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MCI took their 35-foot coach (the MC-5C) out of production
in 1980 for virtually the same reason. Van Hool and Neoplan both offered
shorter and more economical coaches during the 1980s, but both have tended
to concentrate on the larger coaches in more recent years. Eagle continues
to offer a 35-foot coach but their problem is very similar to what GMC
and MCI discovered; that the relatively small reduction in price from the
full size coach tends to encourage few orders. Hence, there has been very
little on the U.S. and Canadian intercity coach market that offers big
coach features while still providing a meaningful reduction in price. |
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Three organizations, two American and one European, have
combined their talents to offer the TAM 260 to fill this market gap. The
original idea came from Jemco Sales; named for John E. Morley in Indianapolis
and now including Dick Parkhill and Thomas “Sal” Ciraulo, a past salesman
for both Setra and Eagle. |
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The rear yard of the European Bus &
Truck facility in Belcamp, Maryland was very busy after the arrival of
the new TAM coaches. The nine new arrivals plus the original demonstrator
coach brought the number of total TAM units to ten. European Bus &
Truck has been active in supplying parts and service for European coaches
operating in the United States and Canada. |
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One of the new TAM 260’s was photographed
in Belcamp, Maryland prior to being delivered to its new owner, TransAmerica
Charters and Tours in Scottsdale, Arizona. From a distance, the TAM 260
looks smaller than its actual size. However, it not only has an attractive
European appearance but is also within inches of being forty feet long. |
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The second organization is TAM bus of Maribor, Slovenia,
a major bus builder in a new country comprising what was once the northwest
corner of Yugoslavia bordering on Italy and Austria. In fact, the Maribor
factory is within 20 miles of the Austrian border. TAM has been building
buses in Europe for over 47 years and has a substantial product line including
both transit and intercity models. Particularly interesting is the fact
that the TAM buses have been used throughout Eastern Europe and have a
reputation for durability and ruggedness. |
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The third company is TAM-USA, a joint venture company located
in Van Nuys, California. This company has been active in recent years in
the United States in regard to the development of the TAM 252 project and
a heavy-duty school bus. They now will be the importer and distributor
of the new TAM 260. |
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They elected to start with an established TAM intercity
coach model that had first been sold in 1985 and already represented a
production run of more than 4,000 units. This model was then modified to
suit the American market and was highly Americanized for U.S. and Canadian
bus operators using domestic componentry. The result is the new TAM 260.
It is interesting that the TAM 260 has more than 50% American content,
and most of the remainder is represented by the framing, body and seats. |
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I was favorably impressed with the TAM 260
from the standpoint of what you get for the money invested. Components
and systems are substantially American and up to big coach standards. In
fact, some of the systems are remarkably state-of-the-art for what is supposed
to be an economical coach. |
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Construction and Exterior
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Like the big American coaches, the TAM 260 is full integral
construction with a strong "birdcage" underframe made from tubular steel.
Although no stainless steel is used, the body panels are made from galvanized
steel and zinc chromate or other anti-corrosion material is applied to
all external frame members and internal body panels. Based on the experience
of existing TAM coach owners in several countries, it appears that these
coaches hold up very well and are not prone to rust. |
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