Dennis Jubilant
Encyclopedia
The Dennis Jubilant was a front engine double decker bus chassis built by Dennis
between 1977 and 1981. It was specifically designed for contemporary operating environment (hilly roads and "one-man-operation" with a farebox) in Hong Kong
.
The chassis design featured a set-back front axle, which enabled the front door to be located in front of the front axle, and a strengthened chassis frame. It could be fitted with Gardner 6LXB engine and Voith D851 automatic gearbox.
(KMB) received four Dennis Jubilant prototypes for evaluation, they were fitted with KMB's own bodywork (utilising parts from British Aluminium Company) and entered service in 1977/1978. After the trial of the prototypes, KMB introduced 209 Jubilants with Alexander
KB bodywork between 1979 and 1981, and 150 Jubilants with Duple Metsec
bodywork between 1981 and 1982.
China Motor Bus
(CMB) in Hong Kong ordered 30 Dennis Jubilants with Alexander CB bodywork, they entered service in 1980.
One Jubilant chassis was delivered to Cape Town
, South Africa
and was fitted with bodywork supplied by Bus Bodies (South Africa) Limited.
on 1 September 1998 after the franchise of CMB was terminated, they were replaced by new buses before September 1999.
Kowloon Motor Bus also had two of its Jubilants prematurely withdrawn, and in 1994 KMB started to withdraw the rest of its Jubilants. During the process of withdrawal, some of the Jubilants took over the role of the Leyland Victory Mk2
(the competitor of Dennis Jubilant) in the fleet. The last bus was withdrawn in January 2000.
Dennis Specialist Vehicles
Dennis Specialist Vehicles is a major British coachbuilder and manufacturer of specialised commercial vehicles based in Guildford, England...
between 1977 and 1981. It was specifically designed for contemporary operating environment (hilly roads and "one-man-operation" with a farebox) in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
The chassis design featured a set-back front axle, which enabled the front door to be located in front of the front axle, and a strengthened chassis frame. It could be fitted with Gardner 6LXB engine and Voith D851 automatic gearbox.
The orders
Kowloon Motor BusKowloon Motor Bus
The Kowloon Motor Bus Company Limited , a company of the Transport International Holdings Limited, is the largest franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, and one of the largest privately owned public bus operators in the world...
(KMB) received four Dennis Jubilant prototypes for evaluation, they were fitted with KMB's own bodywork (utilising parts from British Aluminium Company) and entered service in 1977/1978. After the trial of the prototypes, KMB introduced 209 Jubilants with Alexander
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders was a Scottish bus coachbuilder and operater based in Falkirk.-History:Walter Alexander, notice a lack expasion by the Falkirk and District Tramways Company's especially in to Grangemouth which never hdd a tram line. In 1913 Alexander's Motor Service was created to...
KB bodywork between 1979 and 1981, and 150 Jubilants with Duple Metsec
Duple Metsec
Duple Metsec is a former bus bodywork builder based in West Midlands of the United Kingdom, which usually supplied body kits for assembly overseas....
bodywork between 1981 and 1982.
China Motor Bus
China Motor Bus
China Motor Bus Company Ltd. , often abbreviated as CMB, was the first motor bus company in Hong Kong, and was responsible for the introduction of double-decker buses to Hong Kong Island....
(CMB) in Hong Kong ordered 30 Dennis Jubilants with Alexander CB bodywork, they entered service in 1980.
One Jubilant chassis was delivered to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and was fitted with bodywork supplied by Bus Bodies (South Africa) Limited.
Air-conditioned Jubilant
Kowloon Motor Bus also received one air-conditioned Jubilant coach with Alexander KB bodywork and put it into service in 1980. The air conditioner was driven by a separate engine mounted at the rear. However, the air conditioning was proved unreliable and was removed in 1983. The coach was downgraded to a bus few years later.Withdrawal
China Motor Bus wrote off one of its Dennis Jubilants (fleet number DS14) after the bus was destroyed by fire in 1993. The other 29 buses were transferred to New World First BusNew World First Bus
New World First Bus Services Limited , abbreviated as First Bus and "NWFB", is the third largest public bus operator in Hong Kong.NWFB was established in 1998, taking over China Motor Bus's franchise on 1 September 1998 to provide bus services on Hong Kong Island together with Citybus...
on 1 September 1998 after the franchise of CMB was terminated, they were replaced by new buses before September 1999.
Kowloon Motor Bus also had two of its Jubilants prematurely withdrawn, and in 1994 KMB started to withdraw the rest of its Jubilants. During the process of withdrawal, some of the Jubilants took over the role of the Leyland Victory Mk2
Leyland Victory Mk2
Leyland Victory Mk2 is a front-engine double-decker bus chassis that was built by Leyland between 1978 and 1981. Like its competitor Dennis Jubilant, Volvo Ailsa B55, it was specifically designed for contemporary operating environment in Hong Kong.The chassis was developed from the Guy Victory J,...
(the competitor of Dennis Jubilant) in the fleet. The last bus was withdrawn in January 2000.
Trivia
- The Dennis Jubilant was also known as "duck" in Hong Kong because the AlexanderWalter Alexander CoachbuildersWalter Alexander Coachbuilders was a Scottish bus coachbuilder and operater based in Falkirk.-History:Walter Alexander, notice a lack expasion by the Falkirk and District Tramways Company's especially in to Grangemouth which never hdd a tram line. In 1913 Alexander's Motor Service was created to...
-bodied Jubilants looked like the Leyland Victory Mk2Leyland Victory Mk2Leyland Victory Mk2 is a front-engine double-decker bus chassis that was built by Leyland between 1978 and 1981. Like its competitor Dennis Jubilant, Volvo Ailsa B55, it was specifically designed for contemporary operating environment in Hong Kong.The chassis was developed from the Guy Victory J,...
which was also known as "chicken" in Hong Kong.