In 1980, DAF’s first MBG205 articulated bus chassis went to the Jonckheere company in Belgium for a coach body. And there it was, 44 years later, in all its original ‘Holland International’ glory, exactly as pictured in a book about the history of DAF that I bought some 40 years ago.
The full-size coach was open to the public, displayed in a setting as if it was getting ready to roll. Or just came back from a trip. Marvelously done!
The full name of the coach is as follows: a DAF MBG205 DKTL 575 CL rolling chassis with a Robert Schenk GOBL 8000 trailer and a Jonckheere Bermuda body.
A touringcar, that’s the rather un-Dutch-sounding term used here for such a luxurious coach. From school trips to travels abroad, a touringcar often was -and still is- the means of transport.
A huge sign with old magazine articles, parts of brochures, specifications, and drawings was placed next to the coach. As we can see here, the overall length -evidently sans body- was 17,840 mm. That’s equal to 17.84 m or somewhere around 58’6”.
For coach use, the complete chassis was rated at a gross weight of 24 tonnes (52,911 lbs).
Mounted between the front axle and the drive axle, the horizontal DAF DKTL 1160 engine. A turbocharged, 11.6 liter inline-six with a maximum power output of 252 DIN-hp @ 2,200 rpm.
Now then, it’s time to get aboard the AirJet Ventilated touringcar with air suspension all around, 75 fully adjustable seats, and dual-pane windows.
The cockpit with a synchronized, ZF 12-speed (2×6) manual transmission.
Entirely on the left, the tachograph unit with the speedometer, odometer, and clock.
The indoor tour starts here.
And ends here. Did the holiday mood kick in yet?
The luggage seems to be period correct.
To the sun Daffy, to the sun! Just like you did in your younger years, all the way to Spain and Italy.
Related Bus Stop Classics:
1970 DAF-Jonckheere – Its First Power Unit Was a Philips-Stirling Engine
Great buses.I didn’t know DAF also made buses.
At first glance they seem newer than a 1980.
Yes, rolling chassis. Front-engined (at first), later mid-engined and rear-engined. Almost all of them went to a Dutch or Belgian manufacturer of bus and coach bodies.
Bova, Smit Joure, Smit Appingedam, Hainje, Den Oudsten, Verheul, Berkhof, Domburg, König, and ZABO were renowned ‘body-builders’ in NL.
In Belgium: especially Van Hool and Jonckheere.
The last man standing now: VDL Bus & Coach.