There must have been several coachbuilders that made busses with panoramic windows. Still, as I browse the pictures shown below some remarkable similarities and differences can be seen. These days almost all items we see are standard products. Even today the costly busses are not all identical, but the differences usually are not spectacular. In the 1930's every bus was hand-crafted. These pictures show among them a group of features that could come from one coachbuilder, that used a variety of special constructions to please customers with tailor made busses at reasonable prices. Some of these busses have large louvers in their bonnet, some have additional an air streamed nose. They could be family even beyond their chassis.

Panoramic windows

Close to St. Quentin, France. Number plate (IVB-60727) is Baden. (source: Baydeww2) Decorated bonnet-sides and trimming looks very luxurious. Partly roll-back roof. More a picknic than a war....	Civic plates and protruding hub-caps. Partly roll-back roof - source: Ebay	A boldly camouflaged red cross bus. The bumper is not standard. The bus name, near rear wheel, is barely visible - source unknown	Company "Alpen Sud Express", görlitz - Source: Opel im Kriege	A ferry crossing a lake(?) with a bus. This picture is from a set of two - found on Ebay	Apparently crossing it was a remarkable event. It could be a lake in Italy - found on Ebay	Lunch near an ambulance bus - found on Ebay
An ambulance bus in trouble. A bent picture, that I had to straighten a little - found on Ebay	Now that's trouble. The unfortunate driver was probably not the only one killed. The trailer is something special too. Found on Ebay.	source: opel-blitz.opeltje.nl two shots of the same bus. Civic pre-war registration.	source: opel-blitz.opeltje.nl (nickname "zugvogel" means bird of passage)	A battered back, revealing the construction of a compartment for suitcase. Set of three - found on Ebay	The original capture said: "The 1a bus, Russia 1941". Set of three - found on Ebay	Unnecessary to say these busses where not suited for these roads. Set of three - found on Ebay
This is often the size and position you find info on a bus. The cathedral in the back is the object that was meant to be in the picture. From the tilting the road reveals its dangerous rounded form.	In a German pre-war town a fun trip is getting started.	A proud driver leaning on a trip-bus with licenceplate IIB-26471.	3 pictures of the same bus. Seen in Langemark (Belgium) this bus has a Booty	Folding roof, panramic windows and a place to put a lot of luggage.	It has licenceplate WH-32715	This bus has a custum bumper. Maybe it is not even a Blitz.
Liner with panoramic windows. Busoperator: voge.. Licenceplate: IZ-25406 (Rhein province)- source unknown	This bus from Zwickau(V-43286) is photographed in Kiev or Charkov (Ukraine)	A post-war start with a woodgas bus. Originaly found on here.	Party members with an accordeon have just arrived(?) for a party.	Clipped promotional picture for the KAFA factory, Leipzig	Proud owner of IIZ-230501	This bus opperated by "mitteldeutscher Reiseverkehr (Middle German Traveling) could be a Blitz
Oddily out of place at a river crossing, this splendid civilian bus leads a group of mixed transportation.	Maintanance or trouble. Observe the chrome rim on the non-camouflaged headlights	This 1939(or later) bus is dwarfed by the huge Bussing trucks.	A "frontbuchhandlung" (front book store) with even loudspeakers on it.	Side by side 2 civvy Bavarian busses that are drafted in to the Wehrmacht.

Panoramic windows and louvre nose

A ferry on a river in German occupied Holland. From the size of the river it could be Rotterdam	A Luftwaffe operated bus, with a civilian lady being invited(?) - source unknown	Another Luftwaffe bus. battered, revealing the construction of the bonnet. - found on Ebay	A makeshift repair. It came from the right... Reportedly Gross Deutschland Division. The American army lost more vehicles in traffic than in battle. The German army didn't but this one was in a crash - source unknown	A special bumper as in the first picture. Early war picture. The Ford bus on the right has a nickname near the back wheel.	An original owner. 1940 Emmelman Jurablitz. source: www.eifelgarage.de	A 1938 picture of the NVB, now part of Connex. Source: Connex.se (Sweden)
This cheerfull soldier guards a civvy (?) bus with rims on the frontwheels. It seems to have a marking on the left fender.	Licensplate IY-231999 is seen on a cheerful outing.	An early chassis with a custom bumper. Number 2 seems a Blitz too.	A loudspeaker could make this a propaganda troop.	Same vehicle, same group	A good view on the niec curved line of this bus

Panoramic windows and "stove" nose

Wading	Belfort(France) June 22 1941	On a railroadbridge	A civilian liner for an officers tour	In the woods	In the woods	Leaving camp	Collision
Possing for the photoalbum. This cheerfull luftwaffe unit seems to photographed early war. - source unknown

Louvre nose and other design

A splendid Wehrmacht HQ bus. Crisp, early war - source unknown	close-up, revealing motorized infantry marking and license plate. - source unknown	Hotel visit of a design bus with a gasproducer. Source unknown.	HQ-group with the back of a design bus (is it a Blitz?). Source unknown.	a design nose and a Steyr in courtyard. Luftwaffe. Source unknown.	a civvy tourer at an importent event. (see al the officer uniforms). Source: Ebay	End of the road for a Luftwaffe (WL-60328) unit. a 1937-1939 front wheel

No survivors, models drawings or illustrations known to me.

index | | last revised: January 14 2013