Another St. Helens Museum gem.
Perhaps not technically in the same league as the Leyland Lowloader in the previous posting, but quite a significant vehicle in its own right as the type is almost extinct.
CIW 708 started out in life as an Hestair Dennis 'Dorchester' Demonstrator A767 HPF. Ths chassis type we to be the Guildford based firm's answer to the Leyland Tiger, but was even more solidly constructed. Power came from a mid mounted Gardner 6HLXCT and generally speaking the chassis were air suspended. Almost all of those built had Voith gearboxs, which may have been their undoing as they were nowhere near as drivable as the 5 speed semi-auto fitted to the majority of Tigers of the era. That said, they were probably better then Tigers fitted with manual boxes! I can't say for sure, but I believe they were slightly dearer than the comparable Leyland.
Bodywork was by Duple in this case who at the time were another Hestair company and to their 'Carribean' design. After its time as a demonstrator was over, it passed to the Warrington Coachlines fleet, a division of the Municipal operator. It's perhaps fitting then that it now resides not too far from that town in neighbouring St. Helens.
Another St. Helens Museum gem.
Perhaps not technically in the same league as the Leyland Lowloader in the previous posting, but quite a significant vehicle in its own right as the type is almost extinct.
CIW 708 started out in life as an Hestair Dennis 'Dorchester' Demonstrator A767 HPF. Ths chassis type we to be the Guildford based firm's answer to the Leyland Tiger, but was even more solidly constructed. Power came from a mid mounted Gardner 6HLXCT and generally speaking the chassis were air suspended. Almost all of those built had Voith gearboxs, which may have been their undoing as they were nowhere near as drivable as the 5 speed semi-auto fitted to the majority of Tigers of the era. That said, they were probably better then Tigers fitted with manual boxes! I can't say for sure, but I believe they were slightly dearer than the comparable Leyland.
Bodywork was by Duple in this case who at the time were another Hestair company and to their 'Carribean' design. After its time as a demonstrator was over, it passed to the Warrington Coachlines fleet, a division of the Municipal operator. It's perhaps fitting then that it now resides not too far from that town in neighbouring St. Helens.