Leyland Cabs and Bodies by Ron Phillips

(Torque 31)

Before continuing the story of the LAD cabs beyond 1958, there are a number of items held over from the fifties for which there was no room in Torque No.30. Firstly, the photograph shown on this page depicts a mock-up cab produced by the stylists in 1951 but which was not put into production. It would seem that the “Leyland” badge was to have appeared above the grille, and the model name below. Such a design allows quite a narrow aperture to give access to the engine, and comparison with the “1954 (mouth organ) cab” shows that the latter gave better engine access and had the headlamps moved further apart.

Production of bus fronts for the Titan range continued from the Midland Red batch of 100 in the early fifties through until the mid-sixties. Liverpool, after having had 110 examples of the BMMO design, experienced some problems at the points where the bodywork joined the cab structure, and therefore ordered a new design, of which a total of 193 were made on both PD2/20 and PD2/30 chassis. This front was to remain exclusive to Liverpool, and was incorporated into bodywork built by Crossley and MCCW, during 1956-9. The final thirty with Crossley made shells were supplied for finishing by the Corporation, but changing circumstances caused them to be stored and they were eventually completed in 1960-1 by MCCW.

	CAB MOCK-UP
	This view in the Works shows a timber mock-up goods cab built in 1951, intended for the heavy goods range. The wings are metal, but most of the rest of the structure is wooden. As we knowthis design was not taken up. (BCVMA)

A view of a Comet bus chassis about to be driven from the Works. This shows the scuttle structure around which local coachbuilders could build the bus body and still keep a distinctive Leyland front grille. Note the very rudimentary driver’s seat. (BCVMA)       BUS FRONTS     The special “tin-front” for Liverpool Corporation seen from both sides to illustrate its asymmetric design. Bodywork built by Crossley and MCCW was married to these bonnet and cab support fronts. (BCVMA)

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