A great vlog. I remember the semi automatic Leyland's when I was in school in Sydney Australia, that was real driving. I like how you respect the gear selection, I've seen other drivers show no respect for how to change gears. I drive buses in Sydney, now a bit boring, fully automatic, air conditioned etc, but in Sydney traffic!! FYI, my first time visiting NZ was when I was 18yo to visit my Aunt who lived in Invercargill, Waikiwi to be precise, great memories!
I remember riding these Leopards when Ventura in Melbourne,Australia had them,they were a regular in my school run for a couple of years until they were replaced with low floor Scania's. The batch used most regularly on the school run I was on, were built in 1984, so not much different to this one,they had PMC Sydney bodywork.
Ventura Leylands are definitely iconic. I think they had more Tigers than Leopards though, the PMC batch that I think you’re referring to were Tigers. Many of the older drivers still say that they were their favourite buses to drive.
It's interesting seeing how the Leyland Leopard cab layout changes based on bodybuilder, my Dad and I owned 2 Leopards - one of which was the last built for a Scottish fleet in 1982. They were both Alexanders bodied, one a Y-type and the other a T-type. Alexanders had their own dashboard was more one-piece and they didn't use the classic silver Leyland switch-panel that your bus has - I think that must date to the 1950's? The steering wheel in your example looks like it could be a truck version. Regarding the leaf springs, I think the majority of Leopards were leaf sprung - the Tiger was available with both air and leaf suspension.
Great video mate, takes me back to driving NCS44 up and down Newlands hill to Wellington, coming down to Dunedin at the beginning of August, would be great to see the bus.
Hi Daniel, cheers , glad you enjoyed the video, it’s great hearing from ex drivers. I don’t own the bus but am involved with the OHBS a bit, keep in touch will see if I can arrange .
No clutch, change gears on engine revs, in Perth WA the best buses to drive were the Leyland Panthers. They had a great exhaust sound you could hear when to change gears. But then MTT bought some Hinos and you couldn’t hear the exhaust you had to rely on the tachometer to judge when to change down.
A great vlog. I remember the semi automatic Leyland's when I was in school in Sydney Australia, that was real driving. I like how you respect the gear selection, I've seen other drivers show no respect for how to change gears. I drive buses in Sydney, now a bit boring, fully automatic, air conditioned etc, but in Sydney traffic!! FYI, my first time visiting NZ was when I was 18yo to visit my Aunt who lived in Invercargill, Waikiwi to be precise, great memories!
Those gearboxes were superb, a complete pleasure to use. you could make changes that people didn't even notice. Justsaying
Yes 👍🏻 very nice to drive .
I remember riding these Leopards when Ventura in Melbourne,Australia had them,they were a regular in my school run for a couple of years until they were replaced with low floor Scania's.
The batch used most regularly on the school run I was on, were built in 1984, so not much different to this one,they had PMC Sydney bodywork.
Ventura Leylands are definitely iconic.
I think they had more Tigers than Leopards though, the PMC batch that I think you’re referring to were Tigers.
Many of the older drivers still say that they were their favourite buses to drive.
@busesaroundmelbourne The last batch of the Leopards built in 1983/84 had PMC Sydney bodies.Then the Tigers followed on from these.
It's interesting seeing how the Leyland Leopard cab layout changes based on bodybuilder, my Dad and I owned 2 Leopards - one of which was the last built for a Scottish fleet in 1982. They were both Alexanders bodied, one a Y-type and the other a T-type. Alexanders had their own dashboard was more one-piece and they didn't use the classic silver Leyland switch-panel that your bus has - I think that must date to the 1950's? The steering wheel in your example looks like it could be a truck version. Regarding the leaf springs, I think the majority of Leopards were leaf sprung - the Tiger was available with both air and leaf suspension.
Sydney's 744 Leopards all had air suspension and didn't you know it over undulations! Talk about floaty.
Great video mate, takes me back to driving NCS44 up and down Newlands hill to Wellington, coming down to Dunedin at the beginning of August, would be great to see the bus.
Hi Daniel, cheers , glad you enjoyed the video, it’s great hearing from ex drivers. I don’t own the bus but am involved with the OHBS a bit, keep in touch will see if I can arrange .
Saw that Hong Kong double decker when I drove past the site, would love to have a ride in that!
Excellent video, Nick. Well done 👏
Thanks Jordan
Hi Nick. What’s the old purple MAN shown in the video before you leave the yard. Looks like an old valley flyer
Gidday James , yes 👍🏻 it was a Valley Flyer .
Doesn't it have a clutch pedal, does it?
No clutch, change gears on engine revs, in Perth WA the best buses to drive were the Leyland Panthers. They had a great exhaust sound you could hear when to change gears. But then MTT bought some Hinos and you couldn’t hear the exhaust you had to rely on the tachometer to judge when to change down.
This bus so noisy, not aware about this model.
crusaders rule highlanders druel