Duple Developments Ambassador Improved
Page 41
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rt/I0D1FICATIONS to the Ambasaisador body for underfloor-engined chassis, and a similar design for forward-engined Vehicles, are introduced by Duple Motor Bodies, Ltd., • The Hyde, Hendon, London, N.W.9. A neater frontal design • and . slight improvements to the profile are the principal changes in the Arnbassidor.
Six of these new models have been delivered to Scout Motor Services, Ltd., Preston. Based on Leyland Royal Tiger chassis, the coaches, which Pare 30 ft. long and 8 ft. wide, seat 41 passengers. Unladen weight is 7 tons 18 cwt.
In place of the curved mouldings under the windscreen and the " butter fly air intakes between the head lamps and fog lamps formerly employed, a single, simple motif now decorates the front panelling, concealing two small air intakes. Head, fog and gide lamps are combined neatly in a raised unit.
The line of the full-length ellipse surrounding the wheel apertures is no longer turned round the front of the body, but is extended and raised slightly at the rear, conferring a more pleasing effect. The driver's compartment has also been modified, the instrument panel being now placed on a horizontal shelf running across the full width of the coach. Two small ducts in the screen rail direct warm air from the heating installation onto the curved side windows.
Bearing a family resemblance both to the Ambassador, from which it derives the wing outline, and to the Bedford
Vega, from which the design cf the driver's cab is inherited, a steel-framed body is being produced by Duple Motor Bodies, Ltd., for the Tilling-Stevens Express. 'chassis. The first • has been delivered to Messrs. D. S. Davies, Pencader, Carms, arid seats 35 passengers. Overall length is 30 ft., 'width is 7 ft. 6 ins, and the unladen weight is 5 tons 12 cwt.
An exceptionally wide external sliding entrance door and .unusually wide side windows are features of this design, which incorporates a sliding roof, radio and heating installations. Air for the heaters.is taken in from a new design of intake above the curved side windows over the cab. This is turned upwards to take advantage of the maximum ram effect possible with a moving coach.