!

[@1208bug]

Thank you Jeffery, really cool chrome busses! It would have been awesome to have a motor home version😊👍

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, that definitely would have been awesome! Thanks for watching!!

[@mootpointjones8488]

Fascinating, thank you 👍

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Jeffrey, I had a good laugh with your video today! Don't take me wrong, you didn't say anything wrong. See that gorgeous AEC monocoach with the Ayats body that you showed at 0:16 and then at 4:52 and finally at 8:00? Well, it was so funny when you said that teh best one could be found in Spain at 0:16 and show that amazing bus with Portuguese license plate, in Braga! You know, historical rivalry between the 2 countries, nothing serious. It was nice to see that classic bus from Viação Auto Motora António Magalhães & Cª, they were acquired much before my time but they used to operate where I live. Thank you for the good memories!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thank you for your comment and the additional info! Well, no matter where it is, it is still an Ayats from Spain!! Thanks for watching!!

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

@@JeffreyOrnstein exactly and still a gorgeous looking coach

[@jamesfrench7299]

Wish I'd known those were AECs. The most car looking AECs ever. Figures it was Portugal a big AEC market.

[@paulconnolly8662]

Thanks once again Sir, for a very informative and well researched overview of a company which has produced some fantastic designs over many years.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thank you for your very positive comment, and thanks again for watching!!

[@derekantill3721]

Thanks for this history of Ayats a name familiar to me. I never knew the history before.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

I'm really glad you liked the video!! Thanks for watching!

[@geoffbuck6890]

I always thought the Apollo was an extremely stylish body with the forward swept ‘B post’ giving a beautifully dynamic look - it was a coach which appeared to be travellling at high speed when at rest.😄 I seem to remember however that they had a few problems with electrical fires (?) Another excelllant, informative, and enjoyable video Jeffers - thanks…

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video, and thanks for your insight into the Apollo! Thank you very much for watching!!!

[@geebs76]

Nice job Jeffrey, I really enjoyed this episode. I was not familiar with Ayats and they sure had some beautiful buses. I particularly liked the one at 3:52. Is there any chance of you doing an episode in the future on the colorful old buses in Samoa? I believe the majority are Toyota bonnet buses from the 50's.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really happy you enjoyed the video! I will look into the buses in Samoa. Thanks for watching!

[@jeffclark2725]

They sure liked The Glamourous look compared to the utility look seen all over the rest of the world, lots of years covered ,great video

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, they were very beautiful buses! Thanks for watching!

[@peterwainwright576]

Jeffrey Another brilliant video! Really enjoyed it. Shame I have never seen any of these buses as they look superb.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Peter! I'm really happy you liked the video! Thanks for watching!

[@davidrussell8689]

Well researched video . Wow ! So much chrome work , they’re never go rusty 😂

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

I'm happy you liked the video!!! Thanks for watching!

[@sleepwalker8600]

These videos are great, particularly enjoyed this one as I’ve been to Girona and the Catalan region of Spain a few weeks ago.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

I'm really glad you liked it!!!! Thanks for watching!

[@sleepwalker8600]

@@JeffreyOrnstein No problem, new sub and enjoying the content👍

[@StephenAllcroft]

Two unusual Ayats bodies on Leyland chassis spring to mind A Royal Tiger Worldmaster LERT2 with an Ayats body resembling an Edsel car, and the only Spanish example of the Leyland Lion PSR1 which had an unusual projecting engine compartment with built-in fins.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for the additional info on Ayats on Leyland chassis! Thanks for watching!

[@Chester-y1y]

Reminds me of the highly ornamental buses in South America.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, it sure does! Thanks for watching!

[@69Phuket]

Salvadore Caetano whilst we're down in Spain is popular Portuguese company. Also the whacky bus culture in Thailand is worth a look. Been chased down by many a VIP coach. They are quite beautiful but driven to a tight schedule on crazy roads.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, Caetano made some nice looking buses! I'll look into the Thai buses. Thanks for watching!

[@davidcolin6519]

I happen to live in Arbucies, and know quite a few people who work, or have worked for Ayats. They may have had some pretty far out designs, but their business culture, shall we say, leaves a lot to be desired. I have worked for Beulas and Indoor, though, and they're both still run by their respective families. Unfortunately, Noge went bust during the financial crisis of 2008. They continued small scale production, presumably to fulfill orders already placed, until about 3 years ago. The site is now part of a metals recycling company.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Wow, thanks for the interesting information!! Thanks for watching!

[@glenjones6980]

The more recent the more like a brick on wheels everything becomes but they seem to retain some individuality even today although not a patch on those stunningly beautiful earlier models.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Glad you liked the video and thanks for watching!

[@KvasmoTube]

Ayats also built the Olimpia on the yugoslav TAM chassis. Would like to know more informations about it!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thanks for the additional info and thanks for watching!

[@scottyg7284]

Could you at some point do the large Mercedes buses from the 60’s and 70’s please.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I will look into the Mercedes! Thanks for watching!

[@MartinIbert]

Just sayin' ... the coach shown at 0:16 has Portuguese plates. It may have built in Spain, though.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Ok thanks.

[@charlesmoss8119]

They must have been very warm with the glass roof?

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Oh, yes, that was a complaint on many buses like this! Thanks for watching!

[@ruidesousa9273]

The coach seen at `4 min 55 sec BD - 24 - 92 is not AYATS but by a PORTUGUESE Company . MARTINS E CAETANO / V N Gaia PORTUGAL . Plese note this.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thanks for the additional information. Do you have a source?

[@ergotot45]

Such Iberian coachwork designs were not known for their longevity.........in fact the Spanish coach industry functions with a high turnover of vehicles/designs, to this day. Old coaches are non existant

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Oh, that's very interesting. I guess Spanish coaches are made more for looks than long-lasting quality. Thanks for watching

[@davidjones332]

I think that comment applies to most European coaches built between the 1950s and 1980s. Fashions in coachwork changed very rapidly and the leading coach operators tended to keep vehicles only for a couple of years before cascading them to second and third owners who were not so fussy, or not so wealthy. Seven years was a typical life and ten years exceptional. Now that everything looks like it was styled after a cornflake box, designs don't date quite so quickly.