Plaxtons' Elite III ready for the Show
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• Orders are now being taken for Plaxtons' new coach model for 1973, the Panorama Elite III. The new body — which has several detail changes from the well-known Panorama II design — will be exhibited for the first time at Earls Court Commercial Motor Show in September.
Most noticeable differences are at the rear end of the coach, where an amount of tidying up has taken place. Single-phase rectangular rear-light units have replaced the previous round units and the boot-lid hinges have been concealed within the bodywork. In addition, the boot lid is now counter-balanced for easier opening.
The other major outward change is the adoption of a revised exterior moulding on each side. Essentially this is achieved by the use of an additional chrome strip. This feature, incidentally, will not be fitted to bodies destined for use in the National Bus Company's coach fleet. The NBC has decided that the previous single strip better suits its new red, white and blue coach livery.
New mouldings Internally, the most obvious change on the Elite III is the use of new glassfibre mouldings around the opening roof skylights. These mouldings incorporate both fluorescent lighting for normal use and dimmed lights for night-time operation. The mouldings also contain speakers for the radio and public address system which are individually adjustable for volume. The roof decor has also changed and now features Plaxtons' well-known "castle" motif. Drivers are catered for with a new instrument binnacle and an illuminated switch panel.
Three examples of the Elite HI will be exhibited at Earls Court. One will be mounted on an 11-metre Bedford YRT chassis. A model designed to meet the bus grant specification for express service operation will be shown on a 10-metre Ford chassis. Both of these vehicles will be shown in Plaxtons' own colour scheme. The third body, mounted on an 11-metre Leyland Leopard chassis, will be in the new NBC livery with Midland Red markings.
A I2-metre Panorama Elite III on an AEC chassis will be in the demonstration park.