This bus is a mix of two diferent Olympic models. The front of the bus belongs to a 1959 Leyland Olympic and the side to a 1964 Leyland Olympic. These buses served in the metropolitan and rural areas of Havana between 1959 and 1980 resisting the worst road conditions, overloaded and sometimes with the engine running 24 hours a day. unfortunately, not many of them were preserved. They are a part of the cuban history that is lost.

these buses,the leyland olympics were manufatured by a joint agreement between the Leyland Motor Company and Metro Cammell Weymann,a bus and rail manufacturing company in England.They were designed mostly for export to Latin America,the Carribean,Asia and Africa. In addition to Cuba, Jamaica,Argentina and Equador purchased them for their bus fleet. The design showed above was discontinued in 1965 and a new Olympic MCW with wrap-round windscreen was introduced.The new design,however carried the same underfloor 0680 powerful diesel engine as the earlier Olympics. The bus was also designed as a intergral vechicle----------which means it was chassiless.

December 14, 2008 9:50:00 AM EST

The bus in the picture is the same G series that was the workhorse of the JOS fleet in Kingston, Jamaica from the 1950's to 1973. (See JAMAICA OMNIBUS SERVICE) It was to be phased out with the arrival of the L series (same as one in Cuban street video / 5 pics) but proved so reliable that it continued in service even after JOS made the unfortunate decision to switch to the lamentable Leyland Nationals.

May 1, 2009 12:33:13 AM EDT

To L BRYAN : Jamaica omnibus service [ JOS] had no choice but to switch to the LEYLAND NATIONALS. The OLYMPIC LEYLAND MCW was discontinued in 1970 and replaced by the Leyland Nationals. The leyland nationals was a joint venture between the British Government and the Leyland company. The nationals met the same fate as the OLYMPIC,BECAUSE PRODUCTION ON IT WAS DISCONTINUED IN 1983. The national was replaced by the LEYLAND LYNX. But Volvo bought out Leyland bus division and it too was discontinued. Now they dont make leyland buses anymore. Sadly.

June 19, 2009 8:14:15 PM EDT