TV2 1955 Leyland Comet bus

TV2's promotional vehicle "BWITH2" preserves some passenger transport history from 1955. This NZMB bodied Leyland Comet was new to Weld Motors, of Palmerston North, and was purchased by Martinborough based Mercury Buses in February 1975.

Purchased by Television New Zealand in 1996, this striking looking bus is now Isuzu powered and later preserved at MoTaT in Auckland in 2003.

Photo: TVNZ Publicity/Kaye Wilson and scanned from the Omnibus Bulletin, July 1998.

 

CARJAM DETAILS:

Make: 1955 LEYLAND

Colour: Silver

Second Colour: Yellow

Plate: MOTAT

Engine No: 035010213

Chassis: 553496

Seats: 37

CC rating: 3,600cc

Fuel Type: Diesel

Plates History:

MOTAT - 13 June 2003

BHH137 - 27 May 2003

2BABE - 13 September 2000

BWITH2 – 10 January 1997

ER8692 - 18 October 1955

Cancellation Date Of Registration: 2 November 2009

www.businfo.nz/index.php?R=6222

 

The Leyland Comet was a medium weight chassis introduced in 1948. Initial versions (ECPP1 and ECP01) were normal control and available with 300 cu in petrol and diesel engines although it is thought that only the petrol engined ECPP1 came to New Zealand.

These had a 210in wheelbase for a 27ft 6in body length In 1952 the chassis became forward control and was available with a 350 cu in diesel engine only. This version was the ECP02.1 with a 203 in wheelbase for a 30ft body length In 1962 this was replaced by the 12C.6RP with 370 cu in engine.

This was joined in 1963 by th 13C.6RP with the Leyland O.400 engine. Production of these models ceased in 1968.

Leyland produced the 13C.16RP until 1971 but none of these came to New Zealand.

 

The YouTube 2000 version of the TV2 “You Only Wanna Be With 2” which features the 1955 Leyland Comet Isuzu powered bus:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OdrHDiNRCI

 

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