Alder Valley to offer Javelins
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Berkhof-bodied Javelin coaches will be available from next April from Alder Valley Engineering.
The vehicles are based on a modified Excellence 1000 body and will cost less than 290,000 for the standard 53-seater.
The Javelin-based body is 3.47m high which compares to the standard 3.3m Excellence bodies, says AVE's sales and marketing director David Waterman. He says the extra height is needed because the Dennis chassis is higher in the centre than other makes carrying Berkhof bodies.
AVE is the sole UK agent for Berkhof and plans to sell up to 12 Javelins next year, out of a total of up to 30 vehicles.
The first Javelin chassis will be delivered to the Berkhof works at Valkenswaard in Holland this month and a demonstrator will be with AVE at Aldershot by Christmas.
Another 24 coaches will be taken on by AVE early next year. All of the Cumminspowered Javelin chassis/ Berkhof bodies will be Dennis Specialist Vehicles' versions.
So far the Volvo BlOM chassis is the most popular on the Excellence body, says AVE. It has stretched steel sides, stainless steel skirt panels and aluminium locker doors.
Dennis Specialist Vehicles claims that its Javelin coach chassis is 10% cheaper than other chassis and because it is lighter than other models it can save up to 15% on fuel costs.
Since it was introduced in 1987, more than 500 Javelin chassis have been sold.
Dennis, which turned over 225m last year, is scheduled to make a 20% increase this year. It believes the deal with Berkhof could generate interest from the Dutch.