Budd's Metroliner MU cars are legendary for being a commercial success and a technological failure. The cars were designed for 160mph service over the Northeast Corridor, but even though they suffered from frequent glitches and breakdowns, they helped usher in a new era of service on the most heavily traveled rail corridor in the USA. The cars were built in three configurations: coach, cafe and parlor. In later years, many cafe and parlor cars were reconfigured as coaches (though they retained their window configurations). To date, no commercial model of the Metroliner MU cafe or parlor car has been produced. IHP seeks to rectify this with these new models.

The PARLOR car had one window blanked out on each side nearest to the cab end. The interiors were fitted with comfortable swivel chairs and a bar at one end. Bell roof antennas were mounted on the roof. The rest of the car's exterior was similar to the other car types.