Major styling changes for British coaches
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• Leading luxury coachbuilders—Plaxton and Duple—have each introduced major styling changes to their principal models. which will be seen at Earls Court next month.
Even deeper windows and windscreens are employed, although the main side windows are a little shorter, on the latest variant of the Plaxton Panorama range, known as the Panorama Elite.
An important feature of the Elite is the use of curved glass in the side windows, believed to be the first time this has been used on British-built coaches. Double wrapround windscreens are fitted and are interchangeable with the rear windows.
Three Panorama Elite bodies are to be shown on Plaxton's stand, the longest being a 37ft 1-1-in. 49-seater on a Bedford VAL chassis. Another 49-seater will be a 36ft 10in.-body on Leyland Leopard chassis, this vehicle being finished externally in Ribble standard red and ivory livery. The trio will be completed by a 45-seat body on Bedford VAM chassis with an overall length of 32ft 6in.
The major changes introduced by Duple are evident on the Viceroy body range, the largest of which is the Viceroy 37 53-seater which will be shown on both Bedford VAL 70 chassis and Ford R226. As the bodyname suggests, these coaches are about 37ft in length, the VAL having an overall length of 37ft 3-kin. and the R226 a length of 37ft Oiin.
Although the basic structure remains unchanged, the new Viceroy features a completely restyled frontal grille of stainless steel with double headlamps beneath, enclosed by a curved, toughened glass panel. The moulding layout has also been changed, with a broad stainless steel fluted section running horizontally round the body from the headlamps to the tail lamp fairings at the rear.
Another prominent change is made to the sloping pillar behind the front bay, which is now curved, and the skirt panel has an increased "roll under" to improve appearance and reduce the possibility of kerb damage. Internally the most notable change is the substitution of solid based parcel racks for the open-mesh-type previously employed.
Styling changes have also been made to the popular Commander Mk IV body, which is 36ft overall and normally seats 51 passengers. Similar frontal grille, headlamp fitments and horizontal moulding are provided as on the new Viceroy body. The example to be seen at the Show will seat 44 passengers in reclining seats and will be mounted on an AEC Reliance chassis.
Also to be seen will be a 45-seat Viceroy body on a Bedford VAM chassis, with an overall length of 32ft 6iin.