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The Daimler Fleetline (known as the Leyland Fleetline from circa 1975) was a rear-engined double-decker bus chassis built between 1960 and 1983. It was the second of three bus models to have a marque name as well as an alphanumeric identity code. The other two were the Freeline and the Roadliner. ==Design== The Daimler Fleetline was the second rear-engined double deck bus chassis to be launched by a UK manufacturer, following Leyland's introduction of the Atlantean in 1958. From the outset, the Fleetline had a drop-centre rear axle fitted as standard, enabling low-height bodywork to be fitted without necessitating an inconvenient seating layout in part of the upper deck, as was the case with early Atlanteans. Leyland responded by offering a drop-centre rear axle as an option on the Atlantean, but after the two companies came under the same ownership in 1968, the low-height Atlantean option was discontinued. The prototype Fleetline was fitted with a Daimler engine, but when production started only Gardner 6LX or 6LW engines were offered. By 1968 Gardner's new and more powerful 6LXB was also an option, and in 1970 Leyland's 0.680 engine became available.〔(First Leyland engined Daimler ) ''Commercial Motor'' 21 November 1969〕〔(Leyland engine option on Fleetline ) ''Commercial Motor'' 14 August 1970〕〔(Improvements to Daimler Fleetline ) ''Commercial Motor'' 28 August 1970〕 Gardner engines had an excellent reputation for reliability and economy while Leyland engines were more lively and more thirsty. Most Fleetline customers preferred Gardner engines, but the Leyland engine became popular - particularly for a period in the 1970s when Gardner could not meet demand. In late 1960s, Daimler developed the longer 36 feet double-deck Fleetline which was based on the single-deck Roadliner chassis.〔(New Fleetline Single-deckers in Service ) ''Commercial Motor'' 26 March 1965〕〔(Daimler Produces 36ft Fleetline Chassis ) ''Commercial Motor'' 8 December 1967〕This chassis had a longitudinally-mounted Cummins engine at the rear offside corner. It was designed mainly for export, but one was built for Walsall Corporation Transport. In mid-1970s, Leyland developed a special version of the Fleetline, known as the B20, with Leyland 0.690 engine, exhausts on both sides above the engine compartment and reduced noise levels.〔(Quietening the Fleetline ) ''Commercial Motor'' 1 November 1974〕 All of these went to London Transport. The first prototype Fleetline was unveiled in December 1960.〔(Daimer Fleetline in Birmingham ) ''Commercial Motor'' 23 December 1960〕 Between 1960 and 1973, the Fleetline was manufactured in Coventry, with production then transferred to Farington. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Daimler Fleetline」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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