Dennis aims for the )ig time in coaching
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AIR DENNIS is re-entering coach market, and has led the choice of engines Lancet range to make it heavyweight chassis like eyland Tiger, reports NOEL IER.
?. company held a "drive:the Lucas Girling test track a West Midlands to launch nov Dennis Lancet family of ;hassis and reveal the first double-deck Dennis Fal( bus.
a first Lancet to be bodied, iurrey operator Tillingne, is fitted with a Wadham ger Vanguard body and is 3red by a Leyland 402 enrated at 104.4kW (140bhp) 600rpm coupled to an AlliNT 545 automatic gearbox.
e first bus is a 10-metre .3le based on the Dennis 4.9 .e wheelbase chassis. The :et is also available as a mis a coach with a 3.9m lelbase chassis, a 5.6m elbase for 12m bodywork. gine options include the ins 6 354.4, Perkins T6 354.4, and 402, Perkins V8 540, iner 6HLXB and Rolls-Royce
e 220H. Transmission in e two manual gearboxes Voith or Allison automatic s. A choice of leaf spring and suspension is available on arger wheelbase models. brief drive around the test k on the leaf-spring Tillingme bus showed the vehicle .e both smooth running and y with good powered steerand powerful air brakes.
fith the launch of the Lancet ge Hestair-Dennis has an
nounced its intention to re-enter the coach market with both the mid engine Lancet range and the rear-engined Falcon H range which will both be suitable for all British and Continental luxury coach applications.
The first Falcon V doubledecker is a demonstration bus fitted with East Lancs body and powered by the Mercedes-Benz OM 421 V6 engine developing 140kW (188bhp) at 2,000rpm.
The bus, which had only been completed at East Lancs the night before and had still to have its suspension set up and undergo various adjustments, seemed a little disappointing to ride in at first with engine vibration being a major problem.
From the driver's point of view, it was responsive and light to drive. The vibration from the engine was mainly from the cleaner and intake and Dennis is confident that they will disappear once the bus has undergone its various engineering proving and trials at Guildford.
The Falcon V features a simpler drive line than normal transverse engined deckers which eliminates the angle drive-saving weight and adding to the seating capacity as well as costing less.
In addition to the new models, Dennis featured four varied examples of its Dominator transverse rear-engined doubledeck buses — a low-height leaf spring Alexander bodied vehicle for Scottish Bus Group, a normal height East Lancs bodied leaf spring vehicle with Maxwell gearbox from Leicester, and air
spring Northern Counties bodied Greater Manchester bus and an air spring Rolls-Royce powered Alexander bus from South Yorkshire PTE.
The SYPTE bus was the first double-decker to be fitted with Lucas Girling anti-skid braking equipment. The line-up was completed by a Leicester Transport Duple-bodied Dennis Falcon H single-deck bus.