Neoplan USA AN408

Neoplan USA AN408
Neoplan USA AN408 Front
Years of manufacture	1984 to 1988
Length	26 feet
Width	96 inches
Power/Fuel	Diesel
Neoplan USA AN408 Rear

The Neoplan USA AN408 "Litl' Bus" was a 26-foot, semi high-floor transit bus sold in the United States. It was initially dubbed as the N426 in 1983.

Design

The AN408 used a self-supporting monocoque steel construction made of rectangular structural tubing that was electrically welded. Its exterior roof and walls were made up of double galvanized steel and were welded to the frame of the bus. Stainless steel was used for the wheelhousings and stepwells.

It was available with one or two doors plug-type doors. A wheelchair lift option was available in the front or the rear.

It featured a single step entrance design at the front door. It was Neoplan's first attempt at building a "Low Floor" transit bus.

Unlike the larger models in the Advanced Design series, the AN408's exhaust system featured a tailpipe protruding from the right side of the rear end instead of the left.

Photo Gallery

AC Transit 2300 Standard 2-door configuration	USAir Neoplan AN408's 1-door configuration

Des Moines Metro 17 2-door configuration with a rear wheelchair lift retrofit	Ex-AC Transit 2301 wearing a livery similar to LADOT DASH	Olympia Trails 15 with a driver side rear door

Specifications

Dimensions
Length: 26'
Width: 96"
Height: 108" (w/o A/C), 116.25" (w/ A/C)
Wheelbase: 137.8"
Engine
Detroit Diesel 8.2L "Fuel Pincher" (8 cyl. 145 HP or 165 HP)
Transmission
Allison AT-545
Axles
Front: Neoplan Independent Front Suspension System
Rear: Neoplan A-frame; 4:4:1 Ratio (60 MPH top speed)
Suspension
Neoplan Air ride front and rear
Brakes
Drum type air-over-hydraulic with automatic brake adjusters
Climate Control
Sutrak AC-31 roof mount
Driver's unit included with front windshield defroster, incorporating a separate air ventilation system, which utilizes blowers and ram-air vent
Electrical
12/24 volt system with two heavy-duty batteries
12-volt dual (sealed beam) headlights
Windows
Upper portion of the two-section curved windshield tinted with sunguard
Windshields curved to eliminate sun glare and reflection
Passenger windows have tiltable upper transom and standard glazing (1/4" tempered safety glass)
Fuel Tank
Dual tank with 57 gallon capacity
Capacity
Up to 27 passengers
Safety Equipment
Energy absorbing bumpers on front and rear
Roof escape hatches
Dry type chemical fire extinguisher
Fire detection system

Operators

Original Operators

United States

• Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) - Alameda & Contra Costa Counties, CA
• Avis Rent-A-Car (Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kansas City Int'l Airport, JFK Int'l Airport, Miami Int'l Airport, various airports) - Parsippany, NJ
• Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority - Des Moines, IA
• Hertz Corporation (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Miami Int'l Airport, various airports) - Midtown Manhattan, NY & Park Ridge, NJ
• Leisure Glen / Leisure Tech - ?
• Macy's Department Store - Sacramento, CA
• Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority - Parkersburg, WV
• USAir (Unknown airport(s)) - Tempe, AZ

Second Hand Operators

Mexico

• Vatican - The Pope Bus/Popemobile (John Paul II) - Basilica of Guadalupe - D.F. Mexico City (exported from the U.S.) [1] [2] [3]

United States

• Camptown Bus Lines - Newark, NJ (Ex-?)
• Cinedyne - ?, CA (Ex-AC Transit)
• D.C. Tours - Martha's Vineyard, MA (Purchased via Michaud Bus Sales in Salem, MA; Ex-Hudson Valley Bus, Exx-Camptown Bus Lines, Exxx-?)
• Hudson Valley Bus - ?, NY (Ex-Camptown Bus Lines, Exx-?)
• Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority (Long Island Bus) - New York City, NY (Ex-Avis Rent-A-Car)
• New Orleans Tours - New Orleans, LA (Ex-Macy's Department Store)
• Olympia Trails - Essex & Union counties, NJ [4]
• Quo Vadis Tours - San Francisco, CA (Ex-AC Transit)

Venezuela

• Coop. de Transp. Casa Fuerte R.L. (Coop. Casa Fuerte Villa Olympica) - Barcelona, Anzoátegui
  • 2 known units, exported from the U.S.
  • Unit 5: [5] [6] [7]
  • Unknown fleet number: [8] [9]

Demonstrator and Engineering Units

Fleet Number	Thumbnail	Build Date	VIN	Engine	Transmission	Notes
		1984	?	Detroit Diesel 8.2L	Allison AT-545	Demonstrator Image Displayed "Neoplan Litl' Bus" on the bus
		1984	?	Detroit Diesel 8.2L	Allison AT-545	Demoed at the 1984 APTA Expo Built to AC Transit specs
		?	?	Detroit Diesel 8.2L	Allison AT-545	Image
		1984	1N9TAS3__EL013526	Detroit Diesel 8.2L	Allison AT-545	Demonstrator
		1984	1N9TAS3__EL013542	Detroit Diesel 8.2L	Allison AT-545	Demonstrator