Ikarus 55

The Ikarus 55 is a high-floor coach that the Hungarian bus maker Ikarus built from 1952 to 1973 for long-distance and interurban services. It was the first Ikarus bus with its engine mounted at the rear, and it was produced alongside the technically related Ikarus 66. A total of 8,350 Ikarus 55 and 66 buses were delivered to East Germany. The two-axle bus has a semi-self-supporting body, leaf-sprung beam axles, twin tyres on the rear axle and a fully mechanical steering system, with pneumatic drum brakes on all four wheels. It is powered by a water-cooled 8.3-litre Csepel D-614 straight-six diesel engine, a modified Steyr WD 613 built under licence, rated at 145 PS (107 kW) and driving a five-speed partial synchromesh gearbox. Top speed depended on the gear ratio and fell between 78 and 98 km/h.