Leyland Comet First generation

Manufacturer	Leyland Motors
Class	Commercial vehicle
design type	bus,truck
Production period	1947-1950
engine	6-cylinder
wheelbase	17ft 6in

The Leyland Comet was a Leyland Motors bus and truck produced post war from the late 1940s.

History

The Leyland Comet Introduced in 1947 was offered with a diesel or petrol engine, production has concentrated chiefly On the diesel engine at first.

The Comet Bus is a semi forward control chassis with fully floating rear axle and a wheelbase of 17ft 6in. Intended originally as an export model, this chassis also found its way on to the home market, although in a comparatively small quantity .

The Truck with gross weight at first up to 8.75 tons that was as built a tractor, chassis and flat bed or even dump truck options .The Comet truck goods range comprises three wheelbases : long, medium, for tipper work, and short, for tractor work. Models are designated CO (home) or ECO (export) followed by the number indicating wheelbase and, in the case of ECO models, by a suffix L or R indicating left or right-hand drive.Chassis and engine serial numbers, and the engine type number, are stamped On a plate fixed to the off-side chassis frame member. SPRINGS are Semi -elliptic front and rear. Spring eyes and shackle brackets bronzebushed. Shackle pins cotter-clamped. with nuts for adjusting side play. BRAKES Girling hydraulic two leading shoe with vacuum servo.Front brakes. and rear brakes on Eaton two- speed axle. operated by transverse Wheel cylinders. Rear brakes on hypid axle operated by single cylinder.

A choice of engines was available, with a Leyland 0.300, 5.08 litre 6-cylinder oil engine or Leyland 0.300, 5.08 litre 6-cylinder petrol engine.The serial number are stamped on a plate fixed to the induction manifold.

Bus Chassis fitted with seating for 33 these were classified CPOI and CPPI respectively. All were built to 7ft 6in width and fitted with 5-speed constant mesh gearboxes and vacuum hydraulic brakes. From 1949, a 2-speed rear axle was available. A similar chassis, suitable for lorry bodywork had been further developed was also produced during the same period of time, this also carrying the name Comet and later trucks weight was increased to 12 tons .

Production of the Comet first generation ended in 1950 after 4 years with a new generation.