Bussing to be the next 'Continental' in U K
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• Within the next couple of months demonstration models of Bussing goods and p.s.v. models will be arriving in Britain. This will be the first stage in marketing this make here and the German firrn will also be exhibiting at this year's Commercial Motor Show in September when deliveries to operators are expected to start.
Glas Concessionaires (Great Britain) Ltd., which has previously been concerned with Continental cars, is to set up a company named MAT Automobiles Ltd. to handle Bussing sales and service in the UK and it will operate from Glas headquarters at Alexander Dock, King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Almost two years ago it was Announced in CM (July 8 1966) that Glas Concessionaires planned to market Bussing but a number of factors developed to cause the delay. Now it is understood that arrangements are reaching an advanced stage. The new company will handle sales direct with operators. Agents will not be appointed —at least in the beginning—and urgent service matters will be taken care of by mobile personnel.
Initially there will be concentration on the Bussing BS 19 S tractive unit which is designed for 38 tons gross combination weight and the Prafekt coach. In both cases there will be special versions for Britain, designed to meet the particular UK legal requirements.
The BS 19 S is a forward-control chassis with flat-front high-quality cab (fixed). Wheelbase is 3m (9ft 10in.) and as well as a special brake system and 10.00-20 tyres for the UK, and Eaton 10-ton two-speed driving axle will be fitted, but general mechanical specification is unchanged from the German product. The Bussing S 11 D six-cylinder 11.58 litre direct-injection diesel produces 210 bhp DIN (230 bhp gross) at 2,100 rpm and 578 lb.ft. torque gross at 1,300 rpm. It drives through a ZF sixspeed constant-mesh gearbox.
Full-air brakes are modified to give the necessary secondary system and spring brakes on the driving axle provide for parking. There are plans to fit an Eaton 13-ton two-speed axle if UK weight limits change to make this practical and it is estimated that list price of the BS 19 S in Britain will be £5,500.
There are various body versions of the Bussing Prifekt but all have the same mechanical components. The horizontal diesel engine is located at the rear end and the U 7 D, a 9.5 litre diesel with a 155 bhp DIN (167 bhp gross) output at 2,400 rpm is standard. But a horizontal version of the S 11 D (redesignated the U 11 D) is an option; the gearbox is a ZF unit. The Prifekt is a semi-integral design and air suspension is employed. Braking is by an air-assisted hydraulic system.