Leyland National story "Project FPB7" Mockup

Having seen that the multi axle Commutabus mockup was not what the bus industry required, Leyland went back to the drawing board. In 1968, Leyland commenced work on a new £1.6 million development project known as Project FPB7 (forward project bus 7) to design a rear-engined single-deck Integral citybus with right or left-hand drive to be offered in three overall lengths of 10, 11 and 12-metres for the home market and overseas markets. The new bus would be built using the same methods used in the car industry which would require a new advanced factory to be built. A highly skilled team was selected for the project including experience from Leyland's car division of Rover and Triumph this was before the shot gun marriage which seen Leyland Motor Corporation merge with British Motor Holdings in May 1968 to form British Leyland Motor Corporation.

 

Two important people were involved in the Project FPB7, first Joe McGowan who was the Engineering Director and leader of the project. The second important person was Dr Albert Fogg who joined Leyland Motor Corporation in 1965 and was the Corporate Director responsible for Engineering. At the 1988 Earl's Court Motor Show Leyland announced the 8.2-litre fixed head turbocharged six cylinder 500 series diesel engine available as a vertical or horizontal engine, it was this engine in horizontal form known as the 510 which was chosen to be used in FPB7 because of its compact dimensions.

 

By late 1968, possibly early 1969, Leyland had built a 2-door 11-metre wooden FPB7 mockup which apart from minor details is how the Leyland National would look. It was July 1969 when the National Bus Company would go into partnership with the British Leyland Truck & Bus Division to form the Leyland National Company Ltd responsible for the design and manufacturing of the Leyland National bus. At this stage the project became B7 with seven prototype buses built in secrecy at Leyland during 1969/70 numbered B701-B707.

 

In September 1969, it was announced that Marcus Smith was appointed as Director and General Manager of the Leyland National Company Ltd. At the same time it was announced that the Leyland National would be built at new state of the art bus assembly factory to be built on a greenfield site at Lillyhall near Workington on the Cumberland coast.

 

This official Leyland publicity photograph shows the project FPB7 mockup which had advanced almost to the final form in terms of the side view. The front windscreen with nearly square corners and lower panel treatment was different, and arguably more modern than the final design chosen. The Rover stylist David Bache was responsible for the exterior styling complete with recessed roof cove panels for exterior advertising. I can only guess that many modifications were made to the mockup. Finally the Italian stylist Michelotti was involved in the final styling of the Leyland National which was also applied to the mockup.

 

Photograph credit: British Leyland Truck & Bus Division/Basil Hancock

 

This is my final post of 2020, I would like to thank all the people who have viewed my posts, added them as their favourite and left comments. I will continue in 2021 posting interesting and unseen Leyland publicity photographs telling the story of bus and coach models from Leyland's back catalogue going back over 50 years. The Leyland National is a story close to my heart because I live in Workington and have friends who worked at the Leyland National factory.

 

Bibliography:-

 

Books: Leyland Bus Mk2 Doug Jack, Beyond Reality, Leyland Bus The Twilight Years Doug Jack

Done