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Nenty of room inside!

But space is just one side of the story. There's a lot more on the psv stands that's exciting and innovative, says Noel Millier

V OVERSEAS competition British psv manufacturers is f much in evidence at the , with Scania and Renault ing for sections of the bus ket, and Jonckheere Neo and Kassbohrer hoping to a slice of the coach action. ut British manufacturers are ly to meet the new competihead on. New chassis und with important models the Leyland, Bedford, and mis stands and exciting body elopments from Alexander I Plaxtons.

number of well-known body nufacturers don't have their n stands but examples of ), East Lancs and Duple, are show on Scania and OAF nds (Stands 21 and 106 restively).

he number of psv exhibits on iw is small in relation to the ducts actually available, but at there is is both stimulating I innovative so the second inmercial Motor Show to be d at the NEC is a must for isenger men. Stand 13, Hall 5 Renault Trucks and Buses (UK) Ltd, 19-21 Park Royal Road, London NW10 7JH.

A new right-hand drive singledeck city bus is on show for the first time. Familiar in French cities for several years, the Renault PR100 is powered by a Renault 6.82-litre rear-mounted naturally aspirated engine inclined at 550 and producing 138kW (185bhp) at 2,400 rpm. The transmission on this integral bus is the familiar Voith D851 fully automatic unit also used is MCW, Dennis and Scania city buses on show.

The Show bus is fitted out to the specifications of Singapore Bus Services.

Stand 14, Hall 5 Shelvoke & Drewry, Ichnield Way, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, SG6 1EN.

Showing its first bus chassis for about 40 years Shelvoke has produced a low-floor design specifically developed for airport airside transfer duty.

The chassis on display uses Ford R-Series running units but the company says the design can be adapted for other proprietary engines and equipment as needed.

Stand 18, Hall J Volvo Bus (GB) Ltd, Staines Road, Bedfont, Feltham, Middlesex Volvo's new B1OM coach chassis is on display here together with the Mark 3 Scottishbuilt Ailsa double-deck bus underframe.

The B1OM is a mid-engined air-sprung chassis using many components proved in the established and continuing B58. Rolling bellows-type air suspension using four bellows at the rear and two at the front is used on the all-welded main frame. The new chassis features a normal ride height that can be increased by up to 45mm (1.7in) by a manual overide control for use when climbing ferry ramps and the like.

The B1OM is powered by the Volvo THD 100DD turbocharged engine developing 195kW (262bhp) at 2,200rpm coupled to a six-speed ZF gearbox with a splitter giving 12 forward gears.

The chassis will initially be available in the UK only with a 6.1m (20ft) wheelbase for 12m (40ft) coachwork.

Volvo says that this is the only basic coach chassis in the UK to meet German Tempo 100 speed regulations, allowing coaches to operate at 100km/h (62mph) on West German autobahns.

These regulations are stringent, including a power/weight ratio of 15bhp/ton, a tachograph calibrated to 125km/h (78mph), wind-off brake chambers, a retarder or extra brake system, and approved tyres.

The Ailsa Mark 3 underframe includes a number of modifications new to Britain's only frontengined double-deck bus underframe. It features a new ver sion of the TD70 engine, the 15kW (202bhp) TD70H, which has a smaller turbocharger and a higher injection opening pressure giving more rapid and precise injection.

Volvo says these modifications have increased torque at lower engine speeds and should, combined with improved idling characteristics, reduce fuel consumption on city work.

The Mark 3 has a new Britishdesigned and built straight axle with offset input and driving head from Volvo's BV85 axle.

Re-positioned cross-members also make this new product suitable to take wide-bay bodywork and have allowed the gearbox and fuel tank to be mounted at the rear of the frame.

Stand 21, Hall 5 Scania (GB) Ltd, 11 Mount Road, Feltham, Middlesex The first new Scania doubledeck bus designed for the British market since the Swedish firm's break up with Metro CammellWeymann makes its debut here.

East Lancs bodywork with bonded window glazing is featured on the 5.64m (18ft Gin) wheelbase Scania BR112DH.

The bus is powered by the Scania D1 1 naturally aspirated engine developing 1 42kW (190bhp) coupled to a Voith D851 automatic gearbox.

The fully air-sprung Scania is tailored to British requirements and is equipped with air suspension all round and six adjustable shock absorbers.

Stand 24, Hall 5 Walter Alexander & Co (Coachbuilders) Ltd, 91 Glasgow Road, Falkirk FM 3JB Alexander is showing an example of its new R-type double-deck body mounted on a Leyland Olympian chassis.

The body is 9.6m (30ft Gin) long and 4.36m (14ft 4in) high and is manufactured almost entirely from aluminium alloys using heavy gauge light-alloy truss panels.

A pillar centre module gives both strength and good passenger vision, and the Show bus is finished in the livery and to the specification of the Greater Glasgow PTE. The body will also be available on MCW Metrobus, Dennis Dominator, Ailsa Mark 3 and Scania BR112DH chassis.

An export version of the body also on Olympian chassis is on show and is destined to be a demonstrator for Far-Eastern countries. The export 10.3m (33ft 9in) long bus features large window openings and has a 98 passenger seating capacity.

Stand 32, Hall 5 Van Hool SA, Bernard Van Hoolstracet 55, B-2578 Koningshooiht Liew, Belgium Van Hool coaches built at the company's main Belgian plant are on display for the first tim the NEC and exhibits comp an urn (36ft) Alizee N b mounted on a Bedford VP DZO chassis.

This vehicle features a t speed Eaton rear axle, 11tyres and Aeon spring assist Optional body features elude a full-length emerge door with entrance stepwell Continental use. The coach 53 fixed seats.

The Alizee N body style is E on show on a more luxuri 12m (40ft) vehicle on Volvo I chassis which includes a tc compartment, the steps to wlalso lead to a second exit doo 100-litre (22-gal) water tank supply the toilet and the wa basin is included, and this fi equipped coach has 49 seats which 46 are reclinable.

New for the British marke Van Hool's Alizee H high fl coach. Built on a 12m (4 Volvo B1OM chassis with full suspension, the floor of coach is about 160mm (6.: higher than that of the stand version.

As well as allowing a bet view for the passengers, t also permits a large underfli luggage area.

Specifications on this coE includes a ducted windo heating and fresh-air system, reclining seats with inertia r seat belts in accordance sn. German 100km/h (62mph) SE regulations.

Stand 36, Hall 5 Hestair-Dennis, Woodbrid Works, Guildford, Surrey Two new versions of Den bus chassis are on display h( ther with the now-familiar iner 6LXB-powered East :s-bodied Dominator double :e r.

le Dennis Falcon rear unloor engine chassis is makits public debut. The model ;how is powered by a Gard6HLXB engine producing (170bhp) at 1,850rpm. A h D851 fully automatic gearis mounted between the axand a Dennis drop centre axle is used.

r suspension is fitted with bellows at the front and four he rear.

ie Falcon chassis is to be lable with a choice of power s and transmission with leaf ng suspension is also an op. The chassis on show is to ,ive a Duple Dominant single k bus body after the Show will be delivered to Leicester Transport.

Is° on the Stand is a new >ion of the Dominator bus issis destined for South kshire PTE. The SYPTE chasis to be bodied by Alexander features a Rolls-Royce Eagle Mark 3 engine developing kW (180bhp) at 1,850rpm, air pension, S-cam brakes and a light rear axle.

nd 40, Hall 5 land Vehicles Ltd, Preston, cashire

hree new models are among six passenger exhibits on the

Leyland Vehicles stand. The new Olympian double-deck underframe chassis features many components used in the Titan double-decker, including the rear axle and rear suspension, transmission and engine.

Standard equipment includes air suspension, hydraulic gearbox and integral retarder, a front-mounted radiator, air brakes and a hydraulically dri yen engine compartment cooling fan.

The frame is an all-steel perimeter-type made up of channel sections with fabricated cross-members and outriggers.

It is made in three separate modules which comprise the front section to the rear of the front suspension, the centre section between the wheelbase and the rear section, The main frame is fastened by fitted bolts of the Omnicoat micro-encapsulated adhesive type which are known as "sticky bolts".

The Show chassis is fitted with a Leyland TL11 vertical direct-injection six-cylinder turbocharged engine with an oil cooler.

Maximum power from the unit is 127kW (170bhp) at 1,850rpm and it produces 727Nm (535Ibft) at 1,000rpm.

The transmission includes an integral fully charged fluid coupling driving the. five-speed hydraulic gearbox. Operation of the brake bands and direct drive clutch is by hydraulic pressure controlled by an electro-hydraulic valve unit.

The gearbox retarder is a multi-plate oil-wetted disc brake within the box which provides a retarding torque on the gearbox output shaft.

The chassis has a new front axle and suspension designed to satisfy market requirements for a 7.1-tonne (7-ton) front axle.

Unveiled but not to be launched until next year is the new B43 coach chassis. This features full air suspension, a gearbox-mounted Telma retarder, a turbocharged engine and ergonomically designed driver area.

The model on show is a 6.1m (20ft) wheelbase chassis suitable for 12m (40ft) bodywork and designed for operation at 16.2 tonnes (16 tons) gross vehicle weight. It is powered by the Leyland TL11 horizontal direct-injection turbocharged engine which in this application produces 162kW (218bhp) at 2,100rpm and 857Nm (630 lbft) torque at 1,30Orpm.

Leyland's familiar five-speed wide-ratio pneumocyclic gearbox with semi-automatic control is used on the new chassis. The chassis frame is flat topped and is of conventional steel bolted construction with channel section side-members and channel section cross-members.

Substantial outriggers are at

ed to the ends of all the ctural cross-members to N bodybuilders to fit the y saloon floor directly on to mainframe if required.

ill air suspension features on chassis and is of a type ally in use on DAB buses and ;hes built in Denmark. The ;h will be supported by four ng diaphragm air springs at 1 axle, with the springs Jilted on forged steel beams i the axles located by )bolic links.

the rear the rolling diaph-n springs are mounted on an ame made up by two sussion beams spanned by two 35-members.

ne air springs are locked in double-acting hydraulic Ipers and the system is fitted h levelling and isolation res to maintain ride height to provide stability in roll axle wind up.

he third chassis on display is Terrier-based Cub. Launched he Scottish Motor Show last r, the Cub provides the basis small light-weight bus appli cations up to about 25 seats that require the entrance forward of the front axle.

The Cub is powered by the Leyland 6.98 NV naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine which produces 85kW (115bhp) at 2,600rpm. The front-engined Cub employs many parts used in the Terrier bus range and can provide the basis for economic and reliable rural transport.

Three complete buses are featured on the Stand and they consist of one of the last Leyland Titans to be built at the now-defunct Park Royal bodywork plant in London. The bus, which is part of an order for London Transport, is a two-entrance vehicle using many of the components of the new Olympian chassis.

A suburban express version of the Leyland National 2 singledecker is also here and this is the first of the new Nationals to be fitted with extra luggage racks and coach-type seats for limited stop-style operation. The front radiator Leyland 680-powered National 2 is also making its Bir

mingham show debut in full production form.

Finally, an example of Leyland Vehicles' European production is shown. It's an underfloor-engined air-sprung city bus built by the group's wholly owned subsidiary Denmark DAB.

Stand 41, Hall 5 Metro-Camrnell Weymann Limited, PO Box 248, Leigh Road, Washwood Heath, Birmingham B8 21/.1 Two production examples of the MCW Metrobus are on show here, together with Metrobus chassis underframe destined to be bodied by Walter Alexander & Co (Coachbuilders) Ltd for the Scottish Bus Group.

Also on this Stand is a display showing the unique Metrobus driveline incorporating a Gardner 6LXB engine, Voith D851 transmission and Kirkstall hubreduction rear axle.

One of the buses on display is a one-door 73-seat version built for Greater Manchester PTE. The other is a front-entrance centre

unit 71-seat bus destined to join the fleet of London Transport. Both vehicles are powered by the Gardner 6LX13 engine coupled to the Voith D851 gearbox and both buses feature full air suspension. The Manchester bus has air brakes and the London hydraulic.

Both buses are production vehicles and of a type already in passenger Service.

Stand 44, Hall 5 Bedford Commercial Vehicles, PO Box No 3, Luton, Bedfordshire Only one psv exhibit on the Bedford Stand — despite the fact that the marque is in the top two British bestsellers.

But the chassis on display is

one operators have long been waiting for — the Bedford YNT.

Similar to the proven YMT, the YNT adds more power from Bedford's new Blue Series 8.2litre turbocharged engine producing 154kW (206bhp) at 2,500rpm. A 5.3 to 1 ratio Bedford spiral bevel rear axle and new Turner M6 six-speed overdrive gearbox are used.

Though not on display, the YMQ and YMT, powered by a naturally aspirated version of the Blue Series engine, remain in production.

Stand 45, Hall 5 Northern Counties Motor and Engineering Co Ltd, Wigan Lane, Wigan WN1 2CD Leyland's new Olympian underframe provides the basis for one of the two exhibits on this Stand. The 9.6m (31ft 6in) long 4.3m (14ft 2in) high bus has a 73passenger double-deck body built to the specifications of Greater Manchester PTE.

Among the new features on this exhibit is the Luminator electronically controlled magnetic destination equipment on the front and side of the bus. Both units can be operated at the same time by the driver.

Electrical circuits are all controlled from a main.distribution board mounted behind the driver.

The second exhibit is destined for export, and is a left-hand drive double-deck body mounted on a Leyland AN68 Atlantean chassis.

In the blue-and-white livery of the Kuwait Transport Co, the left-hand drive full height 10.7m (33ft 11in) double-decker features three-quarter depth window sliders on its bronzetinted side windows.

The bus is one of a number being supplied to Kuwait.

Stand 48, Hall 5

Salvador Caetano, c/o Moseley Continental Coachwork Ltd, Knighthorpe Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire

Two Volvo B58 12m (40ft) coaches, an 11rn (36ft) Ford R1114 and a OAF MB200 DKTL 12m (40f1) coach are on display on this Stand to show the latest Portuguese-built Moseley Continental Alpha coachwork marketed for British operators.

The bodies are all-metal structures with box sections welded together in a consistency jig. All waist panels are onepiece stressed-steel sheet extending from the window to the 'vehicle floor line.

The Alpha vehicles are fully seated and include a host of equipment, such as full drawn curtains, normally found on the optional extras list, as standard.

Stand 50, Hall 5 Ford Motor Co Ltd, Eagle Way, Warley, Brentwood, Essex CM13 3BW The only psv on this Stand holds no surprises for coach and bus operators. Ford's R1114 coach fitted with a Plaxton Supreme body is shown, and it's powered by the Ford six-litre turbocharged engine.

The vehicle is fitted with optionally available automatic chassis lubrication and brake anti-freeze equipment.

Stand 52, Hall 5 Reeve Burgess Ltd, Bridge Street, Pilsley, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S45 8HF Reeve Burgess is using the Show to launch its first mediumcapacity coach based on the MAN-VW MT chassis. Powered by the MAN 101kW (136bhp) sixcylinder engine and five-speed gearbox, the coach has a body which employs tubular steel framework with steel and aluminium panels and grp front and rear mouldings.

The 26-seater coach has 2.8cum (100cuft) of luggage space and many of the luxury features of the full-size MAN SR280.

A 19-seat conversion of the Mercedes-Benz L508D van is also on show.

Stand 54, Hall 5 Man-VW Truck and Bus Ltd, 361365 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4HS A full-specification version of the integral MAN SR280 range of coaches can be seen on this Stand. The 44-seater right-hand drive coach boasts full kitchen and cloakroom facilities in its 12m (40f1) length.

The MAN 5R280 is powered by a MAN D2566 MTUH turbocharged engine which develops 206kW (280bhp) at 2,200rpm. The engine is a rear-mounted horizontal underfloor unit coupled through a ZF six-speed gearbox to a MAN planetary drive rear axle.

Among the equipment fitted to the coach is a 300-litre (66gal) fuel tank and full air suspension which is independent on the front wheels.

A new MAN VW midi-coach is also being shown on the Reeve Burgess Stand (52).

Stand 56, Hall 5 Plaxtons, Seamer Road, Scarborough V012 4DG Plaxtons' completely new Bustler single-deck all-metal service bus body is making its debut here. Specification of the body, which is on a Bedford YMT chassis, includes 53 standard bus seats, three heaters, a full-height driver's partition, jack-knife air door and fluores cent lighting: The exterior of bus has been finished ir special hand-gloss non-po polyurethane material.

Also making its debut new version of the Supreme 29-seater coach body moun on the Bedford VAS chassis. the first time, the 29-seater in range has been restyled in ke ing with the bigger luxury co bodies. Plaxtons say it is sible to fit 29 luxury E-type dining seats at little additic cost in this vehicle.

The star of the Stand is pr ably a luxury grand tour coach built on the new Vo B1OM air-sprung chassis. Ext on this vehicle include reclin seats, tinted windows, an e) body insulation, fabric to the interior roof and a )Iutionary new warm air rrl," venting air through the age racks.

lally a standard 53-seat on Supreme Express body own on an 11 rn (36ft) LeyLeopard chassis, d 59, Hall 5 Blessington, County WickIreland Asco Clubman 685 25-seat h based on a Fiat 60F10 sis is on display on this d. The coach body is of led steel framing clad with iinium panelling externally melamine surface board in)1Iy.

luxury seats are fitted to coach which also has new t" interior roof trim. Stand' 97, Hall 4 Wadham Stringer Ltd, Hambledon Road, Waterlooville, Hampshire Wadham Stringer's latest Vanguard bus body range has been particularly well-received during the past few months and an example of the "multi-ring steel frames" body which is welded direct on to the chassis is making its NEC debut.

The exhibit is based on a Tricentrol converted Ford T152 chassis.

Stand 104, Hall 4 Karl Kassbohrer Hahrzeugwerke GmBH, Ulm/Donau, Federal German Republic Another newcomer to the NEC is the German Setra coach. Setra stands for selbst-tragend which means integral. The Show coach is a Series 200 full integral vehicle based on Kassbohrer's standard components design.

It is a S215HD high-decker vehicle fitted with a 206kW (280bhp) Mercedes-Benz type 0M422 eight-cylinder engine and ZF six-speed gearbox.

The 47-seater vehicle has independent front suspension and a full air brake system. Setra airconditioning is among the luxury features on this 3.34m (10ft 9in) high 12m (40ft) coach which also sports a locking system for all doors, a water closet, and luggage compartments controlled by the driver.

Kassbohrer is planning to set up a sales and service organisation for the UK market.

Stand 106, Hall 4 OAF Bus, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1LW Exhibiting for the first time at a British Show, DAF Bus has two new coach chassis already making an impact on the British market.

DAF's new turbocharged MB200 DKTL mid-engined chassis is on display fitted with the only Duple Dominant body at the Show. This chassis is powered by a DAF DKTL 11.6litre engine producing 87kW (251bhp) at 2200rprn. A ZF sixspeed gearbox with GV80 twospeed splitter is used.

Designed for touring coaches requiring extra luggage capacity, the DAF SB25000 DHL1 rearengined chassis with semi-integral Plaxton bodywork is the star of the Stand.

Powered by the smaller 8.25litre DHU engine, this is the first British-produced semi-integral coach on this chassis.

The body structure has been specially designed and strengthened to allow the main chassis frame to be removed between the front and rear wheelarches.

A new to Britain rear-end design is featured on the Plaxton body which boasts a total of 7.3cum (260cuft) of luggage space. Stand 110, Hall 4 Roeslare Sales Limited, Beckett House, 14 Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5AW Belgian coachbuilder Jonckheere's UK concessionaires have two coaches on show.

New for British operators is a fully integral Jonckheere Bermuda coach with DAF SB 2005 DHU running gear.

Basic specification includes DAF's 8.25-litre six-cylinder turbocharged and charge-cooled engine and ZF six-speed gearbox with GV80 two-speed splitter. Jonckheere completely modify the DAF transmission and control of this integral vehicle which boasts generous luggage capacity.

The Volvo B1OM 12m (40ft) chassis fitted with a Jonckheere Bermuda highline body is also on show at this Stand and the vehicle will be made available in the UK with optional double glazing.

Stand 111, Hall 4 Neoplan, Gottlob Auwgeter GmBH, Stuttgart, West Germany Three examples of the fully integral Neoplan coach range are making their British show debut on this stand.

The Neoplan N116 Cityliner has the driver located beneath the high-deck passenger floor to give it a capacity of up to 65 passengers within its 12m (40ft) length.

A bonus is NeapIan's spectacular luxury double-decker which can hold up to 105 passengers and its new dimension N117 Spaceliner with driver's cockpit completely separated from the passengers.

Stand 144, Hall 4 Tricentrol Truck and Bus Group, Markyate, Hertfordshire A 12-seat psv conversion on the Ford Transit 130 Custom van is exhibited on this Stand. The Unibus 12 is fitted with 12 moquette-trimmed passenger seats and is powered by a two-litre Ford petrol engine converted by Tricentrol to run on lpg.

Telma brake retarder equipment is also on display here.

Stand 284, Hall 1 Devon Conversions Ltd, Sidmouth, Devon Devon Conversions are showing a new luxury coach version of the Mercedes-Benz 508 van with 19 coach seats.

The 3.8-litre diesel coach features full-length parcel racks, courtesy panels, and stainless steel handrails around the driver and side entrance. A 0.8cum (30cuft) boot is also featured on the biggest psv conversion in the ten-vehicle Devon conversion psv range.