Dozens of vintage buses drive around Barcelona to relive 20th century history

Around 15 vintage buses have been exhibited in Barcelona for two days to relive the history of the 20th century.

After two days at the Avinguda de Maria Cristina Avenue, the buses drove from Plaça Espanya square to the Drassanes area via Paral·lel Avenue on Sunday midday.

Many of the curious attendees and fans got to discover vehicles such as a 1909 bus manufactured by the Hispano Suiza company or a Tilling-Stevens from 1922.

There were also a Dodge 265, a Chausson 59, and an ACLO double-decker bus.

"We are focusing on the living history of the 20th century," Andreu Susany, promoter of the Vintage Barcelona buses exhibition, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

"The oldest vintage buses are on exhibition, and some cannot even move. They cannot drive. We exhibit buses such as 1909's Hispano Suiza bus for the Sagales company, a 115-year-old vehicle, and then we show the different bus history of the 20th century, from the oldest ones to even some from before the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)," he added.

Many of the buses are currently being used in films or advertisements, and while the exhibition was once a huge success, it was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The route logistics are complicated, and the Covid-19 pandemic hit us very hard," Susany said.

"However, we returned in 2021 with a fixed exhibition, and now we return to our origins with this short route," he added, as their goal is to promote the Catalan industrial heritage.

"All these are buses that bring back memories to a lot of people, and all those who are not that old are surprised to see such 'vintage' buses. They are used to more comfortable, silent, and environmentally friendly vehicles," Susany said before stating that "these classic buses were not very comfortable."

"Their goal was to drive people from one place to another," he added.

As usual, the vintage buses were accompanied by new electric or hybrid buses from the Barcelona Metropolitan Transports (TMB) company.