Towards the end of Pontypridd Urban District Council’s existence they looked forward to their future vehicle policy and one of the results of this was a trio of Metro-Scania saloons.
These vehicles were the fruits of a collaboration between Scania and Metro-Cammell and the result was a semi-integral vehicle featuring Scania running units. The powerful engine, torque converter drive and air suspension made for a bus that was very different from those in the Pontypridd fleet, or for that matter, most other fleets at the time.
12/13 (NTX 324/325L) arrived in June 1973 and were Metro-Scania BR111MH models with B44F bodies. The following December saw the arrival of 15 (PKG 869M), a similar vehicle but apparently fitted with the ‘quiet pack’ to reduce noise emissions. This last vehicle is believed to have been the last Metro-Scania saloon built and carried a “Metropolitan” badge at the front which was actually the name given to the double-decker that was a later result of the same collaborative venture.
The ride quality and performance of these vehicles would certainly have been a revelation. So, unfortunately, was the fuel consumption and corrosion gradually became a problem. As a consequence they had short lives with 12 being withdrawn in 1979 and the other two only lasting until 1981.
© David Beilby
