New Duple Vega 31 coach
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and restyled Vista 25 body
by Derek Moses
• Because of the continuing demand for the Bedford SB bus and coach chassis; an entirely new body style for 1970 has been announced by Duple Group Sales Ltd. Last year about 50 coaches were produced by Duple on the SB chassis and were built to the Bella Vega 41-seat design, which was becoming out-dated in appearance. Nevertheless the demand exceeded the supply.
Consequently Duple has arranged to produce 100 coaches on the SB chassis for 1970, but has replaced the Bella Vega body with one of contemporary styling, which fits in with the complete 1970 Duple model range. The new coach is said to be based on the Viceroy range and does, indeed, have a similar frontal grille and other Viceroy features, although to me the new body more closely resembles the Blackpool-produced Viscount body of two years ago.
Another restyled model is the 1970version of the Vista 25, a 29-seater on the Bedford VAS short-wheelbase chassis with set-back front axle. This coach has also been given a face-lift, and incorporates Viceroy features, including the new grille. All models in the Duple coach range now have stainless steel mouldings, and special bumpers incorporating rubber sections.
The Vega 31 is a 41-seat coach with an overall length of 31ft 4+in., an increased seat pitch (2ft 5iin.) and can be produced as a 7ft 6in.-wide version for use in areas with narrow roads. Both 8ft and 7ft 6in.-wide versions of the Vista 25 are also available.
It was in October 1951 that a new "S" range of Bedford trucks and buses was introduced, the passenger model carrying the nomenclature SB, and this latter chassis has been in continuous production since then. In April 1961 the new Bedford VAS chassis with set-back front axle was introduced as the first of a new series of short, medium and long passenger chassis. The VAL twin-steer model for 36ft bodies was introduced in October 1962 and the medium-length model, the YAM, was eventually introduced in June 1965, and also had a set-back front axle. It was designed for 45seat coach bodies.
The original intention was that the SB should be superseded by the VAM, but demand for the former continued, due mainly to its lower price and its availability as a 7ft 6in.-wide model. Even with the new body, a Bedford SB5 costs £1,000 less than a Duple-bodied YAM and the main penalty is only the loss of four seats. The B is avail able with either the 330 cu. Bedford diesel or 300 cu. in. petrol engine d four-or five-speed gearbox.
A spokesman for Duple told e that the 1970 production of 100 Vega 31s had already been sold either to customers or dealers and that about 30 7ft 6in.-wide versions would be produced. Operators in the Channel Islands had specified petrol engines, and Salopia Saloon Coaches Ltd., Whitchurch, Salop, had also specified petrolengined Vega 31 models, after having operated petrol-enginekl Bedford VAMs.
The first production Vega 31s are due for completion in October.