Manchester 33-footers highlight
Page 53
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problem of I allsortsI F facing makers AMONG those responding to Manchester's
request for tenders for 94 double-deckers built to an overall length of 33 ft., will, I understand, be Leyland Motors Ltd. This means that Leyland has decided to offer the 33 ft. version of the Atlantean rear-engined double-decker as a standard vehicle.
A 33 ft. Atlantean chassis was exhibited at Earls Court in September, an event backed by substantial advertising. Nevertheless, I understand this prototype, which is merely a lengthened version of the 30 ft. Atlantean, was built to "sound the market". Already committed to 36 ft. versions of the Atlantean for Stockholm (which is taking 50), Leyland was reluctant to introduce a third variation unless there was lady to be a sound demand.
Leyland's position merely serves to emphasize the quandary facing a p.s.v. chassis manufacturing industry trying to meet an increasing variety of requirements from operators. Probably never before has the industry been called upon to provide such a wide range of designs to so many differing dimensions. Yet operators criticize manufacturers for the price charged for the finished product and for extended delivery times.
Although the front-engined 27 ft. doubledecker was obsolescent more than 10 years ago it is still demanded by some operators; others require the 30 ft. version legalized about 1957. Meanwhile Leyland pioneered the rear-engined double-decker, to be followed by Daimler with a bus of similar layout. This introduced the 30 ft. front-entrance double-decker, ideal for adaptation to one-man operation, but now 27 ft. versions are being built—for Great Yarmouth (Leylands) and Walsall (Daimlers).
In the single-decker field all the leading manufacturers have produced rear-engined chassis designs, specifically for one-man operation but even these have to be produced in different lengths to suit the operators, while the amidshipsmounted-underfloor engined single-decker remains in great demand and lengths varying from 27 ft. to 36 ft. are called for. DEREK MOSES.