Supreme heralds all-metal body for Plaxtons

20th September 1974, Page 84

20th September 1974

Page 84

Page 84, 20th September 1974 — Supreme heralds all-metal body for Plaxtons

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PLAXTONS today announced its new model for the Show, the Panorama Supreme. The body is designed for either the Bedford VAS or the Bristol LHS chassis and an example of each is at Earls Court. The Supreme has much more structural metal than its predecessor and is the forerunner of a whole new range of all-metal bodies which the company is to introduce. A complete Supreme range will be introduced next summer to supersede the Elite series and it will have an all-steel tubular frame and welded panels.

The Supreme models introduced today retain some wood, notably panelmounting inserts in the Usection steel body pillars. Despite this the Supreme look will be common throughout the range and can be judged from the show exhibits. Although there is a strong family similarity with the Elite the main change is the different side profile with windows which reach higher, and a re-styled frontend and windscreen.

Steel body bearers are used together with steel roof sticks and cant and waist rails. Side panels below the waist are in aluminium with front and rear panels in grp. The front screen, which is interchangeable with rear, is of a double-curvature design which is said to be easier to laminate than the old design.

There are some differences in the design of the body between the VAS and LHS chassis. Most important of these is the door position. On the VAS (with 29 seats) this is behind the front axle with a seat ahead of it. The LHS (with 35 seats), on the other hand, has the door ahead of the axle at the very front of the body. On the VAS a swivel door is used, for the first time on this chassis, it is said. Power operation of the door is available as an optional extra. , Emergency exit is provided by a door at t offside rear. An interestin point here is the type of lock. This is a double claw unit with an easy-to-operate handle. The lock, developed by Plaxtons, is said to be burst-proof. Forced air ventilation is provided with separate ducts to direct air down the windows. Pressurized demisting is provided for the front screens with separate outlets above the front quarters.

The parcels racks have been redesigned so that the air outlets and individual reading lights are recessed below the line of two, 50 mm (2 in.) thick strips of foam padding.

The third vehicle on Plaxtons' Earls Court stand is an AEC Reliance with 11 m Elite bodywork. This is split into three sections to provide demonstration of several different types of seating. The seats at the front are conventional fixed type. Some of these are the standard seat while others are a new optional extra seat, which has a doublecurvature ply back allowing greater passenger retention during cornering. The centre section has reclining seats and card tables while the rear area has a curved seating unit.

All the Plaxtons exhibits are finished in a striking mauve livery.