Albion Viking
{{short description|Bus chassis manufactured by Albion between 1963 and 1980}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox UK Bus
|name = Albion Viking
|image =
|caption =
|manufacturer = Albion
|production = 1963-80
|floortype = Step entrance
|doors = 1-2
|engine = Leyland 0.370
Leyland 0.400
Leyland 0.401
|powerout =
|transmission =
|predecessor = Albion Victor VT
|successor = Leyland Super Viking}}
The Albion Viking was a bus chassis manufactured by Albion between 1963 and 1980.
History
The Albion Viking VK41 was launched in 1963 as a front engined replacement for the Albion Victor VT.[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/8th-november-1963/113/the-viking-has-appeal The Viking has Appeal] Commercial Motor 8 November 1963 In 1965, the rear engined Viking VK43 was introduced.[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/2nd-july-1965/60/rear-engined-viki-from-albion Rear-engined Viking from Albion] Commercial Motor 2 July 1965 Later the VK49, VK55 and VK57 versions were released.
Following the closure of Albion's Scotstoun plant in October 1980, production was transferred to Leyland with the chassis relaunched as the Leyland Super Viking.[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-november-1980/32/lv-on-quality LV on quality street] Commercial Motor 22 November 1980 Production ceased in 1984.
Operators
Although some were sold in the United Kingdom, notably to the Scottish Bus Group,[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/17th-september-1965/67/over-250-new-psv-for-scottish-bus-group Over 250 New PSVs for Scottish Bus Group] Commercial Motor 17 September 1965[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/6th-december-1968/64/sgb-orders-232-replacements SGB orders 232 replacements] Commercial Motor 6 December 1968 the majority were sold overseas including to Barbados[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-april-1977/21/bus-stops Barbadian Vikings] Commercial Motor 22 April 1977 and Kowloon Motor Bus in Hong Kong,[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/9th-january-1970/28/big-psv-expansion-for-hong-kong Big PSV expansion for Hong Kong] Commercial Motor 9 January 1970 Fok Lei (now Transmac) in Macau, and SBS in Singapore. The Albion Viking was bought in numbers in Australia.[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/17th-january-1964/45/orders-and-deliveries Large Leyland Contracts from Australia] Commercial Motor 17 January 1964[https://web.archive.org/web/20181025082420/https://roadtransporthall.com/yesterdays-workhorses/albion Albion] Road Transport Hall In the 1960s, it was popular with operators of Safari Tours.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.busaustralia.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=search&search=Viking Bus Australia gallery]