Volvo B59
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The Volvo B59 is a rear-engined bus chassis produced by Volvo in Sweden from 1970 until 1980, which features a 10-litre straight-6 diesel engine.
The first Volvo B59 was delivered to the Københavns Sporveje (The City Transport Authority in Copenhagen, Denmark) in 1970, and was fitted with a bodywork built by Aabenraa Karrosserifabrik, based in Aabenraa. Originally ran as a prototype, it came later in ordinary service, as KS #531. It was bought by Volvo for preservation at the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg, Sweden after withdrawal.
In Melbourne, the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board purchased 100 Volvo B59 buses with unique Ansair bodies. These buses were originally painted orange, however a majority of B59s were repainted into the Metropolitan Transit Authority's green and yellow livery during the mid to late-1980s and early-1990s. Most of these buses were retired by 2000 with most sold to party bus operators and companies in Queensland.
The trolleybus version of Volvo B59 was also built. A batch of 17 vehicles, fitted with Ansaldo electric equipment and Mauro bodywork, was delivered to ATAM of Italian city Rimini between 1975-1977.
Its successor was the Volvo B10R.
