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equipment in London Transport colours and the second is a

single-door 73-seater version in the colours of Greater Manchester Transport. Both feature the slightly revised production version lights and front grille and both are powered by the Gardner 6LXB engine coupled to the Hydracyclic five-speed transmission with integral retarder.

The Titan is fitted with full air suspension and features independent air suspension at the front.

Making its debut on this stand is the Mark 11 Leyland National. The Mark 1 1 National is powered by Leyland's new TL11 engine which replaces the current 500-Series.

The turbocharged TL11 is a derivative of the successful Leyland 680/690-Series engine and is to be available in two outputs, 131kW (176bhp) and 156kW (209bhp) versions. The main outward difference to the current Leyland National is the removal of the roof-mounted heater pod on the standard models. These are now to be an optional extra and normal floormounted heaters are now standard equipment. The show exhibit is finished in standard NCB red livery of Ribble.

Making its first appearance in the UK is the Leyland DAB articulated bus chassis. The chassis is suitable for an 18metre (60ft) body.

The chassis is similar to that used on the Leyland DAB-Saurer bus that visited Sheffield earlier this year. It is powered by the

new TL11 H horizontally mounted engine developing 157kW (210bhp) at 2,000rpm coupled to a ZF 4HP 500 fully automatic gearbox with a builtin retarder.

Also on show is an example of the Leyland Victory Mark 11 export chassis suitable for single-deck buses up to 12 metres long.

Built to South African specifications this 6.25m (20ft 6in) wheelbase version has a 680 engine coupled to a fivespeed semi-automatic pneumocyclic gearbox. A modified version of this chassis is also available for double-deck bodies.

Representing the coach market is a Leyland Leopard chassis now fitted with a turbocharged 680 engine coupled to the familiar semi-automatic gearbox and representing the old generation of double-deck buses. Leyland's bodybuilding companies are a Charles I Roe-bodied Leyland Atlante AN68 in the colours of Sou Yorkshire PTE and a Gardne engined Bristol VRT with Ea tern Coach Works bodywork f National Bus Company su sldiary United Counties.

323

Metro Cammell Weyman Ltd, Leigh Road, Washwoc Heath, Birmingham ONE of the big surprises for th bus people at this year's Show the new MCW SW-Series 10.: metre Intercity. Bus chassis fl GEMCO in Greece which is su able for 12-metre single-de( bodywork.

Displayed in chassis for only, thehigh-floor vehicle powered by a horizontal Roll Royce Eagle 180 Mark 11 el gine developing 1360 (180bhp) at 1,85Orpm couple with a four-speed sem automatic transmission wit splitter unit and fluid clutch. double hub-reduction rear ax with 4.95:1 ratio incorporatir S-cam operated leading trailing-shoe foundation brak( is used with an I section beal .front axle.

Semi-elliptic laminate leafsprings front and rear ince porating heavy-duty telescop dampers are used. The chess frame comprises a ladder tyf construction with continuo( side-member and intern flitches pressed from high-gra( alloy steel. Also displayed is the first 1CW Metrobus chassis for °dying by Alexander for the ;catfish Bus Group, Completed ,uses on the MCW stand are two xamples of the new generation /letrobus which like the Scotsh chassis are fitted with the iardner 6LXB engine coupled o the Voith D851 fully utomatic transmission and iith full air suspension.

One bus is a normal length ingle-door vehicle for the West /lidlands PTE and the other is n 11-metro (36ft) doublelecker in the hvery of the China Amor Bus Company Ltd in Lancashire-bodied Dennis Dominator double-deck bus in the livery of Leicester City Transport on its stand with a long version for the China Metro Bus Company in Hong Kong.

Making its public debut is a Marsha)! Camair 80-bodied 11metre (36ft) single-deck Dominator bus in the livery of Darlington Borough Transport. The single-deck Dominator is a front entrance, centre exit bus featuring a very low floor. It seats 46 passengers and 18 standees.

Completing the Dennis exhibitors are a Dominator chassis and a front-engined Jubilant chassis for Kowloon Motor Bus in Hong Kong. All the Dennis exhibits are powered by the Gardner 6LXB engine coupled to the Voith D851 transmission.

342

Ailsa Bus Ltd, Kilvvinning Road, Irvine, Ayrshire•

TWO COACHES appear on the Volvo stand, both in the liveries of well known North of England coach operators.

One is fitted with a 12-metre Duple Dominant 11 body in the livery of Smith-HapplwaySpencers of Wigan and the other is fitted with a new-style' Plaxton Viewmaster 12-metre body in the livery of Tatlock's Coaches. The exhibits form the British show debut of the B58 chassis fitted with the ZF sixspeed gearbox.

An Ailsa double-deck bus is exhibited on the Alexander stand and two more Volvo B58 coaches are displayed on the Moseley Continental stand.

343

Vauxhall Motors Ltd, Luton, Beds THE ONLY psv on the Bedford stand is a pre-production prototype Bedford JJL midibus. First seen in mock-up version at the 1976 Commercial Motor Show the JJL represents a complete departure for Bedford.

Although based on Marshalls „ of Cambridge's original concept, Vauxhall's design and engineering department has trans' lated it into a totally Bedford vehicle.

The JJL features the first ever Bedford bus body and will be manufactured as a complete vehicle. The 34/37-passenger bus (24 and 27 seated passengers) is designed for o-m-o operation or urban precinct routes or rural services and has an overall length of less than 7.5m (25ft).

The bus is of semi-integral construction with a tubular lattice frame and an inner skin of steel panels with aluminium cladding to the sides and moulded grp panels to the front and rear.

The JJL is powered by the Bedford 330 engine mounted transversely at the rear coupled to a four-speed Allison automatic transmission linked by Morse chain transfer box and a short drive-shaft to a spiral bevel angle-box and thence to the drive axle.

A take-off from the opposite side of the angle box is provided to take an optional electric retarder.

The leaf sprung bus has a kerb weight of only 4.8 tonnes (4.7 tons) and is to enter production early next year.

349

Devon Conversions Ltd, Sidmouth, Devon STAR of this stand is a new 12-seater conversion of the Mercedes-Benz Bremen range of 207/307 vans. This conversion is the first-ever psv conversion of the van introduced in Britain last November.

Also on show are three other buses based on Volkswagen vans. A 12-seater Type 2 bus is shown based on the familiar rear-engined Volkswagen van. This bus has a sliding door I both sides and is fitted with forward-facing and three re; facing seats as well as a ben seat for three (including t driver in the cab). The bus available powered by a 1,600 air-cooled engine or a two-Iii version with brake-servo al radial tyres. The two-litre available with automatic trar mission.

Two other buses shown based on the Volkswagen panel van. One is a 15-seat b and the other a seven-seal with air doors finished in t livery of Avis. This vehicle v be used for airport courtesy s vices.'

379

Moseley Continental Coac work Ltd, Knighthorpe ROE Loughborough, Leics. MAKING its debut on this sta is the new style Caetano-bi Moseley Continental Alp coach body, three examples which are on display.

The Alpha is a dramat looking body with a steel frame and one-piece aluminium skirt extending from window to floor line. The bodies feature distinctive exterior colour layouts in nitro-synthetic materials with black and bright side mouldings. Saloon floor finIsh in cludes Harefield sponge-backed rubber to the centre gangway with matching lino floor, passengers" seats with armrests, full-draw curtains, illuminated signs and _a battery operated clock are all included in the body specification.

Four examples are on the Moseley stand. Ore is a 53seater mounted on a Bedford YIVIT chassis, one is a 53-seater mounted on a Ford R1 114, one a 53-seater mounted on an 11metre Volvo B58 and finally a, 67-seater mounted on a 12metre Volvo B58.

380

Northern Counties Motor & Engineering Co Ltd, Wigan Lane, Wigan THREE EXAMPLES of the older generation of double-deck buses are on display on the NC stand.

The first is a front-entrance exit vehicle on a Leyland Fleet, line chassis. Built to the specifications of the Cleveland Transit Authority, the bus has a seating capacity of 74. It incorporates a rearward ascending staircase incorporating luggage accommodation and a battery housing built in over the front offside wheel arch.

Also on show is a Greater Manchester Transport specifica, tion double-decker mounted on a Leyland Atlantean AN68, chassis. This bus has a single,, entrance exit and is designed for, one-man operation. It has 4.

.seating capacity of 75. The staircase is of the moulded grp type and it incorporates a luggage compartment over the offside front wheelarch. The bus is also fitted with a Graviner • dual-purpose H689 fire extinguisher mounted in the driver's cab and piped to the rear engine compartment.

The final exhibit is also mounted on the Leyland AN68 chassis and is a two-door double-deck bus to the specification of Nottingham City Transport. This 79-seat bus has a restyled front incorporating a flat one-piece windscreen with deep quarter lights and adhesive glazing to the front upper saloon.

A central staircase is fitted and is situated opposite the centre exit. Among the vehicle's features is a front-mounted energy absorbing -help" bumper by Firestone.

Electrically driven destination blind gear and liquid crystal route number displays are interesting features manufactured by Evershed Electro-Dynamics and fitted to this bus.

The Foden NC double-decker is noticeable by its absence from this stand.

381

Van Hool NV, Bernard van Hoo!street 58 B-2573 Koningshooikt Lier, Belgium MAKING its UK debut at show is the exciting new VE Hool Aragon range of coac bodies. This new body featun as standard equipment side lu gage lockers, wheel disc pavement door windows, re boot apron, front and rear fc lights, tinted glued-in window grant specification door, tw extra powerful heaters wi ducts and a suspension dpivir seat.

Manufactured in Zaragoza Spain the Aragon supersedi the 300 line. Five examples a on display in the livery of wi known coach operators.

One is a 12-metre (401 coach in the livery of Sab Coaches of London. This vehic is based on a OAF M B200 DI chassis. British heavyweig chassis are represented by 12-metre body on Leylar Reliance chassis for Limebour Coaches of London. Two examples of the Aragon tted to lightweight chassis are so on display. One is mounted n a Bedford YMT in the colours f Trina Tours of London and ne on a Ford R1114 in the very of Vanguard Coaches of uneaton.

Both these vehicles are 11etre (36 ft) coaches.

183

Isco Ltd, Tinode, Blessingon, Co. Wicklow, Ireland 1,SCO has on display an ixample of its Clubman Midioach body based on a Leyland :A chassis.

The body is also available on ord, Fiat and Mercedes-Benz hassis.

184

Valter Alexander & Co Coachbuilders) Ltd, 91 Glasow Road, Falkirk IONG KONG is well apresented on the Alexander tend with two examples of ouble-deck buses bound for le crown dependency. One bus in the livery of each of the lajor Hong Kong bus operaprs.

The only Ailsa double-decker xhibited is a Mark 2 version for le China Motor Bus Company Hong Kong. This is a special tretched 1 1-metre (36ft) verion fitted with an Alexander AV type dual door body seating 107 passengers.

The bus is powered by the Volvo TD7OE engine developing 150kW (201bhp) and is fitted with a D851 Voith transmission incorporating a built-in retarder.

Also bound for Hong Kong and also front engined is an Alexander KB type 10-metre double-decker based on the Leyland (Guy) Victory ill chassis in the livery of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company, This 102seater double-decker features a single front-entrance in front of the axle and a double exit. All side windows are opening and even a driver's hinged screen is fitted.

The bus is powered by the Gardner 6LX13 engine coupled to the Voith D851 fully automatic gearbox.

Third exhibit is an Alexander T type dual-purpose single-deck body fitted to a Seddon Pennine Mark 7 chassis fitted with 49 coach-type seats with headrests. This vehicle is in the livery of Eastern Scottish.

385

Plaxtons (Scarborough) Ltd, Castle Works, Seamer Road, Scarborough, Yorks A NEW GRILLE, side mouldings, colour strip, entrance door, bumpers and lamps are new features on the 1979 revised Plaxton Supreme range. Internally, the coaches feature revised trims in Formica and improved interior designs.

Three examples of the range are on show on the Plaxton stand. These consist of an 11-• metre Supreme mounted on a Ford R 1114 chassis, a 10metre Supreme Express mounted on a Bedford YLQ chassis and an 11-metre Viewmaster high-floor coach body mounted on a Leyland Leopard chassis.

Other examples of the new revised Supreme styling are exhibited on the Volvo stand and the Ford stand.

The rear-end styling on the new Plaxton models remains the same as in the current range.

402

B. Walker & Son Ltd, Gammons Lane, Watford, Hens WALKER has on display a nonpsv luxury Conference Bus based on a long-wheelbase Toyota Hi-Ace van. This bus is displayed complete with TV, telephones and many other luxuries including five armchair and a bar, sink and refrigerator A non-psv 13-seat personne bus based on the Mercede L307D van is also on display.

404

Dormobile Ltd, Folkestone Kent DORMOBILE has exhibited cross-section of its psv range o mini and midibuses based oi Bedford and Ford chassis.

The exhibits comprise ; Utilabus based on the Bedfori CF 22cwt van with a raised roof This has eight forward-facini seats and four side-facing seat for fare-paying passengers.

Largest Dorrnobile ps) exhibit is a 25-seater midibu! based on the Ford A Serie! chassis. This all-steel-bodiec vehicle features large panoramii windows. Finally, an example the Welfare type Dormobill Pacemaker 16-seater based oi the Ford Transit 160 is on dis play. This spacey vehicle allow remarkably high headroom for ; vehicle of its type.