The Comil Condottiere was a series of long-distance coach bodies built by the Brazilian bodybuilder Comil between 1988 and 1998. It was the model that replaced the last Incasel-derived coaches in the range and the first Comil design to be offered in four different heights, from 3.20 to 3.60 metres.
Comil Condottiere at a glance
| Maker | Comil, Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
|---|---|
| Production | 1988–1998 |
| Type | coach body for medium and long distances |
| Versions | ST, 3.20, 3.40 and 3.60, the number giving body height in metres |
| Chassis | Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Scania, Volvo and Ford |
| Launch chassis | Mercedes-Benz OF |
| Replaced | Jumbo, Delta, Colúmbia and Palladium |
| 1989 update | new front design, headlights moved into the bumper |
| 1990 addition | ST standard version for poor roads |
| 1993 face-lift | bumpers, grille, new dashboard and interior improvements |
| Units by 1989 | 1,000, about 80 per cent of them coaches |
| Replaced by | Campione |
Only Portuguese-language sources were available for this model; the page is based on the Portuguese Wikipedia article on the Condottiere and on the article about Comil itself.
History of the Comil Condottiere
Launch, 1988
The Condottiere appeared in 1988, shortly before Comil opened its new factory in Erechim. It was intended to replace the Jumbo, Delta and Colúmbia inherited from the failed Incasel works, as well as the Palladium that Comil had launched only a year earlier and to which the new model was closely related. The body was shown on a Mercedes-Benz OF chassis, but it could be fitted to any base, with the engine at the front or at the rear.
Design and versions
The Condottiere used the same structure and side windows as the Palladium but had softer lines and better visibility for the driver, obtained by enlarging the windscreen and slimming the front pillars. Buyers could choose the ST, 3.20, 3.40 or 3.60, the numbers standing for the height of the body in metres. The 3.60 was the tallest and most luxurious, and the only one of the line with a central passenger door; a few were built with a driver’s door as well. The 3.20 was the lowest until the ST arrived and was aimed at short runs and charter work, while the 3.40, offered with an advanced front axle, was the middle model for medium and long distances.
Updates and the end of the line
In 1989, the year Comil completed its thousandth vehicle, the Condottiere received a new front with the headlights transferred to the bumper. A year later the ST standard version joined the range in place of the old Continental, with a reinforced structure and side skirts raised to axle height for operation on difficult roads. A further face-lift in 1993 brought new bumpers and grille, a new dashboard and a simpler version for charter operators. Production ended in the late 1990s, when the Condottiere and the Galleggiante gave way to the Campione.
Design and features
- Four heights: the ST, 3.20, 3.40 and 3.60 bodies covered short, medium and long-distance work.
- Palladium bones: the same structure and side windows as the earlier model, with a softer front.
- Better driver’s view: a larger windscreen and thinner front pillars.
- Tough ST version: raised skirts and a reinforced structure for poor roads.
- Any chassis: Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Scania, Volvo and Ford bases were all offered.
Comil Condottiere versions
- ST (from 1989): the lowest and shortest-lived version, built for difficult terrain.
- 3.20: the entry model for short runs and charter work.
- 3.40: the middle version, also built with an advanced front axle.
- 3.60: the tallest and best-equipped, with a central passenger door.
- 1993 face-lift: new bumpers, grille, dashboard and interior trim.
The Condottiere was the coach that followed the Comil Piá minibus into the range in the late 1980s. Other Comil models are in the Comil collection.
Video: 1994 Comil Condottiere 3.40 on a Mercedes-Benz OH 1318/51 chassis, Buses Araneda
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Comil Condottiere, Portuguese Wikipedia: dates, versions, design, 1989 and 1990 changes
- Comil Carrocerias e Ônibus, Portuguese Wikipedia: launch, chassis, 1993 face-lift, end of production
