AEC Regal IV explained

AEC Regal IV
Manufacturer:AEC
Production:1949–1962
Assembly:Southall
Floortype:Step entrance
Doors:1–3
Successor:AEC Reliance

The AEC Regal IV was a bus chassis manufactured by AEC.

History

The AEC Regal IV was AEC's first mainstream underfloor engined vehicle. A prototype was built in 1949, before production commenced in 1952.[1] The first 25 were built to the maximum permissible length of 8.4m (27.6feet) for London Transport before maximum length for PSVs increased to 9.1m (29.9feet).[2] [3]

Over 2,600 were built, London Transport was the largest operator, purchasing over 700, while British European Airways purchased 64 as coaches.[4] [5] Production for UK market finished in 1955 with the introduction of the AEC Reliance but it remained in production for export markets until the 1960s.[2]

Notes and References

  1. London Transport First RF Bus Placed in Service Railway Gazette 19 September 1952 page 329
  2. Book: Companion to Road Passenger Transport History. 2013. Roads & Road Transport History Association. Walsall. 978-0-9552876-3-3. 32.
  3. Book: Berry, Howard. AEC Single Deckers. 2018. Amberley Publishing. Stroud. 9781445676722.
  4. Flying High Bus & Coach Preservation August 2016 page 56
  5. Book: John, Godwin. Great British Buses. 2020. 9780244847784. 28–32.