Eye-catching Eagle
Page 20
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THE FIRST Eagle coach ordered by a British operator is now nearly finished at the Bus and Car Company factory at Bruges, Belgium. It will be shipped to Britain in time to "star" in the Baker West coach show at Bordon, Hants, from October 29 to November 2.
Afterwards, importer Terry Parsons — previously with Byngs Coaches, Portsmouth— intends to show the coach in Glasgow during the Scottish Motor Show.
Baker West will act as agent for Bus and Car in the South of Britain—but Mr Parsons has yet to appoint a northern agent. After the first coach has been shown at Bakers and Glasgow it is intended for Noel Tatlock and Sons. The coach has already been tilt tested and Bus and Car foresee no difficulties in obtaining a Certificate of Fitness.
The Eagle has been used by Continental Trailways — the second largest coach company in the USA—as their standard vehicle for 13 years. Vehicles are reported to cover about 27.500 miles per month in the arduous operating conditions found in America. Clutch life is claimed to be 200,000 miles and brake lining life 100,000 miles.
Body styling has remained unaltered — and this styling and absolute reliability are what the Bus and Car Company are hanging their British sales campaign on. They claim that after a 20-year life the coach will still be virtually indistinguishable from a nevi one.
For the British market the three-axle 12-metre Eagle will be fitted with either the sixspeed ZF synchronized manual transmission or a four or fivespeed Allison fully automatic transmission. The engine will be the Detroit Diesel V8 twostroke producing 280 HP.
The seating can be adapter to suit the operator, but th( first coach will have 48 seat plus tables. A toilet is optional