Buses : The Lynx effect
Replacing a bus like the Leyland National was always going to be a tough job. In the end, the National was a trusted, rugged product and a hard act to follow. Its replacement – the Lynx, was introduced...
View ArticleBuses : Leyland Olympian – Rationalisation in action
Mike Humble British Leyland pretty much had the UK bus and coach market sewn up from the late 1970s – certainly as far as double-decker vehicles were concerned. The big names on the roads at that time...
View ArticleBuses : MCW/Optare Metrorider – a bus right on time!
In a quiet part of Birmingham, MCW developed a midibus which was almost exactly what the market required in a post deregulation market. Dogged by early dismal quality, it became the most popular...
View ArticleTested : Optare Solo Eco-Drive
Mike Humble goes On The Buses, dons his drivers cap and brushes up on his Phwoars and Cor Blimey’s whilst getting behind the wheel of the latest bus built in the plant which was at one time part of the...
View ArticleEssays : The 500-Series – Leyland loses its head!
The 500 Series diesel cost Leyland a packet – and not just in development costs. Mike Humble tells the story of this ‘interesting’ engine Fixed head asset CONTRARY to modern day belief, Leyland Truck...
View ArticleNews : Ashok Leyland Takes Control Of Optare
The once former body building plant of C.H Roe in the BL era which became Optare after a Management buy out, has now passed into Indian control… with a familiar name. Ashok Leyland has increased its...
View ArticleBuses : Leyland Leopard 1959-1982
Mike Humble fondly recalls the halcyon days of the UK bus and coaching scene from the 1970s, and pays tribute to the Leyland Leopard. For me, its all about the sound – you never forget the noises of...
View ArticleNot Their Finest Hour : Leyland Titan B15
Mike Humble: AROnline hops on a bus that was destined for Shattered Dreams Parkway, only to find it was actually quite good yet was a victim of it’s own technology, it’s forward modern thinking, oh.....
View ArticleNot their finest hour : Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen
AROnline takes a look at some of the automotive blunders from both our own and rival makes. Your Driver: Mike Humble This one really deserved to win, even after 30 years, the Doyen looks amazing and...
View ArticleEssays : Leyland Bus – the declining years
It’s 20 years since Volvo delivered three killer blows to our motoring industry: 1992 saw the end of Leyland Lynx and Tiger production with total closure being announced for the following year. Mike...
View ArticleBuses: The Bristol VRT & VRL – 1967 to 1981
Mike Humble: One of the many companies within the old British Leyland empire involved with public transport, was Bristol Commercial Vehicles with its headquarters in the suburb of Brislington,...
View ArticleNot their finest hour: Daimler Roadliner – The Lyons made blunder bus.
Daimler tries things new: The Daimler motor company had a rich and respected past of which many people, including bus operators, had an enviable loyalty. William Lyons was almost held in regard as...
View ArticleBest of British : Gardner 6LX diesel engine
Mike Humble Ask many a seasoned truck or bus engineer the simple question ‘who made the best large diesel engine?’ and more than likely the answer without delay would be Gardner. Most of you out there...
View ArticleNews : Optare doubles revenue and reduces losses
Optare sales revenue doubled in the six months to 30 September from £22.7m last year to £46.7m this year. In the six months the company reduced its pre-tax losses from £4.4m to £3.3m. In the last...
View ArticleNews : Ashok Leyland to open R&D facility in the UK
Mike Humble/Bus and Coach magazine Ashok Leyland, the owner of Optare, is to open a Research and Development Centre at the MIRA Technology Park in Nuneaton, creating 30 jobs. The decision was confirmed...
View ArticleThe Bus Section : Leyland Atlantean
Mike Humble Atlantean: bearing the weight of the world Should you be of a certain age, a bus still rustles up a mental picture of something big and noisy with large 22.5in tyres that rattles your...
View ArticleBuses : Daimler and Leyland Fleetline
Mike Humble Coventry’s local hero Daimler had a long and respected image in the eyes and hearts of many a transport manager as a builder of rock solid and cost effective buses right up the brands...
View ArticleNot their finest hour : Ward Bros & ACE Ltd
Mike Humble Ward Brothers of Lepton near Huddersfield at one point ran a medium sized coach business operating a mixed range of services including Continental holidays. To say their choice of prime...
View ArticleNot their finest hour : Guy Wulfrunian
Mike Humble From personal experience, there is no customer more difficult to trade with or educate for that matter than a Bus or Coach operator. Your average road haulier for example will look for...
View ArticleThe Bus Section : Leyland Bus – 20 years since closure
Mike Humble While ploughing through my extensive archive of all things bus and coach just now, I was staggered to notice that, 20 years ago this month, in July 1993 - and after much diversification,...
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