Ex-BET swing to Bristol
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• Whatever the implications for other coachbuilders, following the Leyland National announcement this week, one firm with a full order book for the next two years is Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd. One of the largest contracts is from ex-BET National Bus Company subsidiaries which have ordered a total of 172 single-deck bodies.
Of these, no fewer than 145 are to be mounted on Bristol RE chassis—a significant swing in view of the NBC control of the Bristol factory. The buses can be sub-divided as follows: Bristol RESL (33ft 5in. models): Ribble (49), Southdown (10), Aldershot (9); Bristol BELL (36ft models): two separate Contracts of 15 for Aldershot, plus East Midland (9), Western Welsh (20), North Western (18).
The balance of 27 consists of 36ft AEC Swifts for East Kent (15) and South Wales (12), Another major order is from London Transport for 75 33ft 5in, bodies on AEC Merlin chassis. This is the second LTB order for Marshall bodies and the buses will seat 33 passengers with room for 34 standees.
Orders from municipal operators include Southport (10), Sunderland (9), and Exeter (7), all on 36ft Leyland Panthers, while Darlington has ordered 12 bodies (its first from Marshall) to be mounted on 36ft Daimler Fleetline single-deck chassis.