Leyland National

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Leyland National operation of London Buses route 110 in 1976.

The Leyland National was a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall Industrial Estate, Workington, Cumbria.

The Leyland National was built with integral, modular construction and a rear engine. All components were designed for ease of construction and replacement. Most were built with a distinctive roof mounted pod at the rear, housing heating equipment which consequently blew warm air out at roof level. The majority of Mark I Leyland Nationals were fitted with Leyland 510 engines.

The bus quickly became a common sight on British roads. Although developed for the National Bus Company (whose subsidiaries effectively had to purchase it), it was also bought by the Scottish Transport Group subsidiaries, London Transport, British Airways and other operators. It was not, however, very successful in the export market - although some were exported to Caracas, Venezuela.

A revised model - the National 2 - was introduced in 1979. It differed from its precedessor mainly by having a front mounted radiator and being powered by the Leyland TL11 engine.

In 1981, a Gardner 6HLXB engine was experimentally installed in accident-damaged Eastern Counties LN600 (WVF 600S). This led to sister vehicle LN781 (DPW 781T) becoming the first operational Gardner-engined example which in turn paved the way for many engine conversions in years to come including retrofitted DAF and Volvo engines.

The Leyland National was replaced by the Leyland Lynx, although far fewer Lynxes were built.

The Workington factory is now closed.