Let's hear it for the Coachbuilders'

I think all coachbuilders, such as Duple, ECW, ROE, & PRV of course, have been treated as "second class citizens" in the world of commercial vehicles.   Why?  Because it has always been the case that a vehicle has been known by the marque of the chassis producer rather than the designer/builder of the bodywork; even when perhaps the chassis/engine (or running-unit) has perhaps shown little obvious development from one model to the next.

Everyone who has any interest in the heritage of British commercial vehicles will know that a vehicle is an "AEC Regent" or a "GUY Arab" or a "Daimler CWA6" etc. and sometimes the bodybuilder might be specified (e.g. GUY Arab with body by ROE).  But from the traveling public's perspective all they see is a bus or coach that takes them somewhere without breaking down and in a timely fashion.  If it achieves that, all is well.  

Their only other interest is easy access and how comfortable it is.  Their visible surroundings are that developed by the coachbuilder, for apart from the wheels they see nothing of the running unit.  So if the ride is good the coachbuilder has played its part as well as that of the chassis manufacturer, yet the emblem they see on the front & the wheels is only that of the latter.  The coachbuilders' name plate is often some small and nearly obscure feature surreptitiously placed inside, if at all.

It is true that the running-unit design is a major factor in comfort, but so is that of the bodywork.  How the body relates to the chassis will largely determine roll and pitch, even more so for a double-decker; how will the whole unit react around bends?  Every element plays its part, even down to the upholstery.

So what's the problem?  Well nothing really, except putting the record straight for those vehicles consigned to history.  And now that the London Routemaster bus is so, I should make special mention of its marque.

Everyone knows it is an "AEC Routemaster" as AEC built the bus didn't they?  After all, AEC always proudly proclaimed, and was widely known as, the "Builder of London's Buses".  Well yes!  But by neatly forgetting about the coachbuilders craft - no - actually; in particular when it comes to the Routemaster.  The Routemaster was a significant development originally by London Transport, and latterly in conjunction with both AEC and PRV who designed and built the final production prototype at LT Chiswick.

It might be forgiven if AEC considered PRV as a subsidiary using the term "Built by AEC" as a generic term but this brings another point.  AEC became a trading name for ACV (Associated Commercial Vehicles) that owned PRV and its subsidiary ROE along with Maudslay, Crossley, Thornycroft & the original AEC marque etc..  So the companies AEC & PRV should be considered equal partners under the ACV umbrella.

For many reasons the Routemaster was different from anything that went before it but in particular the  fact that it was a monocoque design whereby there was no chassis in the conventional sense.  The aluminium bodywork was strengthened to provide support for two bulkhead sub-frames front and rear.  The front providing the engine, gearing & front suspension whilst the rear providing the axle & rear suspension; the design facilitating straightforward body-swapping and, in particular, engine swapping, that often occurred at LT's works at Aldenham.

So AEC provided the bulkheads - the rest was up to PRV to make happen.  So there was arguably as much detailed design & build work at PRV as at AEC; if not more!

Yes of course teamwork was needed between LT, AEC & PRV to design & build the final prototype, and AEC was certainly LT's main point of contact with the group.  But the term "AEC Routemaster" is a misnomer, the truth being that many Routemasters had engines from other manufacturers, Leyland, Cummins and later Iveco, considerably reducing the AEC element.  Whereas, apart from the ECW and Weymann prototypes, all Routemasters were built at PRV including the design & construction of the, too-many-to-mention-here, varieties.

Whilst some did not display the AEC badge, all had one thing in common - the inconspicuous makers plate situated above the luggage compartment by where the conductor stood - that was Park Royal Vehicles!

So let's hear it for the coachbuilders, it is also their skill that have brought us our vehicles.

Here is the Maker's Plate from RM445. Mounted on ash (the popular timber at PRV for the frames of pre-Routemaster buses), I use this as a desk paperweight.

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