Skoda 706 RTO is the best example of monumental bus construction

Soviet buses are still remembered, and some are still working here and there. Of the foreign ones in the USSR, there were mainly Hungarian Ikaruses. But we also had models from other countries, just for a very long time. For example, Skoda 706 RTO. This vehicle is built on a truck chassis of the same name. The “trolley” has been around since the 30s, so it is distinguished by its monumentality. The Skoda 706 RTO is the most modern bus in the line, production of which started in 1957. It is unclear what motivated the creators of this engineering miracle. Probably because a socialist bus should serve the people not even for decades, but for 50 years. Otherwise, it’s difficult to explain why this machine is so monumental.


Unlike the Skoda 706 RO, the RTO modification received an all-metal rather than wooden body. The power and safety margin were enough to spare no steel on both the chassis and external panels. Moreover, the 12-liter diesel engine is a ship engine. The appearance of the Skoda 706 RTO is specific. I can’t say that the bus is downright beautiful, but you can’t call it ugly either. But it is streamlined. It is unlikely that this was done for the sake of aerodynamics - rather a space-themed fashion. The Czechs, by the way, called the model an egg or a cucumber. And they will tell you more about the Skoda 706 RTO on the channel “Ivan Zenkevich PRO cars”.