Leyland Panther

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]

Not to be confused with Leyland Panther Cub.
Leyland Panther
Preserved Plaxton bodied Leyland Panther in Winchester in January 2013
Overview
ManufacturerLeyland
Production1964–1972
AssemblyFarington, England
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeStep entrance
ChassisStepped ladder frame with straight high ladder frame option
Powertrain
EngineLeyland 0.600H
Leyland 0.680H
Capacity9.8 litres
11.1 litres
Power output125-200 bhp
TransmissionLeyland SCG Pneumocyclic with ZF or Voith options
Dimensions
Length11.0 metres
Width2.5 metres
Height3.0 metres
Curb weight16 tonne GVW max
Chronology
SuccessorLeyland National

History

The Leyland Panther was introduced in 1964. In total, over 600 Panthers were bodied as buses for UK operators, and about 700 chassis were built for export.[2] It gained a reputation for unreliability, which to some extent was common to many of the first generation of rear-engined single-deckers.

Operators

Sunderland Corporation Transport ordered 30 Panthers,[3] in 1965 all of which were delivered by December 1966 [4]by 1971 the fleet was 90 strong.[5] Southport Corporation Transport 22[6] and Liverpool City Transport 110.[7][8]

Exports

Storstockholms Lokaltrafik in Sweden had 200 left-hand drive Panthers bodied by Park Royal Vehicles.[9]

The largest quantity of Panthers was purchased by Australia's Brisbane City Council, who purchased 341 between 1966 and 1970.[10][11] The Metropolitan Transport Trust, Perth purchased 127 between 1968 and 1974.[12][13] A few operators including Forest Coach Lines, Grenda's Bus Service, Melbourne-Brighton Bus Lines and Rover Coaches also purchased Panthers.[14][15][16][17]

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.[18][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
  1. Leyland's Panther has a Cub Commercial Motor 4 September 1964
  2. Leyland Panther Bus Lists on the Web
  3. Sunderland Bus Switch Proposals Commercial Motor 3 September 1965
  4. Sunderland may buy foreign Commercial Motor 19 December 1969
  5. "Bus Lists On The Web". Archived from the original on 3 April 2007.
  6. Smart Panthers from Marshalls Commercial Motor 13 August 1971
  7. Liverpool order may include Swifts Commercial Motor 27 January 1967
  8. First o-m-o Panthers for Liverpool Commercial Motor 19 April 1968
  9. Leyland Gets Stockholm's Order Commercial Motor 11 June 1965
  10. Brisbane goes for Panthers Commercial Motor 8 July 1966
  11. Bus Fleet Lists Brisbane Transport Buses
  12. Tilley, Bruce (1985). MTT Perth. Elizabeth: Railmac Publications. p. 18. ISBN 0 949817 47 3.
  13. Leyland Panther Perthbus Info
  14. Forest Coach Lines Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  15. Brisbane Bus Lines Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  16. "Melbourne-Brighton Bus Lines" Australian Bus Panorama issue 8/4 December 1992 page 8
  17. New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. 1993. p. 26.
  18. Fearne's Investments Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  19. Tilley, Bruce (1986). British Buses in Australia. Elizabeth: Railmac Publications. pp. 38, 39, 46. ISBN 0 949817 52 X.
  20. Millar, Sean; Lynas, Ian (1983). Leyland Buses in Australia and New Zealand. Auckland: Millars Transport Books. p. 15.
  21. Leylands for S Africa and Israel Commercial Motor 25 September 1964
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