HANDSOME COMMANDER IS DUPLE 'SHOW-STOPPER'
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By Derek Moses
THE biennial exhibition of passenger vehicle bodies by Duple Group Sales Ltd., The Hyde, Hendon, London, NW9, is now a regular feature of non-Commercial Motor Show years and, despite the shadow hanging over the industry, the 12th such exhibition, staged this week, is the most ambitious yet. The exhibition, which closes at 6.30 tonight (Friday) includes 16 luxury coach bodies and 11 bus and service coach bodies, all on AEC, Bedford, Ford or Leyland chassis.
Versatility is the keynote of Duple Group production, and exhibits at this "miniature Earls Court" range from 36ft heavy-duty buses and coaches on underfloor-engined chassis right down to a 20/21-passenger special version of the all-metal Compact luxury coach body on Bedford J2L chassis.
This latter vehicle has been designed in conjunction with United Transport International Ltd., for operation in the game reserves of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.
However, the most outstanding vehicle of the coach exhibition is undoubtedly the new Commander HI 51-seater on Leyland Leopard chassis for George Ewer and Co. Ltd., the first of this attractive new design to be built, although later examples can be seen outside the works.
Already more than 100 Commander Ills have been ordered, and the production vehicles are as handsome as artist's impressions suggested they would be. The Commander III features deeper windows than its predecessors and a new, stylish front grille; jet-vents and fluorescent saloon lighting are standard. Extremely comfortable and wide seats are fitted, though at the expense of a gangway which is surprisingly narrow for a 8ft 2÷, in. wide vehicle.
The main section of the coach exhibition is devoted to the successful range of Viceroy bodywork for Ford and Bedford chassis. A new feature for 1968, incorporated on some of the Viceroys, is an entrance with three steps, providing two intermediate steps of 8in. in place of the two-step entrance with a 12in. intermediate step. One vehicle, on Ford R192 chassis and destined for Castle Coaches, features an additional step which slides out from beneath the body when the power-operated entrance door is opened, thus providing a very easy access should the coach have to load or unload away from the kerb.
Other improvements to the 1968 Viceroy include better sound insulation, improved seating and three-way Weathershields opening roof vents in place of the hinged one-way-opening type previously fitted.
An entirely new design of fully adjustable driver's seat is now fitted, together with a compact panel for instruments and switches.
Also lobe seen is an example of the Blackpoolbuilt Viscount body which remains in production, and is largely similar to the earlier Commander body. Two Vista 25 bodies on Bedford VAS chassis complete the coach exhibits.
Service buses
Few changes have been made to the Duple Midland bus bodies for Bedford and Ford chassis; examples on 32ft and 36ft chassis are to be seen. Some of the buses have a plain exterior while others have the rather smart flash of the servicecoach body.
Examples of bus bodywork by Willowbrook Ltd. to BET specification are represented by a 49-seat dual-purpose bus for Ribble Motor Services Ltd.—one of 30 to be supplied to this operator on Leyland Leopard chassis—and the standard 53-seat bus body, also on Leopard chassis, one of seven for the Sunderland District Omnibus Co. Ltd.
The Ribble vehicle is fitted with coach seating and forced-air ventilation, while the Sunderland vehicle incorporates the Tyneside Tartan moquette on its tubular-framed service bus seats and is equipped for one-man operation.
Another Willowbrook exhibit is a 52-seat service bus on an AEC Swift chassis for United Services.