to Fast food ordered by its literal meaning CUSTOMER STORY 1997 2007 Road cruiser In 1998, McDonald’s cooperated with the tour operator Geisberger to implement the idea of a McBus in Switzerland: Apart from breakfast meals, burgers, fries and soft drinks are all served at tables inside the coach – while Ronald McDonald obviously makes his obligatory appearance as well. More Skyliners than anywhere else A record reached in 2002. Based in Potsdam near Berlin, long-distance travel company Holiday International acquired its 180th Skyliner coach, making it Germany’s largest customer. As the first was pur- chased in 1987, Holiday International has, on average, ordered 12 Skyliners per year! Sailing voyage or road trip – some choices are flexible. For there is still a converted Skyliner around, which unites the best of both worlds. ADMITTEDLY, REAL SAILING is probably not feasible on this road yacht. Yet it offers seats on its upper deck to enjoy the sunset whenever you fancy, just like on board a real yacht. Yes, the roadyacht might be a coach turned vision of freedom, but it is even more than that: absolutely unique vintage, old-timer, holiday caravan, presentation platform, promotional vehicle and DJ stage. And last, but by far not least: It is also a NEOPLAN Skyliner. The idea for this most whimsical Skyliner conversion came from Günter Erhart, a true car enthusiast who converted his tinkering and tuning zeal into vocational training to become a motor vehicle mechanic and who later, while still working as a train driver, repeatedly refurbished vintage cars as a hobby. One day, he encountered an 11-year-old Skyliner in northern Germany. He had always felt an affinity for the brand, “as they’re just more individual than other vehicles”, explains Erhart. The coach was on sale for 3,000 Marks, but in terrible condition: damaged engine, fittings ripped out, cable harness in shreds, windows broken, alternator and compressor stolen. Still, the bodywork was impeccable. Welcome on board: six berths, shower, galley, mess – everything in place. And last but not least, the convertible roof. Years of extensive refurbishment followed, right up to 1986. Erhart cut away the top of the body and built up the roof structure himself. He swapped the broken engine for a Henschel motor. When a new Skyliner model was launched in the early 1980s, he obtained the needed replacement parts from NEOPLAN’s inventory. Once the coach was completed as far as the waist rail, it passed its mandatory technical inspection. At that time, Erhart could have sold the empty Skyliner shell at a profit, yet held on to his dream of a roadyacht. The vehicle aficionado was so thrilled by the driv- ing experience on his own test drives that he ) 3 ( m o c g n . i t h c a y d a o r , N A M ©