Ikarus model 250 was made in Hungary in Szekesfehervar from 1967 to 1996.
There were many adjustments to the Ikarus series 200 (in the video, the late version 250.93 from the 1990 release). The main difference between urban and intercity, tourist cars is the layout.
In city buses, the engine is located in the base. At the tourist Ikarus-250 – at the stern. That is why gearboxes and drive shafts are used.
Later cars had in-line 6-cylinder RABA-MAN D2156 engines with a capacity of 10.35 liters. Engine power already with turbine – 220 hp Gearbox – six-speed mechanical ZF.
Interesting numbers
The length of Ikarus is almost 12 m. But after all, it was necessary to rationally place a lot of necessary devices in the car.
The last compartment on the port side contains 24 volt batteries. They were brought forward from a niche on a special sled. Care of the repairman!
In the next compartment there are boilers for heating the coolant and an autonomous interior heater.
Fuel tank – 250 liters. With a passport consumption of 21.5 l/100 km, the reserve is sufficient for more than 1000 km. But this is only theoretical, because the consumption was indicated at a uniform speed of 60 km/h.
Closer to the front of the bus are the receivers of the pneumatic system. Ikarus has pneumatic brakes, suspension and door drive. There are two luggage compartments on the left and four on the starboard side. In the language of a passenger car, the boot volume of the Ikarus-250 is 5200 liters! That’s 5.2 m3.
Icarus, open up!
In a later modification, both doors are automatic with a pneumatic drive. To get into the bus, the driver pressed the mass switch and the door opener buttons under the lockable hatch at the front of the car.
What a miracle the automatic doors of the Hungarian bus seemed in those years! On previous machines, the doors were… ordinary.
Better than on an airplane!
The cabin has 51 comfortable seats.
The journalistic stamp “like on an airplane” regarding Ikarus is the absolute truth! Even better than on an airplane.
The passenger seats on the outside slide to the aisle to make it more spacious. And now not everyone knows about such a bus option. And in Soviet times, this was completely perceived as a miracle.
Ventilation in the cabin both from above and below. Upper ventilation and lamps are individual. There are even curtains. There are three ventilation hatches in the roof. Two of them are also evacuation.
The driver isn’t bad either: a sprung adjustable seat, handy control panels for all kinds of things, light pedals and even heated door mirrors!
Hungarian Zhiguli
An acquaintance working on such an Ikarus in the 1980s answered my question about the difficulty of the controls: “Like on a Zhiguli!”
It’s really not hard to drive. Of course taking into account the dimensions. Air suspension eliminates all small and medium bumps.
The main thing is to get used to the gear lever. The moves are big and it’s not easy to get into the right gear out of habit. But this bus is not new.
But with pneumatic brakes you get used to it after the second pressing.
Let’s go to the past
Over the years, Icaruses not only lost their luster, but they rotted and fell apart. And this 1990 bus has miraculously survived to this day, surviving only cosmetic repairs. Much to the delight of the owner, retro enthusiasts and … passengers.
He doesn’t seem to be an oldtimer at all. Decent bus! It is understandable why he was so loved.
- “Behind the wheel” can also be read in Telegram.