Leyland Panther
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:Infobox UK Bus
The Leyland Panther was a rear-engined single-decker bus chassis manufactured by Leyland between the years 1964 and 1972. A version with a smaller engine was released as the Leyland Panther Cub.[1]
History
The Leyland Panther was introduced in 1964. In total, over 600 Panthers were built for operators in the United Kingdom, while about 700 Panther chassis were built for export.[2]Template:Better source needed
Operators
United Kingdom
Sunderland Corporation Transport ordered 30 Panthers in 1965 with Strachans bodies, all of which were delivered by December 1966;[3][4] by 1971 the fleet was 90 strong.[5] Liverpool City Transport ordered a total of 110 Panthers with Metro Cammell Weymann bodywork while Southport Corporation Transport ordered 22 with Marshall Bus bodywork.[6][7][8] Preston Corporation amassed a fleet of 41 Panthers, including a number with Seddon Pennine bodies and the last six Panthers built.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Hull Corporation Transport were an early adopter of the Leyland Panther with Charles H. Roe bodywork, with one Panther being built in 1964 initially for exhibition by the manufacturer at the Commercial Motor Show. The Hull Corporation eventually took delivery of a total twelve Roe-bodied Panthers.[9][10][11] East Yorkshire Motor Services also ordered Panthers, ordering 19 with Marshall bodywork in 1965 and 1966,[12] while the West Riding Automobile Company took 45 Leyland Panthers in 1967 with both Marshall and Roe bodywork.[13] One has been preserved at the Dewsbury Bus Museum and is restored to "as delivered" condition.
Exports
Storstockholms Lokaltrafik in Sweden had 200 left-hand drive Panthers bodied by Park Royal Vehicles.[14]
The largest quantity of Panthers was purchased by Australia's Brisbane City Council, who purchased 341 between 1966 and 1970.[15] The Metropolitan Transport Trust in Perth purchased 127 between 1968 and 1974.[16] A few operators including Forest Coach Lines, Grenda's Bus Service, Melbourne-Brighton Bus Lines and Rover Coaches also purchased Panthers.[17][18]
Some second-hand Panthers were imported into Australia from Sweden and the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and operated by Fearne's Coaches, Forest Coach Lines, Grenda's Bus Service, Invicta Bus Services and Keiraville Bus Service.[19]
Ten Panthers were sold to Dunedin City Transport in New Zealand,[20] while another ten went to Egged in Israel and were locally bodied by Ha'argaz.[21]
References
- Jack, The Leyland Bus (Mark 2), Glossop 1981
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Leyland's Panther has a Cub Commercial Motor 4 September 1964
- ↑ Leyland Panther Bus Lists on the Web
- ↑ Sunderland Bus Switch Proposals Commercial Motor 3 September 1965
- ↑ Sunderland may buy foreign Commercial Motor 19 December 1969
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Liverpool order may include Swifts Commercial Motor 27 January 1967
- ↑ Smart Panthers from Marshalls Commercial Motor 13 August 1971
- ↑ First o-m-o Panthers for Liverpool Commercial Motor 19 April 1968
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Leyland Gets Stockholm's Order Commercial Motor 11 June 1965
- ↑ Brisbane goes for Panthers Commercial Motor 8 July 1966
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ "Melbourne-Brighton Bus Lines" Australian Bus Panorama issue 8/4 December 1992 page 8
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Leylands for S Africa and Israel Commercial Motor 25 September 1964
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
Script error: No such module "Navbox".