Facelift for Northern counties mini
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• Northern Counties, the Wigan-based bus builder, has launched a revised Dodgebased mini-bus, after an earlier design was strongly criticised at last year's Birmingham Bus and Coach Show.
The new design, based on the Dodge S56 chassis, is a departure from Northern's traditional approach as the vehicle does not use any Dodge cab panels. It is all built in-house and is claimed to offer a more distinctive appearance.
The mini-bus is jig built with a square ERW steel tube frame. The roof, front end and rear section are moulded glass reinforced plastic; the side panels are aluminium.
The new mini-bus is available in two wheelbase lengths — 3.6m and 4m — with seating for 19 to 29 with eight standees.
Northern hopes to take some of Optare's market share by selling 200 mini-buses in 1988 at about £25,000.
Nick Parsons, Northern's director of production and engineering, says: "Optare's mini is very expensive but for the money you are getting a very smart vehicle. Our new design it also smart and built to last, but less fussy and therefore cheaper." Northern has already won £1.5 million-worth of orders for 60 new mini-buses from operators including Thamesdown, Alder Valley South, Cleveland Transit and Cynon Valley.