Colourful Mercedes Bus Is How World Cup Soccer Groups Traveled In 1974

The 2022 World Cup kicks off in Qatar on November 20, 2022. Mercedes-Benz makes use of the massive occasion as a possibility to spotlight considered one of its particular buses from the 1974 World Cup in West Germany (the nation was nonetheless divided on the time).

Again then, simply 16 nationwide groups participated within the event, slightly than 32 right now. Mercedes provided the buses for transporting the squads and painted every of them on this vibrant shade of yellow and the colour of the respective nation’s flag. Along with the brilliant exterior, the ’74 World Cup mascots Tip and Faucet are on the rear window.

Inside, Mercedes-Benz loaded these buses with facilities to maintain the gamers snug whereas touring to video games, a few of which would not be acceptable right now. Each seat had a person ashtray. Additionally, there was a beer faucet within the again. The facilities included a Blaupunkt stereo with a cassette deck. Air con saved the groups snug.

The upholstery colour scheme is a really Seventies mixture of purple and orange cloth. A white cowl is over every headrest. In response to Mercedes, the entire gamers on the West German squad had assigned seats on the bus.

The West German crew gained the 1974 World Cup by beating the Netherlands 2-1 within the last. Perhaps the cozy bus helped them keep relaxed earlier than the sport in order that they have been capable of rating the massive victory.

The World Cup bus within the Mercedes museum is not an genuine instance. After the event, the autos misplaced their particular exteriors and went again to common service. It was not possible for the model to trace down an unique, so the corporate constructed a precise duplicate to placed on show.

Mercedes launched the O 302 bus in early 1965 and constructed over 32,000 in the course of the manufacturing run. Clients may order a wide range of four- and six-cylinder naturally aspirated diesel engines with outputs from 125 horsepower (93 kilowatts) to 236 hp (176 kW). An air suspension grew to become normal in 1971 after beforehand being an possibility.