-speed Leopards po on sale this year
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YIAND VEHICLES officially announced this week that the ' S6-80 six-speed synchromesh gearbbox will be offered for viand Leopard coach chassis for delivery during the 1979/80 won.
'roduction of the -equipped Leopards will mmence in June, with assis becoming )gressively available to lybuilders from early gust.
"he chassis specification for new Leopard follows that the existing mi-automatic-geared )pard, which will continue ne available. A wide choice rear-axle ratios will be .red to meet all types of 'rating requirements.
:hassis for 12-metre (40ft) lywork will be offered with choice of 3.7,4.11, or 4.56 to ear axle ratios, with an litional 3.31 to 1 ratio being Lilable for 11-metre (36ft) .ssis.
rear ratios for the ZF sion of the Leopard will be L, 4.27, 2.73, 1.84, 1.24 and ) to 1 forward and 6.96 to 1 erse.
eyland has aimed the nual-geared Leopard to its AEC Reliance customers, as this vehicle is now being phased out of production.
The ZF-geared Leopard offers operators the following advantages, claims the company: • The higher-rated speed and output of the Leyland 680 engine improves vehicle performance at the top of the engine rev range.
• Sensible ratio spacing within the ZF gearbox, plus careful matching to engine output characteristics, give a superior through-the-gears performance. • The higher designed operating weights of the Leopard provide bodyplus-payload benefits allowing for heavier bodies and higher luggage loadings to be more easily accommodated (the Reliance was not available with a highfloor body such as the Plaxton Viewmaster).
Many operators have remained loyal to the AEC Reliance chassis and have told CM that the Leopard does not match up to the Reliance on braking equipment.
Leyland Leopards have previously been supplied with a four-speed ZF gearbox for bus operations.