Volvo B58
Encyclopedia
The Volvo
B58 is a mid-engined bus chassis built by Volvo of Sweden
from 1966 until early 1982. It was the forerunner to the highly successful B10M
.
In the United Kingdom
, it was sold to many major operators including Wallace Arnold
and Park's of Hamilton
. Many of the Volvo B58s in UK were built as coaches.
Wellington
in New Zealand
ran until 2007 around 59 Volvo B58 trolleybus
es. Originally with 68, some have been scrapped for spare parts & some have been preserved. As they were around 25 years old, they were in need of renewal. They were gradually cannibalised and vital parts (traction motor, axles etc.) were used combined with new parts to make new, larger trolleybuses. Last unit was delivered in 2009.
In Brazil, The Volvo B58 (called B58E) was built in a Curitiba
factory from 1977 to 1997. It was used in city buses, including trolleybuses, and road coaches, in cities like São Paulo
, Curitiba
, Porto Alegre
, Campinas
, Sorocaba
and Belo Horizonte
.
In Adelaide, South Australia, the B58 was delivered in three types, from 1980. The first service being on April 29, 1980, these buses entered service all in a distinctive Brown and Cream livery.
In Tasmania
, Australia
the Metropolitan Transport Trust (now renamed Metro Tasmania
) purchased 68 B58s, mostly for use in Hobart
although ten were used in Launceston
. The first batch of 33 buses were bodied by Smithfield and were 2-door units delivered from 1975, all were allocated to Hobart. 15 CAC-bodied buses were delivered in 1978-79. These were also allocated to Hobart. Later a further 20 CAC-bodied buses were purchased with body variations from the earlier CAC-bodied units to reduce the weight on the front axle, ten of these were allocated to Hobart and ten to Launceston. The first batch were all fitted with ZF 2-speed automatic transmissions, however the later units were fitted with the ZF Ecomat 4-speed, an Allison 4-speed automatic, or a Wilson 5-speed semi-automatic.
Three B58 articulated buses entered service in Hobart in 1980, all fitted with Volgren
bodywork and Allison 4-speed automatic transmissions.
Volvo Buses
Volvo Buses is a subsidiary and a business area of the Swedish vehicle maker Volvo, which became an independent division in 1968. It is based in Göteborg....
B58 is a mid-engined bus chassis built by Volvo of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
from 1966 until early 1982. It was the forerunner to the highly successful B10M
Volvo B10M
The Volvo B10M is a popular mid-engined bus and coach chassis built by Volvo between 1978 and 2001. It was built as the successor of the B58 and was equipped with a 9.6-litre horizontally-mounted Volvo THD100/THD101/THD102/THD103/THD104/DH10A diesel engine mounted under the floor, near the middle...
.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, it was sold to many major operators including Wallace Arnold
Wallace Arnold
Wallace Arnold was one of the UK's largest holiday motorcoach tour operators. It was founded in 1912 and was named after its founders Wallace Cunningham and Arnold Crowe. By 1980 it operated 290 coaches from its headquarters in Leeds, and owned a subsidiary based in Devon...
and Park's of Hamilton
Parks Motor Group
Park's Motor Group is a large company based in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire in Central Scotland. It is one of the most well-known and recognisable brands in Scotland. The company is wholly owned by Douglas Park who founded the business in 1971 as a coach and bus operation with three vehicles...
. Many of the Volvo B58s in UK were built as coaches.
Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
ran until 2007 around 59 Volvo B58 trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es. Originally with 68, some have been scrapped for spare parts & some have been preserved. As they were around 25 years old, they were in need of renewal. They were gradually cannibalised and vital parts (traction motor, axles etc.) were used combined with new parts to make new, larger trolleybuses. Last unit was delivered in 2009.
In Brazil, The Volvo B58 (called B58E) was built in a Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
factory from 1977 to 1997. It was used in city buses, including trolleybuses, and road coaches, in cities like São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
, Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
, Campinas
Campinas
Campinas is a city and municipality located in the coastal interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. is the administrative center of the meso-region of the same name, with 3,783,597 inhabitants as of the 2010 Census, consisting of 49 cities....
, Sorocaba
Sorocaba
Sorocaba is a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Sorocaba is the fourth largest city in the state of São Paulo. Outside the Greater São Paulo region, it ranks behind only Campinas, Sao Jose dos Campos and Ribeirão Preto...
and Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
.
In Adelaide, South Australia, the B58 was delivered in three types, from 1980. The first service being on April 29, 1980, these buses entered service all in a distinctive Brown and Cream livery.
- (1401-1420) 20 x Single door 43 seat rigid for Hills operations,
- (1451-1495) 45 x 46 seat dual door rigid for suburban and low capacity express work and
- (1351-1385) 35 x 66 dual door articulated for express and long distance operations
In Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
the Metropolitan Transport Trust (now renamed Metro Tasmania
Metro Tasmania
Metro Tasmania is the primary provider of public transport in the Australian state of Tasmania. For bus timetable and route information see the...
) purchased 68 B58s, mostly for use in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
although ten were used in Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
. The first batch of 33 buses were bodied by Smithfield and were 2-door units delivered from 1975, all were allocated to Hobart. 15 CAC-bodied buses were delivered in 1978-79. These were also allocated to Hobart. Later a further 20 CAC-bodied buses were purchased with body variations from the earlier CAC-bodied units to reduce the weight on the front axle, ten of these were allocated to Hobart and ten to Launceston. The first batch were all fitted with ZF 2-speed automatic transmissions, however the later units were fitted with the ZF Ecomat 4-speed, an Allison 4-speed automatic, or a Wilson 5-speed semi-automatic.
Three B58 articulated buses entered service in Hobart in 1980, all fitted with Volgren
Volgren
Volgren is an Australian bodywork company previously owned by Volvo and the Grenda Corporation but is now entirely owned by the latter. It was established in 1977, initially supplying bodywork for Volvo buses sold in Australia, and later supplying bus bodywork on all types of chassis for both local...
bodywork and Allison 4-speed automatic transmissions.