Škoda 706 RTO is an urban bus produced by bus manufacturer Karosa and Škoda in Czechoslovakia between 1958 and 1972. It was succeeded by Karosa ŠM 11 in 1964.
Construction features
706 RTO was built on frame of Škoda 706 trucks. The engine was placed in the front next to driver, and rear axle was propelled by long driveshaft. On the right side were two doors. The interior was furnished with leatherette seats.
Production and operation
Serial production of the Škoda 706 RTO began in 1958, and continued until 1972.
From 1959 to 1986 the bus was also produced under licence in Poland by Jelcz factory as Jelcz 043 (nicknamed ″cucumber″, pol. ″ogórek″).
Škoda 706 RTO is no longer operated by any public transport authorities, but many of them are operated as historical vehicles. The last Škoda 706 RTO used in public transport in Prague was retired in 1978.
Outside Czechoslovakia, Škoda 706 RTO were also exported to other socialist countries such as China and North Korea. It was one of the prominent bus models in Beijing.[1] There is also one Škoda 706 RTO preserved in Pyongyang, together with another Škoda 706 RO. Both buses have been ridden by Kim Il-sung.[2][3] There were other buses on the same chassis like the ChavdarM80/M81.[4]
Historical vehicles
As many Škoda 706 RTO buses still exist, the following list is not complete.
Czech Republic