Mercedes-Benz O 307

Mercedes Benz
MB O 307 (Postbus) from Rizor / IG Traditionsbus Südniedersachsen
O 307
Manufacturer	Daimler Benz
design type	Intercity bus
Production period	1973-1987
axes	2
engine	Mercedes-Benz OM diesel engine 407 H
power	155 kW / 177 kW (210/240 PS)
length	11.81 m
width	2.5 m
height	2.99 m
Seats	49 (53)
Previous model	O 317
successor	O 407
Similar models	Magirus-Deutz L 117 , MAN SÜ 240

The Mercedes-Benz O 307 was a standard intercity bus built by Daimler-Benz with a diesel engine underfloor lengthways in the rear according to a specification sheet for regional bus traffic .

With the introduction of the standard public service bus at the end of the 1960s, the Mercedes-Benz O 305 was initially offered in two body lengths and seating options for city and intercity traffic, with the intercity version being 30 centimeters longer than the city version (11.3 meters) and only having benches facing the direction of travel. However, this model variant was given in 1972 in favor of the O 307 with a slightly higher floor.

In 1973, Mercedes-Benz presented this first intercity bus as an independent series based on the VÖV-I city line bus , which was visually differentiated by the larger, laterally drawn windshields, the so-called "StÜLB front" and the external pivoting doors common in intercity transport . Constructive distinguishing feature to city bus O 305 was the longer vehicle length and the raised floor to allow an underfloor trunk (orders without a trunk were also possible). In contrast to the O 305 external swing doors (entry at the front only single lane) and a 210 hp diesel engine. From 1977 the engine output was increased to 240 hp. The O 307 there were standard with a 5-speed manual gearbox , an additional charge, a 6-speed manual transmission or a three-speed automatic was available.

The StÜLB front of the O 307 was also available for the O city bus at the customer's request 305 available (this was then 15 centimeters longer), whereby the rest of the body in terms of its dimensions and equipment features such as the usual inner swiveling doors for city buses or passenger seats continue to resemble the O 305 corresponded. The reverse was the O 307 can also be ordered with the city bus interior pivoting doors.

At the beginning of the 1980s, the manufacturers of standard buses for urban and intercity transport undertook minor modernizations on their vehicle types. The most noticeable change here was the use of rectangular multi-chamber tail lights instead of the round individual lights used previously at the rear. The standardized VÖV dashboard was revised, the hand brake valve was moved from the desk to the left on the side. The modernized, now rectangular control lights were grouped above the tachograph and, instead of the text labeling, their meaning was shown pictographically and transparently. This was later also adopted for the control switches.

The excursion version introduced in 1981 with travel seating and a narrow center swing door was given the designation O 307 A, although the line version with a wide central door was also offered with excursion seating. For occasional traffic, the stroller parking space opposite the central door could be expanded by two bench seats (4 passenger seats), resulting in a maximum of 53 seats.

Technically and visually similar standard intercity buses (StÜLB) were also built by competitors Magirus-Deutz and MAN . The largest customers were the Deutsche Bundesbahn and the Deutsche Bundespost . After the cessation of bus service in 1983, the Post's buses were taken over by the Federal Railroad and the regional bus operations that resulted from it.

The O 307 was replaced in 1987 by the successor Mercedes-Benz O 407 , which was also an independent intercity version with a higher floor and greater length than the O city bus 405 was offered. Only with the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro was a common vehicle base again offered for city and regional traffic, with different door, line display and seating variants that could be combined with one another.

Today copies of the O 307 has almost completely disappeared from the streets of Germany, only a few traditional copies can still be found. It is likely to be found more frequently in Eastern Europe and Africa, but the majority of the specimens produced have already been scrapped.

literature

• Wolfgang Gebhardt: German omnibuses since 1895 , Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2002
• Lastauto-Omnibus-Catalog , various issues, ETM EuroTransportMedia
• Various original Mercedes-Benz brochures

Web links

Commons : Mercedes-Benz O 307  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• IG traditional bus south Lower Saxony

Individual evidence

1. ^ IG Bahnbus: Mercedes-Benz O 307. Accessed December 6, 2018 . 
2. ↑ Omnibus archive: Mercedes O 307