Optare Vecta

The Optare Vecta was a step-entrance single-decker bus body that was built on MAN chassis by Optare of Leeds, England between 1991 and 1997.[1] The Vecta was largely similar to the Delta body on the DAF SB220, but had a straight front end with a separately mounted destination display. Most were based on the 11.190 chassis, but there were also two built on the less powerful 11.180. The Vecta is built for medium-length chassis whereas the Sigma is built for full length chassis as the Dennis Lance chassis.

Optare Vecta
An Optare Vecta operating with HTL Buses of Liverpool. It was originally an Optare demonstrator.
Overview
ManufacturerOptare
Production1991–1997
AssemblyLeeds, England
Body and chassis
Doors1 door
Floor typeStep entrance
ChassisMAN 11.180/11.190
Powertrain
EngineMAN (original)
Cummins (re-engines)
Capacity31 to 39 seated
TransmissionZF automatic
Dimensions
Length10200mm
Width2500mm
Height3000mm
Chronology
SuccessorOptare Excel

Operators

A total of 130 were built, with the biggest customer being United Automobile Services with 51, including the first two.[2] Trent Buses[3] took 15, while Reading Buses[4] bought 13, including the two 11.180s. Other significant customers included London bus operators Westlink[5] and R & I Tours (eight and five respectively), Scottish coach operator Hutchison of Overtown[6] (seven) and Crosville Cymru[7], Black Prince of Morley[8] and Tillingbourne of Cranleigh[9] (four each).

Second-hand

The United and Crosville Cymru vehicles were subsequently operated by Arriva North East, with some having their MAN engines replaced by Cummins power units.

See also

References
  1. "Optare Vecta citybus unveiled". Commercial Motor Archive. 14 March 1991. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  2. "Optare Vectas for Teesside". Commercial Motor. 10 October 1991. p. 22. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  3. may, steve. "(image) M810 PRA". Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  4. Walton, Tim. "(image) 802 K802DCF Reading Buses Optare Vecta - North Weald". Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  5. Bowerbank, Mark. "(image) Westlink Optare Vecta (MAN 11.190) VA6 N286DWY in Kingston". Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  6. Devoy, David. "(image) HUTCHISON'S OF OVERTOWN L23WGA". Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  7. "(image) Crosville Wales Optare Vecta M 504 AJC". Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  8. Pridden, Lewis. "(image) Preserved M73 WYG MAN 11.190 Optare Vecta". Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  9. Wadman, Michael. "(image) Tillingbourne-P105CPJ-Guildford-080798b". Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.