The Neoplan Jumbocruiser was a double-decker bus designed to accommodate more than 100 passengers.

      Neoplan Archiv Konrad Auwärter/ Andreas Schneider/Wikimedia Commons

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      There are multiple methods to enhance a bus's seating capacity. You can elevate the body to create a double-decker or extend it in length by connecting two sections through an articulated joint. In the 1970s, a bus manufacturer from Stuttgart named Neoplan came up with a unique concept: Why not combine both approaches? The outcome was a colossal bus called the Jumbocruiser, which offered more interior space than many residences.

      We stumbled upon an old Reddit discussion about this fascinating people-mover, prompting us to revisit this overlooked vehicle, and we thought you might find it interesting.

      Neoplan developed the Jumbocruiser during a time when long-distance travel by road was on the rise, as noted in an article from the September 2016 issue of a German bus enthusiast publication, Omnibus Spiegel. On paper, the business rationale was clear. As a tour operator, one has fixed costs such as the driver's salary, fuel, and basic maintenance. Maximizing passenger capacity on a bus makes it easier to cover these costs. (This concept was later echoed in the development of the Airbus A380.) Neoplan began testing the idea of a double-decker stretch bus in the late 1960s, with the Jumbocruiser making its public debut at the 1975 Frankfurt auto show.

      Driving such a massive vehicle into the convention center must have been quite a challenge. Its dimensions are impressive. In its standard form, the Jumbocruiser measured 708 inches in length (approximately 3.5 times the length of a current BMW 5 Series), 98 inches in width, and 157 inches in height. The bus provided nearly 1,000 square feet of floor space, theoretically accommodating up to 144 passengers, although most were configured with around 110 seats. The remaining space was utilized for luggage and, of course, a bar.

      These illustrations were taken from an old brochure for the Jumbocruiser (shown below), illustrating how the interiors were arranged. Neoplan, Andrew P. Collins

      The name warrants a brief explanation. It refers to Boeing's jumbo jets, yet internally, the Jumbocruiser was designated N 138/4. The 'N' represents Neoplan, '1' signifies its classification as a luxury bus, '38' indicates the maximum number of seating rows, and '4' refers to the number of axles.

      Unfortunately, there are very few accessible images of people enjoying the Jumbocruiser during its peak time, but we did locate this brochure that provides a glimpse into what the vehicle was like at its best.

      To power this giant required a suitably powerful engine. Upon its launch, the Jumbocruiser was equipped with a Mercedes-Benz-sourced 19.1-liter turbodiesel V12 engine, delivering around 400 horsepower and 948 lb-ft of torque. Known as the OM404, this engine was located near the bus's articulated section and drove the wheels on the second axle via a five-speed automatic transmission. During that period, Neoplan was unable to find a manual transmission capable of handling the V12's torque. Additional engine options later became available during production.

      The golden age of bus travel was short-lived, and demand for the Jumbocruiser began to decline before the end of the 1970s. One contributing factor to the model's decline came from France, which prohibited articulated buses on some roads in 1980 due to safety concerns. This restriction complicated the journey of the Jumbocruiser from Germany, where many units were operated, to popular vacation spots like Spain and Portugal. An easier solution would have been to transport the bus via ferry in Italy, making the trip both lengthy and costly.

      This specific Jumbocruiser was previously owned by Treberhilfe Dresden e.V., an independent youth welfare organization, but has since changed ownership in 2020. Stefan Kühn/Wikimedia Commons

      Neoplan manufactured the last Jumbocruiser in 1991. First registered in 1992, it incorporated several revisions, including a Mercedes-sourced V8 turbodiesel engine mounted at the rear rather than centrally. It also featured an eight-speed automatic transmission.

      Some historians focused on buses assert that nine of the eleven units built still exist today, though many are no longer in passenger service. The first unit produced was converted into a large RV during the 1990s, with its rear section transformed into a garage. The second unit served as a tour bus for a band called The Kelly Family, and at least one is now displayed in a museum. Others have been repurposed as event vehicles.

      One of the last Jumbocruisers. By the end of their production, they appeared quite modern. Andreas Schneider/Wikimedia Commons

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