摘要: |
The Leyland National was unveiled to the world in September 1970 when the fifth of seven prototypes - all of them built at Leyland before the Lillyhall factory was completed - was exhibited at the Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court in London. It was registered BTJ 857J. The National was to be produced in two lengths, 11.3m (37ft) and 10.3m (33ft 9in), the maximum permitted for single-deckers having been increased to 12m in 1967. There was a choice of one door or two to the same dimensions and design, up to 52 seats on the 11.3m version and 44 at 10.3m (two-door buses had four fewer seats). The seats over the front wheels faced inwards, but the combination of low profile tyres developed by Goodyear and standard size wheels minimised wheelarch intrusion into the saloon. The 1,421mm front and middle and 812mm back sections were common to both versions; the other five body bays were also 1,421mm on the 11.3m model but 1,218mm in the 10.3m version. These common sets of dimensions within each type made all panels and windows interchangeable. |