An un-loved Swift.
In the early years of post NBC privatisation, many operations were not ideally placed to survive in the new modern minimalist and degraded world. Some operators rose to the challenge and attempted to make a success of things by expansion. In some cases, like PMT, this not only meant expanding their territory, but by making their large engineering sector a stand alone business.
PMT Engineering went on to not just perform mechanical services and re-paints, but to convert vans to minibuses and also build complete bodies. The range of complete bodies comprised 'The Bursley' (on such as the Freight Rover Sherpa, 'The Hanbridge' (on things like Mercedes 709 / Dodge S50/56), 'The Ami' (on Mercedes 811/814) and 'The Knype' (on Leyland Swifts . . . although the prototype was on a Merc). Most of the names derived from the novels of local author Arnold Bennett.
Allegedly, styling input was derived from students at a local college, though how many of them left qualified we can only wonder.
Here, descending Lichfield Street in Hanley, past the bus station, is Leyland Swift / Knype, E342 NFA. My recollection is that all were built with rectangular headlights and that these round 7 inch offerings are a later conversion. The 'parts bin' engineered Leyland Swift (Bristol LH replacement) didn't really acquit itself well either with regular complaints about inadequate and variable braking.
An un-loved Swift.
In the early years of post NBC privatisation, many operations were not ideally placed to survive in the new modern minimalist and degraded world. Some operators rose to the challenge and attempted to make a success of things by expansion. In some cases, like PMT, this not only meant expanding their territory, but by making their large engineering sector a stand alone business.
PMT Engineering went on to not just perform mechanical services and re-paints, but to convert vans to minibuses and also build complete bodies. The range of complete bodies comprised 'The Bursley' (on such as the Freight Rover Sherpa, 'The Hanbridge' (on things like Mercedes 709 / Dodge S50/56), 'The Ami' (on Mercedes 811/814) and 'The Knype' (on Leyland Swifts . . . although the prototype was on a Merc). Most of the names derived from the novels of local author Arnold Bennett.
Allegedly, styling input was derived from students at a local college, though how many of them left qualified we can only wonder.
Here, descending Lichfield Street in Hanley, past the bus station, is Leyland Swift / Knype, E342 NFA. My recollection is that all were built with rectangular headlights and that these round 7 inch offerings are a later conversion. The 'parts bin' engineered Leyland Swift (Bristol LH replacement) didn't really acquit itself well either with regular complaints about inadequate and variable braking.