AEC Reliance

History

Two prototypes were completed in 1953, one with Duple coach bodywork and one with Park Royal bus bodywork. Production vehicles entered service from 1954. The last Reliance entered service in 1981.

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 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

Australia

In Australia, Canberra Bus Service purchased ninety-two 470s and twenty-eight 505s while Brisbane City Council purchased three 470s and forty 590s. McVicar's Bus Service, Sydney operated a total of 44.

New Zealand

AEC Reliance buses were common across New Zealand, with many local authorities purchasing them. These include:

• Christchurch Transport Board - 70 Reliance 470s
• Dunedin City Transport - 12 Reliance 407s
• Gisborne City Council - 6 Reliance 470, 3 Reliance 505
• New Plymouth City Transport - 4 Reliance 470s, 3 Replance 590s, 4 Reliance 691s
• Wellington City Transport - 86 Reliance 470s

References

References

1. [http://www.countrybus.org/R/R.htm London R-class Reliances] Ian's Bus Stop
2. [http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/list.asp?ListName=chassis619&MenuType=Chassis&Manu=AEC&ManuSub= AEC Reliance Prototypes] Bus Lists on the Web
3. [http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/list.asp?ListName=chassis602&MenuType=Chassis&Manu=AEC&ManuSub= AEC Reliance] Bus Lists on the Web
4. (1999). "AEC Reliance". Roundoak Publishing.
5. Truran/Platt p.20
6. [http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/24th-november-1967/43/now-aecs-12-metre-for-uk Now AEC's 12-metre for UK] ''[[Commercial Motor]]'' 24 November 1967
7. Truran/Platt p.20
8. Truran/Platt p.19
9. [http://www.actbus.net/fleetwiki/index.php?title=ACTION_Fleet_-_Disposals#Post-1956 Disposals] ACT Bus Wiki
10. [http://actbus.net/heritage-fleet/ Heritage Fleet] Actbus
11. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141109035850/http://www.btbuses.info/?GoTo=searchfleet&find=AEC%20Reliance%20590%20%5BCharles-Hope%5D&searching=yes AEC Reliance 590 / Charles Hope] BT Buses
12. [http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?search=MCV McVicar's Bus Services] Australian Bus Fleet Lists
13. "Database of New Zealand Buses".
14. (29 July 1981). "Bus No. 290 will drop the curtain on another era of local transport". Press.