1036 resplendent in Ribble colours

1036 at the test station

Interior shot showing the new reclining seats

All photos © Geoff Meek

Notes

These coaches were intoduced in 1961 to replace Tiger Cub's on extended tours. They were probably the most luxurious coaches of their time. They had 32 Chapman reclining seats whereas the later batch for express services had 41 seats and also had air suspension which was highly innovative for the time and not repeated in any subsequent Leopard coaches. The tour coaches were only used in the summer months being delicensed in the winter.  Most like 1036 were based at Aintree depot.

1036 was first registered on 29 May 1961 and withdrawn after the 1971 season. It went to Norths (dealer) , Sherburn-in-Elmet in Feb 1972 soon passing to Regent Coaches of Redditch in May . They withdrew it in Feb 1974 and it was acquired in May 1974 by Jacksons Coaches of Chorley. they used it until 1986 mainly (latterly anyway) on the Works Service from Chorley to British Nuclear Fuels plant at Salwick. In October 1987 it passed to Malcolm Rigby of Maypole Coaches with a view to restoring it, however things did not progress and with 4 other Leyland PS1's he sold the vehicle to its current owner David Prescott on 14th Feb 1988.

For the next 10 years the vehicle was kept in an open ended barn at Whitestake near Penwortham where Dave  virtually single handed overhauled all the chassis, axles, suspension, fitted new cross members and renewed much of the bodywork.

The vehicle then went to Preston Bus for repaint into Ribble Ivory and Red livery. The vehicle then came to Freckleton where work has slowly continued with the interior. The refitting of the re-moquetted seats complete with leather trim in early 2009 completed this long restoration, and it passed its MOT on the 4th of June 2009. 1036 attended Showbus in September 2009 .