Jump to content

Leyland Leopard: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Made a small start on expanding the article
added/amended links
Line 2: Line 2:
The '''Leyland Leopard''' was a mid-engined single-deck [[bus]] and [[coach (vehicle)|coach]] chassis built by [[Leyland Motors|Leyland]] between [[1959]] and [[1982]]. It was popular with bus and coach operators throughout the British Isles. It was developed from the Leyland Tiger Cub, one of the most important changes being the introduction of the larger and more powerful O.600 engine (later-built Leopards were fitted with the 11.1-litre O.680 engine).
The '''Leyland Leopard''' was a mid-engined single-deck [[bus]] and [[coach (vehicle)|coach]] chassis built by [[Leyland Motors|Leyland]] between [[1959]] and [[1982]]. It was popular with bus and coach operators throughout the British Isles. It was developed from the Leyland Tiger Cub, one of the most important changes being the introduction of the larger and more powerful O.600 engine (later-built Leopards were fitted with the 11.1-litre O.680 engine).


In Scotland, many were bought by subsidiaries of the [[Scottish Bus Group]] and were mostly bodied by [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexanders]] with the Y type body, as both buses and coaches. The Irish company [[C%C3%B3ras_Iompair_%C3%89ireann|CIE]] also bought a substantial fleet, as did its Northern Irish counterpart the [[Ulster Transport Authority|UTA]] and its successor [[Ulsterbus]].
In Scotland, many were bought by subsidiaries of the [[Scottish Bus Group]] and were mostly bodied by [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexanders]] with the Y type body, as both buses and coaches. The Irish company [[Córas Iompair Éireann|CIÉ]] also bought a substantial fleet, as did its Northern Irish counterpart the [[Ulster Transport Authority|UTA]] and its successor [[Ulsterbus]].


In England, [[British_Electric_Traction|BET Group]] subsidiaries were major customers for Leopards. For buses and dual-purpose vehicles, a BET standard design of bodywork was produced, primarily by Marshall and Willowbrook but also to a lesser extent by Weymann and Metro-Cammell. Another major English customer for the Leyland Leopard was [[Barton Transport]] of Chilwell near Nottingham, which built up a fleet of 200 with [[Plaxton Panorama Elite|Plaxton Elite]] and [[Plaxton Supreme|Supreme]] coach bodywork. Unusually for a large operator, Barton standardised on this type of vehicle for all types of work including local stage carriage services; for this reason, all were fitted with a wide two-piece door, known as an "express" or a "grant" door. The latter term refers to the New Bus Grant, whereby the British Government paid part of the cost of a new bus providing it met certain specifications and spent a prescribed proportion of its time on local service work. Many other operators took advantage of this and bought Leopards built to the grant specification.
In England, [[British Electric Traction|BET Group]] subsidiaries were major customers for Leopards. For buses and dual-purpose vehicles, a BET standard design of bodywork was produced, primarily by Marshall and Willowbrook but also to a lesser extent by Weymann and Metro-Cammell. Another major English customer for the Leyland Leopard was [[Barton Transport]] of Chilwell near Nottingham, which built up a fleet of 200 with [[Plaxton Panorama Elite|Plaxton Elite]] and [[Plaxton Supreme|Supreme]] coach bodywork. Unusually for a large operator, Barton standardised on this type of vehicle for all types of work including local stage carriage services; for this reason, all were fitted with a wide two-piece door, known as an "express" or a "grant" door. The latter term refers to the New Bus Grant, whereby the British Government paid part of the cost of a new bus providing it met certain specifications and spent a prescribed proportion of its time on local service work. Many other operators took advantage of this and bought Leopards built to the grant specification.


Leyland Leopards also saw use with the British Military, and were exported to many other countries. Although the vast majority were used as buses or coaches, a few were bodied as pantechnicons, and at least one as a car transporter.
Leyland Leopards also saw use with the British Military, and were exported to many other countries. Although the vast majority were used as buses or coaches, a few were bodied as pantechnicons, and at least one as a car transporter.


The Leyland Leopard's major direct competitor throughout most of its life was the [[AEC]] Reliance, even though AEC was a subsidiary of Leyland for a large proportion of that time. In the 1970s, the [[Volvo B58]] became a serious competitor. There was also some competition for the Leopard from lighter weight chassis such as the [[Bedford]] VAL and Y-series.
The Leyland Leopard's major direct competitor throughout most of its life was the [[AEC Reliance]], even though [[Associated Equipment Company|AEC]] was a subsidiary of Leyland for a large proportion of that time. In the 1970s, the [[Volvo B58]] became a serious competitor. There was also some competition for the Leopard from lighter weight chassis such as the [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]] VAL and Y-series.


The Leopard was superseded by the [[Leyland Tiger]].
The Leopard was superseded by the [[Leyland Tiger]].
Line 17: Line 17:
*Alexander
*Alexander
*Alexander (Belfast)
*Alexander (Belfast)
*Ayats
*[[Ayats]]
*Berkhof (rebodies only)
*[[Berkhof]] (rebodies only)
*Beulas
*[[Beulas]]
*Burlingham
*Burlingham
*Caetano
*[[Salvador Caetano|Caetano]]
*CIE
*CIE
*[[Duple Coachbuilders|Duple]]
*Duple
*Duple (Midland)
*Duple (Midland)
*East Lancs
*[[East Lancs]]
*[[Eastern Coach Works|ECW]]
*ECW
*Fowler
*Fowler
*Harrington
*Harrington
*Jonckheere
*[[Jonckheere]]
*Marshall
*Marshall
*Massey
*Massey
*Metro-Cammell / MCW
*[[Metro-Cammell]] / [[Metro Cammell Weymann|MCW]]
*Neepsend
*Neepsend
*Northern Counties
*[[Northern Counties]]
*Park Royal
*[[Park Royal Vehicles|Park Royal]]
*Pennine
*Pennine
*[[Plaxton]]
*[[Plaxton]]
*Potter
*Potter
*[[Charles H. Roe|Roe]]
*Roe
*[[Park Royal Vehicles|Park Royal]]
*Strachans
*Strachans
*UTA
*UTA
*Van Hool
*[[Van Hool]]
*Van Hool McArdle
*Van Hool McArdle
*Wadham Stringer
*[[Wadham Stringer]]
*Weymann
*[[Weymann Motor Bodies|Weymann]]
*Willowbrook
*Willowbrook
*[[Wrightbus|Wright]]
*[[Wrightbus|Wright]]

Revision as of 03:39, 27 January 2007

A Leyland Leopard coach with Plaxton Supreme IV coach bodywork belonging to the fleet of Pennine of Skipton. It was new to Marfleet's Coaches of Binbrook in 1981 as BTL 485X.

The Leyland Leopard was a mid-engined single-deck bus and coach chassis built by Leyland between 1959 and 1982. It was popular with bus and coach operators throughout the British Isles. It was developed from the Leyland Tiger Cub, one of the most important changes being the introduction of the larger and more powerful O.600 engine (later-built Leopards were fitted with the 11.1-litre O.680 engine).

In Scotland, many were bought by subsidiaries of the Scottish Bus Group and were mostly bodied by Alexanders with the Y type body, as both buses and coaches. The Irish company CIÉ also bought a substantial fleet, as did its Northern Irish counterpart the UTA and its successor Ulsterbus.

In England, BET Group subsidiaries were major customers for Leopards. For buses and dual-purpose vehicles, a BET standard design of bodywork was produced, primarily by Marshall and Willowbrook but also to a lesser extent by Weymann and Metro-Cammell. Another major English customer for the Leyland Leopard was Barton Transport of Chilwell near Nottingham, which built up a fleet of 200 with Plaxton Elite and Supreme coach bodywork. Unusually for a large operator, Barton standardised on this type of vehicle for all types of work including local stage carriage services; for this reason, all were fitted with a wide two-piece door, known as an "express" or a "grant" door. The latter term refers to the New Bus Grant, whereby the British Government paid part of the cost of a new bus providing it met certain specifications and spent a prescribed proportion of its time on local service work. Many other operators took advantage of this and bought Leopards built to the grant specification.

Leyland Leopards also saw use with the British Military, and were exported to many other countries. Although the vast majority were used as buses or coaches, a few were bodied as pantechnicons, and at least one as a car transporter.

The Leyland Leopard's major direct competitor throughout most of its life was the AEC Reliance, even though AEC was a subsidiary of Leyland for a large proportion of that time. In the 1970s, the Volvo B58 became a serious competitor. There was also some competition for the Leopard from lighter weight chassis such as the Bedford VAL and Y-series.

The Leopard was superseded by the Leyland Tiger.

Bodywork

The following coachbuilders produced bus or coach bodywork for the Leyland Leopard. The list includes companies which bodied only a small number of chassis (in some cases, just one).

Bodybuilders who built other styles of non-passenger bodywork on Leopard chassis include Carter, Cocker, Duple and Marshall.

Further information

Stub icon

This bus-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Leyland_Leopard&oldid=103532822"