This vintage Mercedes-Benz 0321H bus is a rare sight here in the U.S., especially as a fully-equipped motorcoach that hasn’t been languishing in a forgotten backyard and occupied by chickens. These high-zoot buses occasionally pop up for sale and always look like they got there by accident; this one was purchased from Europe and imported a few years ago, and has been traded among collector circles ever since. It formerly served as the team bus for a Swiss second-tier National League hockey team. Find it here on eBay for $124,900.
While I realize buses are hard to characterize as beautiful or graceful, this example is full of art-deco inspired styling cues that make it downright handsome. The small details were not overlooked here, from the slight bumperettes to the skylights in the roof to the handles on the engine lid – everything looks far more graceful and artistic than you’d ever expect a bus to be. While I’m sure the price tag was higher than a contemporary U.S. model bus, I’d gladly pay for these qualities in a mass-people mover.
The driver’s seat was far from spartan, with little chrome details around the gauges and controls, and a steering wheel that’d look just as at home in a Mercedes 190SL roadster. A surprisingly conventional shifter assembly sticks out of the floor, giving off the feeling that anyone could hop in and drive this Mercedes bus tomorrow. The vehicle didn’t always look this nice, however, and it was converted to a proper R/V within the last few years, which helps explain why things still look so good inside.
The seller notes that the bus has received some modest re-conditioning in the time it has been in the United States. Some of the major services include a new diesel primer pump, six new tires, new ignition switch, differential fluid change, various brake services, and more. The cabin features six beds, cooking areas, bathroom, and hanging cabinets. This is a great alternative to the typical R/V conversions roaming the U.S., and a clear ancestor to the modern Sprinter conversions that are so popular today.
Nice! Now how can I shrink it to the size if a Samba bus 🚌😏
It’s about the same price as one .
Love it.Gorgeous dash & steering wheel.
But driving across country…shifting gears and mashing a clutch…is a deal breaker.
But how much clutching are you really doing when driving cross country? Not much.
This must be the typical 60s-70s James Bond movie background vehicle. I like that MB euipped all their buses, trucks even their Unimog with that ‘sad’ face during this period.
I’d be more than curious to learn excactly how ‘exciting’ this bus was to drive through Swiss mountain passes back when it was in active duty. Loaded up with a hockey team, their gear and luggage – and a 5 liter NA diesel with only 5 gears to propel it – I suspect whoever drove it quickly needed to aquire swift and proper cog selection skills to tackle slopes safely, even with the supplied engine brake/ retarder
They even used these in the Pink Panther movies too.
They had these in the Pink Panther movies too. I miss Inspector Clouseau.
It be fun to send off to some company and have them make it all electric. I love the roof windows
This thing is super cool! Love all the glass area on this, the dash is beautiful, I guess if you have a huge collection this would be fun to own!
Sweet looking Mercedes-Benz. For some reason, I’ve never seen one up close and in person. It probably was never sold in the USA. That’s too bad. This looks like it could’ve been used as a long distance transit for travellers across the USA, kind of like a German Grayhound Bus. This looks like it’d be a fun vehicle to drive around town during the spring and summer months, and assuming parts are available, this could be restored or properly maintained.
I still don’t know why but old buses give me a real chubby.
Reminds me of a small bus type vehicle a friend of mine had built in the Philippines and had it sent to the US minus engine and drive train, last time I saw it was in a hot rod shop getting a mild LS with a GM drive train installed. I have no clue what it cost him to get this thing built and shipped over but whatever it’s not worth it to me!
125K! Are they nuts? Is it made of gold? What am I missing? Cool yes, but 125K, not that cool.
I have no use for it but it’s terrific!
I could see this being a rolling office for our startup.
Too bad that the original radio seems to be missing. I would imagine that it would be a Becker with MW/SW/ and FM mono. What a grand tourer !
this looks like the type of bus that was in The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour.
for that much money I’d buy a Prevost instead….