Volvo B6

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This article is about the rear-engined bus chassis series launched in 1991. For the front-engined chassis series built between 1976 and 1987, see Volvo B6F.
Volvo B6 series
Preserved Alexander ALX200 bodied B6LE in Torquay in September 2011
Overview
ManufacturerVolvo
Production1991-2005
AssemblyAustria (1991-1992)
Scotland (1993-2000)
Sweden (2000-2001)
Body and chassis
ClassMidibus chassis
Floor typeStep deck
Low floor
Powertrain
EngineVolvo TD63, D6A
Capacity5.5 litres
TransmissionAllison/ZF
Chronology
SuccessorVolvo B7RLE

The Volvo B6 series was a series of bus chassis manufactured by Volvo between 1991 and 2001, with three unfinished/unsold chassis being bodied in 2004 and 2005. The series was largely aimed at the midibus market in direct competition with the Dennis Dart, later with the Dennis Dart SLF; however, a midicoach version was also produced. The prototypes were built in Austria, but the production buses were built in the United Kingdom.

The B6 was mainly built for the UK market, but 61 were exported to Hong Kong[1] and some to Australia. They were also sold in mainland Europe, but sale volumes were quite low, except in Norway where almost 80 buses were delivered.

Volvo B6R

Preserved Plymouth Citybus Plaxton Pointer bodied B6 in Bristol in April 2013
Timeline Travel Alexander Dash bodied B6 in Manchester
Arriva Shires & Essex Northern Counties Paladin bodied B6 in High Wycombe in July 2009
Avon Buses Wright Crusader bodied B6LE in Birkenhead in June 2009

The first member of the B6 series was the Volvo B6R, a midicoach launched in 1991[2] and built at the Steyr plant in Austria. They were only made as a pre-production series. However by the end of 1992 Volvo decided to move the production to Irvine, Scotland,[3] and when production started again in 1993, the model had got a new name. Only nine were delivered in the United Kingdom.[4]

One Austrian-built chassis was bodied by Arna in Norway as a 9.1-metre Volvo demonstrator in June 1992, with 26 seats and 20 standing. It was sold to Ofotens Bilruter one year later. When demoing it was marketed as the B6, which indicates that Volvo skipped the R in the name quite early, even before many of them were bodied.

In Australia, Blue Ribbon purchased five[5] and Southtrans four.[6]

Volvo B6

The Volvo B6 was introduced in 1993 to compete with Dennis' successful Dennis Dart midibus chassis. Production started in late March.[7] It was initially offered in two lengths - the B6-50 and the short-wheelbase B6-36, the latter of which was soon replaced by the B6-41. The B6 was replaced by the B6LE in 1997. Between 1993 and 1997 a total of 627 B6s were delivered.[4]

The midicoach re-appeared as Volvo B6-45. Unlike other members of the series, the B6-45 suffered from disappointingly low sales - by 1995, when the chassis was withdrawn from sale, only fourteen had been built. The last one being delivered to the Russian embassy in 1998, after being held back since 1995. No further B6-45s were ever built.

Volvo B6LE

Volvo launched the Volvo B6LE in 1995, initially as a low-floor variation of the B6 to compete with the Dennis Dart SLF. However, after sales proved promising, the B6LE completely replaced the B6 in 1997 before it was itself replaced by the B6BLE in 1999.

A total of 394 B6LEs were produced between 1995 and 1999; this includes two modified vehicles used as the testbed for the then-upcoming B6BLE.[4] Three were purchased by National Bus Company in Brisbane.[8]

Volvo B6BLE

The Volvo B6BLE was launched in 1999 as the replacement for the B6LE; production continued until 2001, when it was withdrawn. As the replacement for the B6LE, it continued to compete with the Dennis Dart SLF.

A total of 335 B6BLEs were produced between 1999 and 2001.[9] When the Irvine plant was closed in 2000, the chassis production was moved to Sweden. The last buses were registered as late as April 2002, but the model year on the chassis VINs reveal that they were built in 2001, waiting to be bodied. A further B6BLE was delivered for Plaxton's "Bus 2000" concept in 2004, followed by a second "Bus 2000" B6BLE in 2005, but the VINs indicate that they were initially manufactured in model year 2000. A third chassis was available for the "Bus 2000" project in 2005; however, it was not required, and was instead sold to New Zealand and bodied by Kiwi. This chassis had 1999 as model year. The Kiwi B6BLE was the 1394th and final B6 series bus to be bodied, fourteen years after the completion of the first chassis.

In some markets, the B6BLE was followed by short-wheelbase variants of the B7RLE.

Engines

TD63, 5478 cc, in-line 6 cyl. turbodiesel (1991-1995)

  • TD63E - 132 kW (180 bhp), 520 Nm, Euro 1
  • TD63ES - 154 kW (210 bhp), Euro 1

D6A, 5478 cc, in-line 6 cyl. turbodiesel (1995-2001)

  • D6A180 - 132 kW (180 bhp), 550 Nm, Euro 2
  • D6A210 - 154 kW (210 bhp), 700 Nm, Euro 2

References

  1. ^ HKBEC - Citybus Volvo B6R/B6LE Gakei.com
  2. ^ Volvo unveils B6R midi Commercial Motor 17 October 1991
  3. ^ Goodnight to Vienna for B6 Commercial Motor 15 October 1992
  4. ^ a b c Volvo B6 / B6LE Bus Lists on the Web
  5. ^ Blue Ribbon Coaches Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  6. ^ Southtrans Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  7. ^ Volvo opens bus lines in Irvine Commercial Motor 1 April 1993
  8. ^ CDC Group NSW - Hunter Valley Buses Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  9. ^ Volvo B6BLE Bus Lists on the Web

External links

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