Maltese Leyland Tiger Plaxton Premier

4th December 2007

KCY 884 looks like just another ordinary Volvo B10M with Plaxton Premier 3500 bodywork, it's even badged as a Volvo B10M. Infact its not a Volvo B10M and in my opinion its something rather special and worthy of a special feature here on my site!

I saw this coach in Valetta on my first day out in Malta and very quickly noticed that there was something very different and unusual about it.

Using a combination of some rivet counting knowledge (not normally like me!), reference to a PSV Circle book and a subsequent conversation with the driver it turns out that this is in fact is a Leyland Tiger fitted with a locally assembled body built using Plaxton Premier body parts. Very rare indeed as no Leyland Tigers were ever fitted with a Plaxton Premier body, the last ones receiving the very last of the Plaxton Paramount and Plaxton 321 (ex Duple 320/340) body types.

The initial giveaway of the difference was the Leyland Tiger steering wheel, colunm and indicator stalk, however further inspection went on to show Leyland Tiger wheel hubs on the front axle, Tiger style (non B10M) ZF gear stick, accelerator pedal and a non-standard handbrake leaver.

I'm rather fond of Leyland Tiger's and it was pleasing to see one fitted with this more modern style bodywork, especially as the chassis was one of the later ones fitted with the more powerful, reliable and easier to keep going nowadays Cummins L10 engine.

KCY884 Leyland Tiger/Plaxton Premier front (poor shot as in row of parked coaches) 2304x1728 KCY884.jpg.jpg	KCY 884 Standard Plaxton Premier interior 2304x1728 KCY884_interior.jpg.jpg	Giveaway Leyland Tiger front wheel hubs/centres 2304x1728 KCY884_nearside_hub.jpg.jpg	KCY 884 cab showing Leyland steering wheel, controls and gear stick mounted onto Plaxton/Volvo B10M style dash with gages and displays 2304x1728 KCY884_cab.jpg.jpg
Rear of KCY 884 2304x1728 KCY884_rear.jpg.jpg	Another view of KCY 884 showing Leyland Tiger style air throttle pedal, steering wheel and non-standard (DAF type?) hand brake leaver 2304x1728 KCY884_tiger_wheel_and_controls.jpg.jpg