The MCW Metrorider, launched at the 1986 Motor Show, was a

minibus A minibus, microbus, minicoach, or commuter (in Zimbabwe) is a passenger-carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, th ...

designed built by

Metro Cammell Weymann Metro Cammell Weymann Ltd. (MCW) was once a major contributor in transportation manufacturing in the UK and Europe. It was established in 1932 by Metro-Cammell's bus bodybuilding division and Weymann Motor Bodies to produce bus bodies. M ...

(MCW) between 1986 and 1989. Constructed in two lengths, 7.0 m and 8.4 m, the Metrorider was an integral bus, marking it out from its

van A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some varying in the scope of the word across th ...

-based rivals of the time. It was the second purpose-built

design (after the rather lightweight VW-based

Optare CityPacer The Optare CityPacer was a minibus body manufactured by Optare from 1985 to 1992. Launched in November 1985, it was fitted to the Volkswagen LT55 chassis. A total of 294 were manufactured, with London Regional Transport purchasing 52. Its pr ...

). MCW used beefy substantial components, the

Perkins Perkins is a surname derived from the Anglo-Saxon corruption of the kin of Pierre (from Pierre kin to Pierrekin to Perkins), introduced into England by the Norman Conquest. It is found throughout mid- and southern England. Another derivation com ...

Phaser/ ZF manual S5 driveline soon being outsold by the "optional" 115 bhp six-cylinder 5.9 litre

Cummins B series engine The Cummins B Series is a family of diesel engines produced by American manufacturer Cummins. In production since 1984, the B series engine family is intended for multiple applications on and off-highway, light-duty, and medium-duty. In the auto ...

driving through an

Allison Allison may refer to: People * Allison (given name) * Allison (surname) (includes a list of people with this name) * Eugene Allison Smith (1922-1980), American politician and farmer Companies * Allison Engine Company, American aircraft engine ...

fully automatic gearbox. Some Metroriders also featured the optional turbocharged Cummins engine, increasing further their already impressive turn of speed. Disc brakes are fitted all round on the longer Metrorider, as opposed to drums on the short vehicles. Hemel Bus Metrorider E991 DNK

The styling was a major advance on the earlier

-based conversions, having a raked front with large windscreen and side windows to give a light interior. With shallower steps, wider entrance, and generous headroom, the passenger environment was certainly a great improvement on what had come before, with up to 25 (or 33 in the long version) seats comfortably accommodated. However, although the structure appeared to be of a heavyweight construction, long versions soon suffered weaknesses in the extended rear overhang and, in time, major corrosion set in, resulting in a life not quite as lengthy as might have initially been expected. The long-wheelbase version of the Metrorider measures 8.4m or 27' 6" in length, while the wide body was built to 2.375m or 7' 9½" wide, significantly broader than van conversions, allowing wider seats and/or gangway. Like many MCW products, many components were from other manufacturers' stocks and the Metrorider used many parts from Ford. The dashboard and steering wheel came from a

Ford Cargo The Ford Cargo is a forward control (cab-over-engine) truck model manufactured by Ford since 1981. Designed by Ford of Britain as the successor of the larger Ford Transcontinental, the Cargo entered the North American market as the intended suc ...

lorry A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construction ...

and the original rear lights were from the Escort Cabriolet Mk4. The design suited one-person bus operation well and, despite the somewhat simplistic styling, the Metrorider sold in large numbers in the United Kingdom. Also, a number of Metroriders were exported new to

Continental Europe Continental Europe or mainland Europe is the contiguous continent of Europe, excluding its surrounding islands. It can also be referred to ambiguously as the European continent, – which can conversely mean the whole of Europe – and, by ...

and

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

. When MCW's parent group announced the closure of the company in 1989, MCW's current designs were offered for sale and the rights to the Metrorider were bought by

Optare Switch Mobility (originally called Optare) is an English bus manufacturer based in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire. It is a subsidiary of Indian company Ashok Leyland. The company would be responsible for the EV operations of the group with ...

. The

Optare MetroRider The Optare MetroRider was a midibus manufactured by Optare between 1989 and 2000. History Optare based the original design on the MCW Metrorider after it bought the rights from Metro Cammell Weymann after the latter decided to cease production. ...

(as it was subtly re-branded) was subsequently re-launched and continued in production till 2000.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mcw Metrorider Buses of the United Kingdom Minibuses

See also

External links