The AEC Reliance was a mid-underfloor mounted engined single-decker bus and coach chassis manufactured by AEC between 1953 and 1979. The name had previously been used between 1928 and 1931 for another single-decker bus chassis.

History

Two prototypes were completed in 1953, one with Duple coach bodywork and one with

Park Royal Park Royal is an area in North West London, England, divided between the London Borough of Ealing and the London Borough of Brent. It is the site of the largest business park in London, but despite intensive existing use, the area is, togethe ...

bus bodywork. Production vehicles entered service from 1954. The last Reliance entered service in 1981. AEC Reliance coach

Following successive changes to Construction & Use regulations, the maximum length of the Reliance was increased twice from the original 30 feet: firstly, to permit an overall length of 36 feet from 1962; and later, to permit a length of 39 feet. Various AEC engines were fitted during the chassis's production, including the 7.7-litre AH470, 8.1-litre AH505, 9.6-litre AH590, 11.3-litre AH691 and 12.4-litre AH760. Transmissions fitted to the Reliance include an AEC synchromesh gearbox, AEC ''Monocontrol'' semi-automatic epicyclic transmission, and ZF 6 speed crash-gearbox. The Reliance had the Leyland Tiger Cub and, from 1959, the

Leyland Leopard The Leyland Leopard was a mid-engine design, mid-engined single-decker bus and single-decker bus, single-decker coach (bus), coach chassis manufactured by Leyland Bus, Leyland between 1959 and 1982. History The Leyland Leopard was introduced ...

as its major competitors throughout its life, even though they were built under the same ownership from 1962 onwards. After production of the Reliance ended, Leyland offered ZF synchromesh as an option for the Leopard, although the Volvo B58 and other imported buses later won a number of customers' orders.

Exports

In Australia, Canberra Bus Service purchased ninety-two 470s and twenty-eight 505s while

Brisbane City Council Brisbane City Council (BCC, also known as Council) is the local government of the City of Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. The largest local government in Australia by population, BCC's jurisdiction includes 2 ...

purchased three 470s and forty 590s. McVicar's Bus Service,

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

operated a total of 44.McVicar's Bus Services
Australian Bus Fleet Lists

References

External links

*

AEC Bus Site
Bus Australia gallery
{{AEC range, state=collapsed Reliance Vehicles introduced in 1954 Bus chassis Single-deck buses Step-entrance buses