ACE Cougar
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{about|the type of bus|the ship|MV Cougar Ace}}
{{Infobox UK Bus
|name = ACE Cougar
|image = Provincial Ace Cougar 3 H523CTR.jpg
|caption = The Wadham Stringer bodied ACE Cougar in People's Provincial livery in June 1991
|interiorimage =
|interiorcaption =
|manufacturer = Alternative Chassis Engineering
|production = 1990
|assembly = Huddersfield
|capacity =
|length = 10.5 metres
|width = 2.3 metres
|height =
|floortype = Step entrance
|doors = 1
|weight =
|chassis =
|related =
|engine = Perkins
|powerout =
|transmission = Allison
|predecessor =
|successor = }}
The ACE Cougar was a type of midibus built by Alternative Chassis Engineering (ACE) in England in the early 1990s. It did not prove successful and only two were built.
Details
The ACE Cougar was designed to use Leyland National components wherever this was possible. The chassis was powered by a 6-cylinder rear in-line mounted Perkins Phaser turbo engine coupled to an Allison automatic transmission and air suspension.[http://www.provincialsociety.org/survivors/h523ctr.htm Provincial Society - Survivors] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716085651/http://www.provincialsociety.org/survivors/h523ctr.htm |date=16 July 2011 }} Both models built were 10.5m long and 2.3m wide.{{cite journal|title=Cougar ready to go|journal=Buses|date=April 1991|issue=433|page=151}}
Production and operations
File:Caves Bus Services ACE Cougar J921 TUK.jpg ACE Cougar operating in Solihull with Caves Bus Services in April 1994]]
The Cougar was built in ACE's factory in Huddersfield being launched in October 1990.{{cite journal|last=Booth|first=Gavin|title=Bus Scene: Single-dekers|journal=Buses Focus|date=Autumn 1994|page=24}} The first Cougar was bodied by Wadham Stringer and sold to People's Provincial in 1990.[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-november-1990/21/ace-launches-cougar ACE launches Cougar] Commercial Motor 1 November 1990[http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/list.asp?listname=732&Type=Chassis ACE] Lists on the Web Provincial director James Freeman saw the vehicle as a possible replacement for the company's large fleet of Leyland Nationals, but in the event only one was delivered. It was the only full-size bus bought new by Provincial as an independent company following privatisation in 1987.{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Stewart J|title=Buses in Britain 2: The Mid Nineties|publisher=Capital Transport|date=November 1995|page=175|isbn=1-85414-181-3}} Provincial was taken over by First Hampshire & Dorset in 1995, the Cougar remaining in service until 2004. It has been preserved.[http://www.regent8.co.uk/preserve.htm Preserved Provincial Buses - Gosport and Fareham Omnibus Company (Provincial)]
The second carried Willowbrook Warrior bodywork (a body rarely applied to new vehicles). It was completed in 1991 and was initially painted in a demonstrator livery, but was sold to West Midlands independent Caves Bus Services later in the year. Caves closed down in June 1999 and the Cougar was sold to a private owner on Valentia Island.[http://www.reddibus.com/Caves%20Buses.htm Caves Bus Services] reddibus.co.uk{{cite journal|title=Caves' Cougar|journal=Buses|date=December 2003|issue=585}}
Intended developments
Both Cougars built were technically described as ACE Cougar V models. This was to differentiate them from the Cougar VI, a 12m variant which Alternative Chassis Engineering intended to build for sale to London Regional Transport.{{cite journal|title=Expocoach|journal=Buses|date=January 1991|issue=430|page=19}} The company also intended to create 30 manufacturing jobs producing the vehicles. However, ACE went out of business in late 1991, having produced no further vehicles of any sort.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080820193347/http://www.provincialsociety.org/restoration/res_h523ctr.htm Provincial Society: restoring the first ACE Cougar]