Mercedes-Benz O319 Panorama Bus and L319 Panel Van

I recently acquired a couple of old Benz vans.



One is an O319 Panorama Bus - similar to the VW 23-Window Samba, but bigger. The other is a L319 Panel Van.

I was hoping the pics might jog some memories and perhaps a story or two about these vehicles.

The Panorama was a 17 seater school bus out in Walgett/Lightning Ridge/Grawin Opal Fields area. I can't imagine how hot it must have been for those kids with the sun beating down on them through those roof windows in summer.



The panel van was supposedly running around Bendigo.



Does anyone know of any others floating about? Particularly keen on locating and potentially saving from the scrappy any others that might be around.

I do know that Hoys Alpine Tours Used to operate a couple, and perhaps Ansett as well?



I'll try attach a few photos, but I've stuffed it up the last few times.

Globe Roamer

I have seen what at best I describe as a cab chassis variant come up occasionally
I recall seeing these advertised when new in truck and bus magazine adds, at a guess early 70's

Paul

GlobeRoamer The 0319 Panorama bus can be a great little bus. Some 35 years ago Ken Whitworth bought one in very nice condition with an air-conditioner but needing a new engine, on my behalf, at the clearing sale of Anderson's Bus Lines at Woormargama, just north of Albury when he bought his Leyland half-cab bus. I paid him for it and he, the late Michael Kerrigan, John Wright and I brought them back to Melboring. Ken drove the Leyland which kept breaking down until we realised the twin oilbath air cleaners had filled with rainwater. We had my 0319 on Michael's tri-axle trailer.

I tried to get the HCVCA to form a working bee to put a Dodge heavy duty 245 in the Mercedes. I would donate the bus and pay for the motor and no doubt other expenses as well. However the club decided they would not accept a club bus unless I restored it first and then donated it. I sold the bus to the (German) owner of Britz Motorhomes instead. To this day the HCVCA still does not have a club bus.

Well, I've gone and done it again.

As luck would have it, Monday night, trawling through FB Marketplace, "Spotto!" Another 319, this time a Cab/Chassis, Ute/Pick Up variant. It just so happened to be about 5 mins off the highway along the route of a road trip I was doing on Tuesday... some would say fate, my wife just groaned, yet another "lawnament".

Anyways, here's a couple of pics I snapped. Can't wait to pick it up early next week. The chassis isn't broken or bent, it's just the broken tray mount makes it look wonky.

I think I'll cut my teeth restoring this one first, then move on to the Panel Van and Panorama as there's a lot more panel work involved in them.

Keep left, wave and smile.
Globe Roamer

There're some real treasures in that yard.

Well done, always a exciting time when the fleet grows

Paul

That one looks to have a Holden "Red" motor. Gotta be a step in the right direction.

Indeed it does. They are equiped with a 1.9L petrol or diesel with 35-60hp from factory.

Repowering it with a victa engine would probably see an improvement.

I think we'll take it back to a 3-pointed star engine. Likely an M104 3L Straight 6 NA (or a 3.2L one if we're lucky enough to find one reasonably cheap).