Kinch clinches it!
Page 27
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-I Executive Coaches left 'ins of Brighton last weekor Nice on the French Hiin an attempt to win its major title in as many s, reports DAVID WILCOX.
winning the top prize at 0001 earlier last month, 'borough-based Kinch red its success by taking the :h of the Year title at ton's British Coach Rally Sunday. Kinch's £100,000 I Master Executive based 31axton Viewm aster fended strong challenge from Contal bodies very much in evi3 this year.
a number of entries at iton was slightly down on year's Rally at around 95, a few well-known names absent including regular ders Wallace Arnold — they too busy.
.1vor Carnell of Sheffield had led to enter his new highMAN SR280 Hochdecker — inly one of its kind in service is country — but it wasn't ered in time. There was a idecker at Brighton, but it a MAN demonstrator in the static display, which this year was larger than usual.
Among others on show was the new Dutch rear-engined integral Bova coach built with OAF running gear. Moseley, which is importing the Bova into the UK reports that much interest was shown in the coach, no doubt attracted by a good basic specification including air suspension, reclining seats, tinted glass and Webasto heating, and its competitive price of £49,000.
Belgian bodybuilder Jonckheere made a good showing at Brighton with examples of both the high level and normal height Bermuda body in the rally. Trathens of Yelverton entered their new Mercedes-Benz 0303 with its normal height Jonckheere body, unique in Britain.
Also on display was a superheight Jonckheere Jubilee model on a Volvo B1OM chassis. It has a floor line that slopes upwards towards the back of the coach, giving room for a rear underfloor lounge area complete with fish-tank style side windows.
It attracted attention but it won't be coming to Britain; it wouldn't pass our tilt test. One super-height coach that did pass the 30° test, and with a couple of degrees in hand, was also pulling the crowds at Brighton — the Neoplan Intercityliner used by the England football team and operated by Blueways Luxury Coaches of London.
On the subject of football teams, the Ipswich Town lrizarbodied Volvo 858 was on show, bedecked in its royal-blue team livery. Special features on this include a comprehensive TV/video and sound system and seats which swivel as a pair through 180°.
Brighton held mixed fortunes for the chassis manufacturers. Although Kinches' winning coach was a Volvo B10M, Leyland was happy enough to pull off a double in the Best Coach on the Road section, which is arguably a better accolade for the chassis manufacturer. Bostocks' new Leyland Tiger came joint first with a National Travel (East) Leopard.
The men from MAN could be happy with the award won by Smiths of Marple's MAN SR280 for the best standard coach.
• Pictures by Brian Weatherley