Appearance is all-important

25th September 1964, Page 266

25th September 1964

Page 266

Page 266, 25th September 1964 — Appearance is all-important

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A STAND-BY-STAND REVIEW OF PASSENGER BODYWORK AT THE SHOW

A GROWING awareness of the fact ft that good styling is an important feature in ordinary stage service bus bodies as well as luxury coaches• is very evident at this year's Show. So marked has been the. trend away from " boxshaped " bodies that almost everysingledecker on view, bus and coach alike, has wrap-round windows at the rear as well as the front. Even in the double-decker field there have been conscious attempts to improve the appearance of "standard" bodies, though it is perhaps unfortunate that completely restyled double-deckers are prominent by their absence.

Further developments in interior trim and equipment are also evident in many exhibits, although some operators still cling to traditional specifications.

ALEXANDER Stand 49 Walter Alexander and Co. (Coachbuilders) Ltd., Glasgow Road, Falkirk

ONE of the new Leyland Panther re-arengined chassis forms the basisof a special 42-seater city service bus exhibited by this coachbuilder. The vehicle, built to the specification of Glasgow Corporation Transport, is designed for operation both as a one-man bus with seating accommodation for a reasonable number of people and as a peak-hour vehicle with ample room for

standing passengers. Features of the body include sealed windows and a fresh-air system, separate central-exit and an adequate number of stainless steel stanchions to aid standing passengers, DUPLE Stain' 38 Duple Motor Bodies Ltd., Edgware Road, The Hyde, Hendon, London, N.W.9 'HE latest coach bodies for the Bedford 1 VAL and Thames 36 chassis, named Vega Major and Mariner respectively, are to be seen on this stand, each seating 49 passengers. A new design of coach seat which includes soft anti-crash trim to the top of the seat back, and known as the Duple 220 passenger seat, is now available throughout the Duple group. A two-piece, E54

wrap-round windscreen is fitted to the Mariner body, as an alternative to the normal single-piece screen and equipment inchides 49 GA.218 observation-type seats. Third exhibit is a 37-seat version of the Bella Vega coach body, mounted on Bedford SB5 chassis. Sealed windows, spot cooling, and fluorescent ,lights are all features of this body.

In addition to the above exhibits three Duple coaches will be available in the Demonstration Park. These will be two 52passenger coaches, a Vega Major on Bedford VAL chassis and a Mariner on Thames 36 chassis, together with a 29-seat Bella Vista on Bedford VAS] chassis.