AutoCult Steyr 380a Cabriobus (1949) (Austria) "Polizei"

About the Original:

Quickly Operational

At the end of the 1940s the Austrian Police required busses to transport as many policemen as possible to explosive hot spots. However, the police officers did not want closed busses, but open means of transport so that they do need too much time to get on and off of the vehicle.

Such vehicles, which were similar to a bus, were not offered by any manufacturer. However, Steyr-Daimler Puch AG was prepared to produce such open team busses for the police. The basis for such special transport modifications was the Bus type 380a, which was in turn derived from the truck 380. The 85 hp strong engine with a five-speed-transmission and a sunken frame was taken from the bus. A smooth steering for this time, sufficient dimensioned hydraulic brakes as well as progressive suspension ensured contemporary driving characteristics. In view of little comfort, the superstructure was produced completely without any doors and only a soft top was the single protective measure against rain. Very soon, this big top got the pejorative expression “Fetzndacherl” in the jargon of the Vienna population, which was primary the reason why the length of the top and its low strength was following unstoppably the wind movements. In the open state, the rolled-up fabric on the rear was an extensive cloth, which was stemming against the airflow in form of a powerful windbreak.

The complete superstructure was not produced in the company of Steyr-Daimler-Puch but at the company Lohner. Starting in 1949, the police team bus has characterized the street scene of Vienna with the typical green color of the former police.

As far as known, these police busses were only produced in two years, 1949 and 1950, but they were in the government use of the Vienna Gendarmes for many years.