Part of Charles Kenward Motors Ltd, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
01527 875432
07718 766839
info@eldersoncoaches.co.uk
Part of Charles Kenward Motors Ltd, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
01527 875432
07718 766839
info@eldersoncoaches.co.uk
Our coach brings together engineering and coachbuilding from two of the most prolific manufacturers in Britain of its time.
The chassis and engine are from Dunstable-based Bedford, the commercial vehicle wing of the Vauxhall Motor Company, -sadly ceased manufacturing in 1986- and the bodywork made by Plaxton of Scarborough, who remain sucessful to this day.
The chassis is a 33ft long Bedford "YRQ" model, fitted with centre-mounted (uprated) 500 cubic Inch / 8198cc six cylinder diesel engine, coupled to a 5 speed manual Eaton gearbox, and like many later YRQs has a straight-air braking system. The Y-series was the last bus model to be made by Bedford, beginning production in 1970 and ending in 1986. In their heyday, Bedford buses were massively popular with small bus and coach operators, owing to their modest cost and rugged, uncomplicated, and dependable engineering-
Their famous advertising slogan: "You see them everywhere" was quite true!
The body is among the last of Plaxtons' "Panorama" models to be made before being suceeded by the famous "Supreme" model- Our coach is a Panorama Elite MkIII made in early 1975, originally fitted with 45 seats, but now reduced to 36 to make way for tables and more legroom!
The Panorama Elite was undoubtedly the most famous and prolific of Plaxtons' designs (for example the coach featured in the Beatles "Magical Mystery Tour" was such a model!), with its graceful, stylish lines and stainless steel trim, and the affection in which it was held is marked by the fact that Plaxton chose to ressurect the name "Elite" for their flagship design launched in 2008.