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GOING DUTCH

27th September 1986
Page 29
Page 29, 27th September 1986 — GOING DUTCH
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This year's Autobus RAI exhibition in Amsterdam included a 26-bed coach with off road capability and shower facilities, and a mobile communications centre complete with satellite dish.

• Despite the noticeable absence of British coachbuilders at the second Autobus RAI exhibition at Amsterdam there were plenty of exhibits to interest British operators.

The three major Dutch coachbuilders, Bova, Berkhof and Smit, displayed their ranges with a number of new variations. The unusually shaped Bova Futura, introduced in 1982, was on show with a number of modifications including a redesigned instrument panel and a main saloon floor sloped towards the front to give passengers a better view. An increasing number of Futuras sold in Europe are now fitted with Mercedes Benz running units and the Bova line-up included one fitted wtih a twin turbo 0M422A engine rated at 330hp.

Three special Futura variants included a 26-seatt26-berth camper vehicle for a Dutch operator. This vehicle is designed to run with a trailer containing shower and WC units. It has an extended roof to accommodate the berths and features "super" single rear tyres for operation in desert conditions.

The second special was an executive model fitted with 23 leather reclining seats while the third was fitted out as a communications vehicle complete with a roof-mounted satellite dish.

Only two vehicles were displayed for British operators. One was a Berkhof Eclipse-bodied Scania K112TR double decker for the 70-strong fleet of The King's Ferry of Medway, the other was a DAF-powered LAG Panoramic integral, for the Sussex Leamland holiday group. This coach was one of an order for five.

Among the exhibits on the Volvo stand was a B1OM city bus, soon to enter service in Holland. This vehicle, named Milieubus, is fitted with the hydraulic accumulator "Cumulo" drive system currently being evaluated on a Volvo doubledecker by London Buses.

Although nominally a bus and coach exhibition, the emphasis remains on coaches in Europe, in particular shuttle type long distance coaches.

Dutch and Belgian operators have not suffered the slump in this type of business experienced by their often hard pressed UK counterparts.

There were a number of buses on show, however, and the most innovative of these was an ultra low floor single decker built by Den Oudsten. This vehicle is powered by a side rearmounted Daf 8.26 litre engine.

British industry was represented at the show by John Holdsworth, Firth Furnishings and John Handly Uniforms with Thomas Electronics showing a new dim dip headlight monitoring system.

by Noel Millier


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