Bova Europa
I can't recall exactly where I took this photo, but The Old Kent Road, London comes to mind. It was a rare thing indeed for me to raise my camera ... and with colour film as well to photograph a foreign import at the time. I struggled with Bedfords and Fords so this then is a rare capture!
The coach is a 'National London' Bova Europa and represented the Dutch manufacturer's first foray into the British market. Bova pitched themselves at the budget end of the market with this integral, but the Europa had much that endeared it to UK operators. The coach was rear engined with vast (for the time) luggage space amidships enabled by the space-frame construction. Power came from a rear vertically mounted DAF 8.25 litre turbocharged Diesel and the coach rode on air suspension. Internally noise levels were low and ride quality was good. For a rear engined coach they steered well and exhibited little of the usual 'tail wagging the dog' feel associated with many a rear engined motor.
Now, from my own point of view, and it's purely a personal one, I grew to hate anything with the DAF 8.25. I detested the rubber prop-shaft feel, something we should have left behind with Bedfords. I disliked sitting in the windscreen whilst driving and every one without exception that I've ever had involvement with had, or went on to develop chronic fuel trouble. The smoky lerthargic 8.25 DAF of the Bova (or DAF SB) wasn't a patch on the 11.6 of the MB ... which I really did like.
Bova Europa
I can't recall exactly where I took this photo, but The Old Kent Road, London comes to mind. It was a rare thing indeed for me to raise my camera ... and with colour film as well to photograph a foreign import at the time. I struggled with Bedfords and Fords so this then is a rare capture!
The coach is a 'National London' Bova Europa and represented the Dutch manufacturer's first foray into the British market. Bova pitched themselves at the budget end of the market with this integral, but the Europa had much that endeared it to UK operators. The coach was rear engined with vast (for the time) luggage space amidships enabled by the space-frame construction. Power came from a rear vertically mounted DAF 8.25 litre turbocharged Diesel and the coach rode on air suspension. Internally noise levels were low and ride quality was good. For a rear engined coach they steered well and exhibited little of the usual 'tail wagging the dog' feel associated with many a rear engined motor.
Now, from my own point of view, and it's purely a personal one, I grew to hate anything with the DAF 8.25. I detested the rubber prop-shaft feel, something we should have left behind with Bedfords. I disliked sitting in the windscreen whilst driving and every one without exception that I've ever had involvement with had, or went on to develop chronic fuel trouble. The smoky lerthargic 8.25 DAF of the Bova (or DAF SB) wasn't a patch on the 11.6 of the MB ... which I really did like.