Clean Sweep in Duple Range
Page 11
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THE Duple group of companies are .1 presenting an almost completely new range of coach bodyivorkiat the Commercial Motor Show. Some indications of rationalization of production are evident; both the Duple factory at Hendon and the former Burlingham concern at Blackpool, the latter now known as Duple Motor Bodies (Northern), Ltd., are concentrating on coach. production. The two factories at Loughborough, Duple (Midland) and Willowbrook, are catering mainly for the' bus market.
Each concern continues• to be associated with its own products, however, and among the coaches.in particular there are clearly recognizable 1-lendon and Blackpool styles.
The new models from the Hendon Works indicate an extension to larger vehicles of the distinctive styling introduCed a year ago on the• 29-seat Bella Vista coach for. Bedford VAS chassis. The Bella Vega 41,seater for Bedford SB chassis is, as the name suggests, a successor to the Super Vega. The virtually identical Trooper design for Thames Trader p.s.v. chassis is, similarly, a successor for the Yeoman.
Underfloor-engined A.E.C. Reliance 16-ft. 4-in.-wheelbase chassis or Leyland Leopard or Tiger Cub 16-ft. 2-in.-wheelbase chasriS are catered for by the Commodore; which again conformi to the new Hendon style.. This takes full advantage of the maximum length permissible on models of this type, measuring 31 ft. 10in. overall and seating up to 45 passengers. .
The new Duple (Northern) coach for Bedford SB or Thames Trader.p.s.v. chassis is .called the Firefly and seats up to 41. A larger 36-ft.-long version of.
similar general appearance but
intended for underfloor-engined chassis, christened the Dragonfly, has a standard -seating
capacity of 49. • All the above-mentioned models are of coniposite con struction. Thefl Continental metal-framed 36-ft. coach body, which has been in production:at the Blackpool works since its introduction a year ago, is joined by a development of it known as the Alpine Con tinental. This has a foreed ventilation system with individually controlled outlets above each passenger seat. The exterior windows are fixed and • the number of side pillars has been reduced to improve passenger vision. .•.
Particular attention has been paid to heating and ventilation on the new Duple coach range. The problem of satisfactory ventilation in the rear seats of coaches is tackled on the new Hendon-built range by fitting eight Jet-Vent outlets in an observation-saloon type of rear end with fixed glazing. •
The Smith's refrigerated ventilation system, described in The Commercial Motor of August 17, is being htted to the Show example of the Bella Vega body as an indication of possible future. equipment.
The Willowbrook Show ,exhibits will comprise two Leyland Leopard 36-ft.long single-deckers. A. 54-seat bus will be in Western Welsh livery, whilst a 47-• seat express coach of similar basic design is for Yorkshire Traction.
Unlike the exhibits on the other Duple group stands, all of which are 8-ft. 24-in. wide, the Duple (Midland) exhibits are, with one exception, 7-ft. 6-in. wide, Export service buses on Thames Trader p.s.v. and Bedford VAS chassis are accompanied by a 19-seat service coach on a forward-control version of the Bedford 12 chassis.