AEC Regal bus

1929 to 1940
Overview
Manufacturer	AEC
Production	1929-1940
Body and chassis
Class	Commercial vehicle,Bus
Body style	bus,single-decker
Layout	Longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive (2x4)
Powertrain
Engine	6-cylinder petrol 6.1 litres to diesel 8.8 litre
Transmission	4-speed
Dimensions
Wheelbase	17ft
Length	26ft

AEC REGAL mark 1

The AEC Regal introduced during the latter part of 1929 is a single-deck version of the Regent double-decker put into production a few months earlier. Classified the 662 model it had a 17ft wheelbase and was powered by a 6-cylinder 6.1 litre petrol engine. Transmission was via a 4-speed sliding mesh gearbox to a semi floating rear axle whilst the brakes were single servo mechanically operated.

In 1931 the wheelbase was lengthened to 17ft 6in, and the chassis fitted with a fully floating rear axle and vacuum hydraulic brakes. At the same time, an 8.8 litre 6-cylinder oil engine was offered as an alternative power unit. This was followed in 1934 by a 7.7 litre 6-cylinder engine, thus giving a choice of three alternative engines. Oil engined chassis were prefixed 'O,' thus classifying a diesel engined Regal as 0662.

Another alternative offered towards the end of 1932 was a pre-selector gearbox with fluid flywheel. In 1935 a fourth alternative engine was added to the options list, this being a Gardner 6LW oil engine, although few chassis were fitted with this. The Regal continued in production until 1940, by which time around 3,500 had been built.