The Ikarus 66, together with its brother the 55, is one of the best-known types of the legendary Hungarian manufacturer. Almost every bus fan has a fond memory or story about the buses, which are also referred to here as Faros or Bözsi buses. These buses have been part of the Ikarus meetings for as long as I can remember, and if you can take a tour with them, almost no one misses them.
Although the production of the two-door Faros in Helyközi has been discontinued for more than half a century, in 1973, a version awaiting renovation has recently been found, which may once again shine in its original glory. Although it is not small, it boasts a mileage of more than one million kilometers. According to this, it could have circled the Earth along the equator at least 25 times. Its windows and doors are almost completely intact, but its bodywork certainly needs locking. However, the good news is that the ad according to the original Csepel D-614 type 145 hp diesel engine is still functional, but the brakes are no longer working properly. Therefore, they are currently asking for HUF 13.5 million.
Biography of Faros: on the right, Valéria Botka is the conductor of the Hungarian Radio Children’s Choir. Photo: Zoltán Győri/Fortepan.hu
This is not the only Faros that is now on sale in Hungary. Another one was added to an online portal Icarus 66which was produced in 1968. However, according to the information in the ad, it no longer has an engine, but it boasts a very low mileage of just 123,000 kilometers. Its frame structure is almost completely renewed. Clearly, however, the seats and windows are no longer there. Therefore, the future owner will have to pay almost HUF 18 million for the copy.
It is interesting that the Ikarus 66 originally started its career as an intercity bus. Its prototype, the A58, was completed in 1952, still in a two-door version, but from 1958, the factory managed to install a third pneumatically operated door behind the second axle. Between 1959 and 1961, the three-door Ikarus 66s were put on the market in the capital, operated by the Fővárosi Autóbuszüzem (FAÜ). In intercity transport, they appeared only in 1963 at the domestic AKÖVs. However, they did not work in Budapest due to the slow exchange of passengers, so over time they were handed over to rural transport companies. Nevertheless, who knows, maybe one day someone will see the imagination in making a replica Ikarus 66 with Budapest varnish.
(The top picture is an illustration, it shows a renovated Ikarus 66 from Dresden)
Source: www.vezess.hu
