The Fiat 306 was an Italian bus produced by Fiat Veicoli Industriali, the bus division that predated the Iveco consortium. It was introduced in 1956 and remained in production until 1982, serving local transport administrations throughout Italy.
Fiat 306 at a glance
| Type | bus and intercity coach |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Fiat Veicoli Industriali |
| Production | 1956–1982 |
| Series | 306, 306/2 from 1960, 306/3 from 1962 |
| Engine | six-cylinder inline diesel, underfloor |
| Body | chassis supplied to external coachbuilders |
| Coachbuilders | CANSA, Orlandi, Menarini, Barbi, Van Hool and others |
| Replaced by | Iveco 370, launched 1977 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article. The source is brief, so the article is shorter than usual.
History of the Fiat 306
The Fiat 306 was produced by Fiat Veicoli Industriali, the division that handled buses before the creation of Iveco. It entered production in 1956 and was built in three series: the 306/2 arrived in 1960 and the 306/3 in 1962 with a different body.
The bus was delivered as a chassis, to which a body was later added by a coachbuilder. Among the companies that built bodies for the 306 were CANSA, Carrozzeria Orlandi, Carrozzeria Menarini, Carrozzeria Barbi and the Belgian firm Van Hool. The mechanical layout was a six-cylinder inline diesel engine installed underfloor, a configuration that freed the whole length of the passenger compartment.
The 306 was used in large numbers by local transport administrations across Italy, and production continued until 1982. It was replaced by the Iveco 370, which was launched in 1977 and took over the role of the unified Fiat and Iveco bus range.
Design and features
- Underfloor diesel: a six-cylinder inline engine mounted beneath the floor.
- Chassis for coachbuilders: bodies came from Italian and foreign firms such as CANSA, Orlandi, Menarini, Barbi and Van Hool.
- Long service: built from 1956 to 1982 and widely used by Italian municipal operators.
- Three series: the original 306, the 306/2 of 1960 and the restyled 306/3 of 1962.
Fiat 306 versions
- 306: the original series of 1956.
- 306/2: second series introduced in 1960.
- 306/3: third series of 1962 with different bodywork.
The 306 was replaced by the Fiat 370 and belonged to the same bus family as the Fiat 343. More vehicles are in the Fiat collection.
Sources
- Fiat 306, English Wikipedia: production dates, series, coachbuilders, underfloor engine
