The 2022 World Cup kicks off in Qatar on November 20, 2022. Mercedes-Benz used the big event as an opportunity to highlight one of the special buses from the 1974 World Cup in West Germany (the country was still divided at the time).
Back then, only 16 national teams participated in the tournament, not 32 today. Mercedes supplied buses to transport the teams and painted each of them bright yellow and the colors of their respective national flags. In addition to the bright exterior, the ’74 Tip and Tap World Cup mascot is in the rear window.
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Inside, Mercedes-Benz loaded these buses with amenities to keep players comfortable while traveling to the game, some of which are not appropriate today. Each seat has an individual ashtray. Also, there is a beer tap in the back. Amenities include a Blaupunkt stereo with cassette deck. Air conditioning keeps the team comfortable.
The color scheme of the seats is a mix of 1970s red and orange fabric. A white cover covers each headrest. According to Mercedes, all the players in the West Germany squad have secured seats on the bus.
The West German team won the 1974 World Cup by beating the Netherlands 2-1 in the final. Maybe a comfortable bus helps them stay relaxed before the game so they can score a big win.
The World Cup bus at the Mercedes museum is not an authentic example. After the tournament, the vehicles lose their special exterior and return to regular service. It was impossible for brands to trace the real thing, so the company made exact replicas for display.
Mercedes introduced the O 302 bus in early 1965 and built more than 32,000 buses during the production process. Customers can order a range of naturally aspirated four- and six-cylinder diesel engines with outputs from 125 horsepower (93 kilowatts) to 236 hp (176 kW). Air suspension became standard in 1971 after previously being an option.
