Wright Crusader

The Wright Crusader was a single-decker bus body built on Dennis Dart SLF, Volvo B6LE and Volvo B6BLE chassis by Wrightbus between 1995 and 2002.

Wright Crusader
Stagecoach Merseyside Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Dart SLF in Liverpool in September 2007
Overview
ManufacturerWrightbus
Production1995-2002
AssemblyBallymena, Northern Ireland
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeLow floor
ChassisCrusader:
Dennis Dart SLF
Volvo B6LE
Crusader 2:
Volvo B6BLE
Powertrain
EngineCummins B Series (Dennis Dart SLF)
Volvo (Volvo B6LE/Volvo B6BLE)
Chronology
PredecessorWright Handybus
SuccessorWright Cadet

First generation (1995–2000)

The Wright Crusader was introduced in 1995, replacing the Wright Handybus. Early Crusaders have tall, square-cornered or gasket side windows and a shallow roofline, similar to their predecessor. Most had a double-curvature windscreen.

Following the construction of one prototype and a demonstrator, the first ten production Crusaders, on B6LE chassis, were delivered to Mainline Buses in October 1995, with two of the ten being delivered in early 1996 for Humberside County Council contracted services in Goole.[1] Eight Dennis Dart SLF Crusaders were also delivered to London United in September 1996.[2]

Of the 425 first generation Crusaders produced, 154 were on Dennis Dart SLF chassis and 272 on Volvo B6LE chassis. Travel West Midlands purchased 149 B6LEs,[3] subsidiary Travel Merry Hill took a further 23. GM Buses North purchased 46,[4] while Australian operator ACTION of Canberra purchased 25 Crusaders on Dennis Dart chassis.[5][6]

Second generation (1999–2002)

The second generation Crusader, known as the Crusader 2, was introduced in 1999 on Volvo B6BLE chassis, the successor to the B6LE. In contrast to early first generation Crusaders, all Crusader 2s have shallower windows with a deeper panel above, bringing them in line with other Wrightbus designs like the Endurance and Pathfinder; some of the later built first generation Crusaders shared this characteristic however, making the two designs indistinguishable except for the different chassis. It retained its double-curvature windscreen.

The first Crusaders 2s were delivered to Mainline in April 1999; the delivery included one rebodied B6LE with prototype Crusader 2 bodywork, as well as nine newly built Crusader 2s. Of the 267 Crusader 2s produced, FirstGroup purchased 86, Arriva 61 and Dublin Bus 52.[7]

  • Wright Crusader bodied Volvo B6LE, showing well the original body style with square cornered windows.
    Wright Crusader bodied Volvo B6LE, showing well the original body style with square cornered windows.
  • Wright Crusader 2 bodied Volvo B6BLE
    Wright Crusader 2 bodied Volvo B6BLE
  • Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Dart SLF rear
    Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Dart SLF rear

References
  1. "Easiaccess Crusaders". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 342. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 26 January 1996. p. 23.
  2. "Fleet Additions". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 404. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 11 April 1997. p. 48.
  3. Jones, Stuart (17 October 1997). "Coach & Bus '97". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 422. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. pp. 9–25. Good news for Volvo came on Wright's stand where an order for a further 70 B6LEs with 37 seat, 10.6 metre, Crusader bodies was announced by Travel West Midlands. This follows 81 earlier vehicles of this type, the last of them an exhibit for Wright.
  4. Wright Crusader Bus Lists on the Web
  5. "Crusaders for Australia". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 402. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 28 March 1997.
  6. "Wright Buses for Canberra". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 403. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 4 April 1997. p. 2. Further to last week's story about the order from Action Bus of Canberra, Australia for Wright Crusader low floor midibuses on Dennis Dart SLF chassis, Wright's has informed us that the current order is for 25 buses worth £1.5 million.
  7. Wright Crusader 2 Bus Lists on the Web
  • Millar, Alan (2007) Bus & Coach Recognition : Ian Allan Ltd., ISBN 0-7110-3136-3

Media related to Wright Crusader at Wikimedia Commons
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