Blue Bird to Euro taste
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• Commercial Motor had a drive of a 12m Cumminspowered Blue Bird in the US last week — one of the dual-purpose units for which Ratby-based dealer Alan Wilson (PSV) has just signed a letter of intent to market in the UK (CM 3-9 Sep tember). The rear-engined single-deck QRE 3705 was equipped for tour/charter work with a large enclosed luggage compartment between the engine and the rearmost seats.
We found the steel sprung single-decker gave a rather bumpy ride over a concrete slabsection inter-state highway, but its ride proved acceptable on smoother tarmac roads.
There is an option for allround air suspension, but for short-distance stage work the steel-sprung chassis should be more than adequate.
The QRE 3705, which costs around £.65,000, proved very stable on twisting roads with very little body roll. The 171kW (230hp) Cummins B Series was well matched to the Allison auto box, giving the Blue Bird good acceleration.
Like other rear-engined models the QRE 3705 has low interior noise levels, helped by the extra bulkhead provided by the rear walk-in luggage pen. Under-floor luggage space is also available so prospective UK buyers might prefer extra seats. The interior has British-style moquette trimmed seats but the dashboard layout is not up to European standards.
In common with most US trucks the Q-bus can be tailored to the buyer's needs, having a wide range of options including uprated axles, extra heaters and full air conditioning.
The Q-Bus comes a lot closer to satisfying European tastes than traditional US bus and coach products. Its body might not be the most attractive, but its driveline is familiar and its large rear luggage pen could earn it a niche in the airport shuttle business.
Alan Wilson, which until now specialised in secondhand PCVs, will market front and rearengined buses and coaches between 9-12m in length built entirely by Blue Bird.