Leyland Cub

The Leyland Cub CU series was a midibus manufactured by Leyland between 1979 and 1987. There was a previous Leyland Cub, the K series built at Leyland's Ham factory between 1931 and 1939.

Not to be confused with Leyland Panther Cub or Leyland Tiger Cub.

Leyland Cub
Preserved Lothian Regional Transport Duple Dominant bodied Cub CU435 in May 2010
Overview
ManufacturerLeyland
Production1979-1987
Body and chassis
Doors1 door
Floor typeStep entrance
Powertrain
EngineLeyland 6.98NV
Leyland 6.98DV
TransmissionAllison 545
Dimensions
Length6.7m (CU335)
7.2m (CU385)
7.7m (CU435)
Chronology
PredecessorLeyland Terrier
SuccessorLeyland Swift

The Cub was derived from the Terrier truck chassis, and was originally built at Leyland's Scottish plant in Bathgate.[1] It was available in three variants - CU335, CU385 and CU435, the number in each indicating the wheelbase length in centimetres. It was usually fitted with Leyland's 5.7-litre 6.98NV engine, though the derated 6.98DV was also an option.

Most Cubs were built for local authorities and the welfare sector, and thus carried bodywork by Wadham Stringer of Hampshire or Reeve Burgess of Derbyshire. However, Lothian Regional Transport took 18 CU435s with Duple Dominant bodies in 1981, while the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive bought 15 with Optare bodies in 1986.[2] There were also four Reeve Burgess-bodied Cubs for Southdown Motor Services in 1983/84, and two for Greater Manchester PTE in 1985.[3]

The Cub was superseded in 1987 by another truck-derived midibus, the Leyland Swift.[4]

Surviving vehicles include one WYPTE example and one GMPTE example, as well as a number of non-PSV examples which are mostly used as campers. The preserved WYPTE vehicle appeared in an episode of Vera taking miners to a colliery in a 1980s flashback scene.

References
  1. Buses Yearbook 2009 (Ian Allan Publishing, 2008). ISBN 978-0-7110-3295-8
  2. WYPTE 1807 Transport Yorkshire Preservation Group
  3. Acquisition of Leyland Cub 1702 Selnec Preservation Society
  4. Leyland's Swift bus debut Commercial Motor 25 April 1987
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