Optare Delta

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Optare Delta
Barton J306 BVO at Showbus.jpg
Barton Buses Optare Delta at Showbus 1991 at Woburn Abbey
Overview
Manufacturer Optare
Production1988 - 1999
Assembly Cross Gates
Body and chassis
Doors1-3
Floor type Step entrance
Chassis DAF SB220
Powertrain
Engine DAF LC1160
Dimensions
Length11.95 metres
Width2.50 metres
Height3.00 metres

The Optare Delta was a single-decker bus body manufactured by Optare on the DAF SB220 chassis. They were built in a factory in Leeds, England. They are known for their distinctive sloping front window. A common feature about the bus that it has a distinctive one-piece windscreen with a sloped windowline and a separately mounted destination display. [1]

Contents

History

Announced in early 1988, the first Delta was launched at the British International Motor Show at the National Exhibition Centre in October 1988. [2] [3] [4] The first was delivered in February 1989. [5] A total of 324 were produced with British Airways purchasing 49, Trent Barton 43, London Regional Transport 35, Reading Buses 20 and Northern General 19. [3] Production of the Delta ceased in 1999. [6]

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References

  1. Optare Delta restored by Paul Pearson of Potteries Ominbus Preservation Society The Sentinel
  2. Single deck Optare on the way Commercial Motor 18 February 1988
  3. 1 2 A Potteries Commection Bus & Coach Preservation January 2021 pages 33-37
  4. Daughters of Delta Buses issue 690 September 2012 pages 38/39
  5. Brown, Stewart J (September 1993). Buses in Britain. Capital Transport. p. 101. ISBN   1-85414-158-9.
  6. Jenkison, Keith (2020). The History of Optare. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. ISBN   978-1445696942.

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