Leyland Panther

Leyland Panther
Preserved Plaxton bodied Leyland Panther in Winchester in January 2013
Overview
Manufacturer	Leyland
Production	1964–1972
Assembly	Farington, England
Body and chassis
Doors	1 or 2
Floor type	Step entrance
Chassis	Stepped ladder frame with straight high ladder frame option
Powertrain
Engine	Leyland 0.600H Leyland 0.680H
Capacity	9.8 litres 11.1 litres
Power output	125-200 bhp
Transmission	Leyland SCG Pneumocyclic with ZF or Voith options
Dimensions
Length	11.0 metres
Width	2.5 metres
Height	3.0 metres
Curb weight	16 tonne GVW max
Chronology
Successor	Leyland National

The Leyland Panther was a rear-engined single-decker bus chassis manufactured by Leyland between 1964 and 1972. A smaller engined version was released as the Leyland Panther Cub.

The Leyland Panther was introduced in 1964. In total, over 600 Panthers were bodied as buses for UK operators, and about 700 chassis were built for export. It gained a reputation for unreliability, which to some extent was common to many of the first generation of rear-engined single-deckers.

Sunderland Corporation Transport ordered 30 Panthers, in 1965 all of which were delivered by December 1966 by 1971 the fleet was 90 strong.Southport Corporation Transport 22 and Liverpool City Transport 110.

in Sweden had 200 left-hand drive Panthers bodied by Park Royal Vehicles.

The largest quantity of Panthers was purchased by Australia's Brisbane City Council, who purchased 341 between 1966 and 1970. The Metropolitan Transport Trust, Perth purchased 127 between 1968 and 1974. A few operators including Forest Coach Lines, Grenda's Bus Service, Melbourne-Brighton Bus Lines and Rover Coaches also purchased Panthers.

Some second-hand Panthers were imported into [Australia]] from Sweden and the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and operated by Fearne's Coaches, Forest Coach Lines, Grenda's Bus Service, Invicta Bus Services and Keiraville Bus Service.