The Ikarus 270 Story: The Dream Bus Socialism Created, But Couldn't Have [Hungarian Bus History]

[@JTA1961]

Should have put in a kitchen, as after all... it was...Hungry

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thank you, thank you, thank you again for being so generous!!! I appreciate it so much!!! I'm glad you liked the video!!! Oh, and very good joke, LOL!

[@dudi0042]

@@JTA1961 Hungarians hate these jokes

[@JTA1961]

@dudi0042 food for thought.

[@dudi0042]

@@JTA1961 huh? What do you mean about that

[@tizkrajcarferencbiztosur354]

Anyád hogy van?

[@dudi0042]

OH MY GOD. AN MERICAN WHO KNOWS HUNGARY AND IKARUS. I subscribed. Thank you the video. Greetings from Hungary.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, Ikarus is quite interesting to this American, LOL. Maybe more Ikarus videos soon! Thanks very much for watching and for subscribing!!

[@emilepojogeanu]

@@JeffreyOrnstein ikarus factory in budapest was at ...margit ut /arany janos ut ... if u look at the area inclosed by these 2 streets ...u find streetnames in the industrial complex ... like ikarus gyar.... on the corner of margit ut and arany janos ut ...there was a bus stationed ,,, today the bus industry is gone and its more like an mixed indstry place with all kind of small industries ..

[@esslemonty4588]

Love your videos, Jeffrey. Keep up the good work. Thank you 👌

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very happy you found the video interesting!! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@roberthuron9160]

Back in the 1970's,several transit agencies,were installing water bumpers,so that low speed collisions,would be mitigated! Toronto also installed them on their PCC'S! A bit of forgotten lore! In today's climate,there would be any number of Pickup,and SUV's that could use that Icarus bumper setup,as many deaths,wouldn't happen! Thank you,Jeff,for that side excursion, into Hungary! Thank you 😇 😊!"

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, I almost forgot about those water-filled bumpers, especially on the Toronto PCC streetcars! Glad you liked the video! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@roberthuron9160]

@JeffreyOrnstein Jeff,almost forgot,but the original Eagles(Trailways),were built in Germany[Kassborer?],and later buses,were built in Belgium! So the Buffalo buses,were closer to Hungary,than met the eye! That Icarus bus,was close to the Eagle 15,which was a 2 axle version,and there were some produced for the European tour companies! Anyway,an additional information that might be useful! Thank you 😇 😊!

Many 1980s US model cars had shock-absorbing bumpers. The had actual shock absorbers front and rear.

[@emilepojogeanu]

i forgot to mention , ikarus busses as well were made under licence in romania , there they were called ``roman`` or roman diesel ... what they said was roman was a joint venture between a carrosserie maker in romania and mann diesel , the german engine manufacturer ... so the ikarus busses were fitted with a mann diesel engine ... if this is true , i dont know ...i was told this by a romanian ...but if its tru ?? i dont know.

[@MattMcIrvin]

One bigger difference is that those pickups and SUVs have terrible front visibility for preventing accidents in the first place, whereas with this bus (as with most buses) the driver clearly has an excellent view.

[@FanaticaExtremis]

Thanks for another Ikarus video, very nice!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glad you found the video interesting!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@robertcamble3543]

​@@JeffreyOrnsteinHey Jeff🇯🇲🇯🇲 There's this bus from England called " Superior. They were operating in Jamaica 60s-early 80s. Their bodies looked similar to the school buses here but were flat faced. They were powered by Leyland Albion engines. I haven't heard nothing about these Buses.

[@tactikzzF1R3]

Another brilliant video, Jeffrey! Thank you!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Glad you found the video interesting! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@StephenAllcroft]

Thanks for this one, Jeffrey. Not a vehicle I'd encountered previously, the design concept of the high floor was known in Western Europe too, not only was the Eagle 03 built in Belgium, but many western European makers offered higher floor coaches from the early 1970s and by 1976 even Britain had got there, with the Plaxton Viewmaster. The bumper is an amazing and doubtless expensive piece of technology, I am familiar with the Firestone /NTSB HELP front bumper, as a number of British operators tried it in the 1980s. but Ikarus seems to have gone even further.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Stephen! Thanks for the additional info, especially about the bumpers! As someone else mentioned, another safety variation was water-filled bumpers that were used on a few North American transit systems, most notably on Toronto's PCC trolleys. I wonder if that would have had similar results in a crash. Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@The-Silent-Rider]

Hiiiiiii.... Jeffrey, Another fantastic well researched and edited video full of content and interesting love those oversized bumpers think some buses in the UK copied that idea

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello!!! Glad you liked the video and thank you for the nice words! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@maestromanification]

Interesting video Jeffrey, that's a very modern looking vehicle even by today's standard Cheers Russ

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Russ! Very glad you found the video interesting! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@danieleregoli812]

Amazing Jeffrey as always ❤❤❤

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Very glad you liked the video! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@TheHellishFrog]

I saw this bus along with the short description in "Za Rulem" magazine, in my late childhood, and the only additional information I got on it ever - is from this video. Amazing research, cudos to the author.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm very glad you liked the video and found it interesting!!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@crabbymilton390]

Certainly interesting and well equipped. While these are great buses as far as historical perspective goes, the underfloor engine design is a dealbreaker for me. I know others out there love those but to me the engine is better in the rear. Well done Jeffery.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glad you liked the video! Yes, there's many opinions on the engine placements! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@mummifiedgamer]

Since this was based on the 250 it most certainly had a rear engine configuration. For the 200 series Ikarus typically used underfloor sideways mounted engine for city buses and rear engine placement for long distance buses.

[@TETTiefbau]

Thank's from Germany!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Glad you liked the video and thanks very much for watching from Germany!!!

[@Scots_Diesel]

Thanks again Jeffrey

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Glad you found the video interesting! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@271chrissy]

Really liked this bus...And that gold 300 is such a machine. great video thanks

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm very glad you liked the bus and the video!!! Yes, that 300 is quite impressive! Thanks very much for watching!!!

[@jeffclark2725]

That is a great looking coach, too bad it didn't get past the prototype level,it looked like it could have made a great mark on the industry, its surprising that it wasn't picked up by another country in one way or another for its design features, thanks for bringing us along

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, it was a very interesting bus, but I guess it was too costly for its place and time. Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@Advancedkid]

thanks for introducing this wonderful Ikaraus 270, truly ahead of it's time. Neoplan had a similar looking bus albeit withought the enhanced bumper, Not sure if it was the Cityliner N116 or N128 from the 1970s.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm so glad you found this video interesting!! Yes, there is some elements in common to the later Cityliner N116! Thanks very much for watching again!!!

[@nlpnt]

Ikarus seems to have had a near-monopoly on buses within the Warsaw Pact with even the USSR itself importing them (something they didn't do with other vehicles) in exchange for Hungary having had no domestic passenger-car production (they imported cars from all over the Eastern Bloc and even more western models than anyone else in COMECON including the VW Type 3 used in the 270's bumper demonstrations).

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Very interesting - anything about vehicle production in the former COMECON countires is fascinating to read! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@D.S_Productions]

Ikarus build a lot of Buses in the 200-Series Models like the 211, 220 (Prototype), 222, 260 (Right-Hand Drive), 270, Ikarus 281 (Right-Hand Drive)

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, they built a lot of very interesting buses! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@MelanieRuck-dq5uo]

I quite like the look of the Ikarus 270, and as Jeffrey suggests, without knowing or paying close attention, one would think of it as a North American product. Another masterpiece from Mr O.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Melanie! Thank you so much for the nice words about the video - I'm very glad you found it interesting!! Thanks very much for watching!!!

[@jadeboswell-rz2ly]

Hi Jeffrey, I agree with the idea of the vehicle looking like the Buffalo. I also think that it looks very similar to the Pegaso Z-403 and the Van Hool coach bodies of time( panoramic windows) and the inclusion of the air con pod.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, the Pegaso Z-403 Monocasco was a really awesome bus! Maybe I'll do a video on that one in the future! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@Skawagon]

Ikarus buses were some of the most advanced buses from the eastern block. Here in former Czechoslovakia we preffered much simpler and cheaper domestically produced Karosa buses. But since Ikarus masterd the technology for articulated buses much sooner, their arituclated models were still brought in. However, in atempt to lower their purhcasing cost, they were specified with the least powerful engine in the lineup and thus vere seriously underpowered, especially when climbing hills fully loaded. Passangers sometimes had to get out and push. That is the geniality of "planed economy" for you:)

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very interesting to hear about how the Ikarus buses were specified for Czechoslovakia! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@dzonikg]

In Serbia during Yugoslavia we had city bus manufacture call Ikarbus ,very similar name.But it was just coincidence becase it was before aircraft factory call also Ikarus so they produce Ikarbus buses. Yugoslavia had multiply bus manufactures (TAM ,SANOS ,FAP, IKarbus ,Neobus )but even they survived war and sanctions they did not survive privatisation

[@stanleybest8833]

Some busses live on in their offspring. Steel is not necessary for a roll cage. The best qualities of this Icarus live on in the MCI. Beautiful seats, driver lower. I was in one when a car slammed into it's side and I was neatly above the car as it lost the skirmish, but dinged up all the suitcase bays. It just lacked that bathroom. Trivia: If you drive a bus not for profit, or for family business, you don't need a special license. The R.V. law.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very interesting!! Good thing you didn't get hurt in the MCI collision!! Didn't know about the RV law! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@popindosin228]

Should've told more about it's creators and the aftermath. Otherwise, nice video keep it up.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Ok. Thanks very much for watching!!

[@krisztianperei]

Hi, Thanks for this video. Just one thing I want to mention. The designer's name is László Finta not Lászlo Fintá. His wife, Anna László was the chief engineer of the Ikarus 286. An articulated bus that eas made for the US maket at the late 70's. The demonstrator bus was driven by Anna. It's an interesting story you may introduce perhaps... Just google this: The Myth of the Superior Hungarian Technology Vol. II. - Ikarus Conquers North America

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for the info....sorry for the wrong placement of the accents...English doesn't have much of that so, it's a bit confusing, and my Hungarian is admittedly not the best, LOL! The 286 story is definitely an interesting one, maybe I'll do a future video on that bus! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@stevenmacdonald9619]

The Ikarus team and the 270, is to my knowledge, the only design I've ever seen, that was attempting to save the life of a driver in the event of a non-suburban head-on collision. Most don't notice exactly where the first safety bulkhead is on a coach/single deck bus. It's even in the same place on the 270, as can be seen in the photos. With a gap in it for the aisle, it sits directly in front of the first 4 passenger seats (right up to vehicles of today) That puts it behind the driver and usually above the front edge of the chassis, to make it such a strong point. Unfortunately, as any driver knows, there is no safety structure ahead of them. Just the windscreen/windshield, the thin frontal bodywork, and usually an electrical loom for the dashboard, front screen washer and of course, the steering wheel, and control pedals (and a small refrigerator on more expensive touring coaches.) That means in the event of a frontal collision with an impact of any speed above normal city driving (30 mph), the coach body will collapse back to that safety bulkhead. Coaches are designed for distance travel at far higher speeds, so few drivers survive such incidents, or are severely injured. Clearly the concept 270 team at Ikarus already knew this decades ago, so as a former driver, I want to thank those people for at least going some way to combatting what all drivers know is such a high probability. To also know that in the years since 1975, no manufacturer has gone nearly as far, is sad and horrifying knowledge. Though I will say when I drove coaches, that exposed feeling, does affect the way you drive, knowing that an error wouldn't end until the bulkhead behind you. My passenger's safety were always above my own. Literally, in a high seated coach.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very interesting to read this information about driver safety! Yes, it's quite interesting that there has been nothing like the 270 since 1975! Coach (and bus) drivers don't get the credit they deserve for their safe driving to ensure their passengers are not in any danger. Thanks very much for watching!!

[@stevenmacdonald9619]

@@JeffreyOrnstein The scariest high passenger seated touring coach I ever drove was a 1990 Jonckheere bodied Volvo B10M Deauville 51 seater. As mentioned in your video, this was exactly one of those vehicles that was designed with not just a staircase aisle for higher seated passengers, but the driver's position was down in front of not just the wheels, but the entire chassis. You could have scraped your butt on the road if you didn't have a seat between you. The driving position was also so far forwards, only about 6-8 inches was left, to fit the thinnest of dashboards, and credit card thin air vents for the windscreen. It was the only coach I spent time with, where I knew 100% that if I had hit anything front-on, at over 30-40mph, that I would for sure be toast. It felt like sitting on a pirate ship plank hanging on the front haha I'll leave a link to a picture of that head-on view of such a beast. You'll notice you cannot see the driver's position, or even a steering wheel. Note where the small side mirror is attached (right side or left as you look) That is at driver's eye level 😶 external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.TGGFfdkutS_pb1v-IBLwfwHaE7%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=bed32421289c3dc7f259162f61a39a9c7532070414c80a4eedf8c736db5eb666&ipo=images

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

@@stevenmacdonald9619 Oh my, that sure is a low bus for the driver!! I can see why it would be scary to drive that thing on a highway!!

[@jamesfrench7299]

They put a lot of thought into it. It definitely doesn’t look like it’s from the early 70s styling wise, particularly the bumper and headlight arrangement. A pity it didn’t enter production.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, the design was definitely ahead of its time! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@tanggololongproductions]

If only you tube happened 20 years ago. There are hundreds of shed built busses here in the Philippines. Built on extended truck chassis, carrying 60 passengers including the driver. Powered by straight 6 cylinders diesel engines, mainly Fuso (Mitsubishi), Isuzu, Hino and Nissan engines. There are also bus manufacturers here Hino pilipinas, Nissan Also has their Bus assembly. But almost of them are all gone or diversified to other business. There are some that still remains they manufacture small bus called "pinoy jeepney" powered by Hino engines.

[@petermumford265]

It looks more like a long distance coach than a “Bus”! Obviously, a concept vehicle designed to be an example of what they could do. Not a serious Mass Transit Vehicle. But very cool concept for an East European Soviet company.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, it's my "Americanism" coming through...we often don't differentiate between bus and coach in casual speaking, but maybe I should have been more aware of that. Thanks very much for watching!!

[@tanggololongproductions]

If only you tube happened 20 years ago. There are hundreds of shed built busses here in the Philippines. Built on extended truck chassis, carrying 60 passengers including the driver. Powered by straight 6 cylinders diesel engines, mainly Fuso (Mitsubishi), Isuzu, Hino and Nissan engines. There are also bus manufacturers here Hino pilipinas, Nissan Also has their Bus assembly. But almost of them are all gone. Only one remaining they manufacture small bus called "pinoy jeepney"

[@SuperMAZ007]

Never heard of the 270. Have to give credit to the Hungarian engineers. It reminds me of the later Prevost buses you can still find for sale today. Actually you can find pictures and proof of the type 250 Ikarus being exported to America. Ofc they had to do a lot of modifications to meet the US standards at the time.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, the Hungarian engineers did a good job with this and lots of other buses! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@Torahboy1]

This guy is clearly a terminator He never blinks

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Then I'm sure there are much better videos out there for you to watch if you don't like mine...

[@glenjones6980]

I know it's a concept but it looks like it was styled on an Etch-a-Sketch and the designer used a shoebox and empty cigarette packets for the mock up.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, I know what you mean...one-of-a-kinds usually end up looking like that! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@shmulyitzkowitz6479]

My father drove Icarus in Budapest in the 50 s

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Awesome! Must have been good buses to drive!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@tanggololongproductions]

If only you tube happened 20 years ago. There are hundreds of shed built busses here in the Philippines. Built on extended truck chassis, carrying 60 passengers including the driver. Powered by straight 6 cylinders or V8, V12 turbo diesel engines, mainly Fuso (Mitsubishi), Isuzu, Hino and Nissan engines. There are also bus manufacturers here Hino pilipinas, Nissan Also has their Bus assembly. But almost of them are all gone. Only one remaining they manufacture small bus called "pinoy jeepney"

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very interesting info about the buses in the Philippines! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@someonebald2022]

I don't know where you're finding these Iron Curtain busses, but I want more!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very happy you liked the video...hopefully more "Iron Curtain" bus videos to come! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@1208bug]

😊👍

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Very glad you liked the video!!! Thanks very much for watching again!!!

Beautiful bus. A shame it was never made in quantity. Would have been ideal for long-distance tours.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, it was quite an attractive vehicle! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@BRUH_WHY12363]

Were closing toby's line with this one🗣

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thanks very much for watching!!

[@BRUH_WHY12363]

@JeffreyOrnstein so do you know what im talking about

[@davidbarnsley8486]

Another great video Jeffrey,it amazes me we’re you find out about these buses 👍👍🇦🇺

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello David! Very glad you liked this video of this one-of-a-kind bus! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@kevincrowley4586]

Low bridge test vehicle !

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thanks very much for watching!!!

[@NickRatnieks]

The problem was that there were no rock or country bands touring so this sort of bus was not wanted in those socialist nations where travelling was frowned upon- or even prohibited. I knew a man who as a student went to the Soviet Union in 1965 and was arrested "for leaving Leningrad without permission." The good news was they didn't need him to swap for some big spy at the time- so he was released- a much chastened young man.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Interesting analysis of why these types of buses didn't succeed! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@dzonikg]

Well not true.Many rock bands from Yugoslavia had tours in USSR .But distances in USSR are vast so they travel with plane and sometimes with trains .I also travel to USSR with parents in 1985 to 7 different cities with travel agency and we had 0 problems .But that was 80s ,probably was different in 60s

[@paulsehstedt6275]

The Comecon killed many innovative designs.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, they did, unfortunately! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@tango22ah]

1

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thanks very much for being #1 and for watching!!!!

[@stephenmilton9998]

Glory to socialist auto bus 🚌

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, yes, indeed! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@kleemann2068]

Can you make a clip about bus manufacturers from the former Yugoslavia? Ikarbus - Zemun (ex Ikarus), FAS 11.Oktomvri "Sanos" - Skopje, Neobus - Novi Sad (ex Autokaroserija), TAZ - Zagreb, Avtomontaža - Ljubljana, TAM - Maribor, FAP - Priboj.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I will look into Yugoslavian buses - hopefull there's good info out there on those bus manufacturers! Thanks very much for watching!!!

[@jamesfrench7299]

⁠Who bodied Belgrade’s Leyland Worldmasters? Any in that list?

[@kleemann2068]

​@@jamesfrench7299Ikarbus - Zemun (ex Ikarus) for GSP Beograd and Neobus - Novi Sad (ex Autokaroserija) for JGSP Skoplje

[@kleemann2068]

​@@jamesfrench7299Ikarbus - Zemun (ex Ikarus) for GSP Beograd and Neobus - Novi Sad (ex Autokaroserija) for JSP Skoplje.

[@kleemann2068]

​@@jamesfrench7299 Ikarbus-Zemun (ex Ikarus)