Ikarus 260

The Ikarus 260 is a high-floor, three-door city and suburban bus built by the Hungarian manufacturer Ikarus from 1971 to 2002, which made it the longest-produced and highest-volume model in the factory's history. Design work began in 1966 under Lászlö Finta, who also designed its predecessors the Ikarus 556 and 180. The first three prototypes left the Mátyásföld plant in 1970 and serial production began in 1972. The body is high-floored, with the engine mounted under the floor to save space and give a better weight distribution. Demand across the Comecon area grew quickly: abroad the largest importers were the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic, and examples were exported as far as Iceland and Taiwan. In Hungary almost every bus company used the 260 on routes from city to suburban and sometimes interurban service. The last Ikarus 260 left the Székesfehérvár plant in 2002 and joined the Szeged local transport system.