Changing spots
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LEYLAND'S ZF-geared Leopard coach should satisfy most AEC Reliance customers' needs, if it is available in time. This became apparent this week when CM spoke to some of the Reliance's most faithful buyers.
Premier Travel Services of Cambridge, which runs 50 Reliances on stage and express services, hopes to switch to the Leopard if the six-speed ZF synchromesh gearbox is offered for next season, but it wants the Leopard's braking system brought up to date.
Leyland Vehicles says it is aware of operators' feelings about Leopard brakes, but feels it cannot modify those in the current model. But it hopes to offer superior braking in B43, the Mark Two Leopard for the 1980s.
Premier says it has no wish to buy foreign vehicles, an opinion shared by Hutchison's Coaches of Overton, in Lanarkshire, which uses 40 Reliances on stage and coach work. It wants the ZF Leopard because of its simple mechanical specification, but does not want vehicles with semiautomatic gearboxes or fan belts.
Yelloway of Rochdale (60 Reliances) and Surrey Motors of Sutton (14 Reliances) have still to reach a decision on their future orders. Both like ZF synchromesh gearboxes and are interested in a Leopard with such equipment, but neither is committing itself at this stage.