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H523 CTR

Updated: 18 January 2023
   

ACE Cougar V with Wadham Stringer B41F body

Nov 90 In service with People's Provincial Limited, Hoeford (3)
Jun 91 Fleet number changed to 333
May 95 Fleet number changed to 3
Jul 96 Fleet number changed to 600
Apr 99 Out of service with People's Provincial Limited, Hoeford (600)
Apr 99 In service with First Hampshire Limited, Southampton (600)
Dec 00 Fleet number changed to 800
May 03 Out of service with First Hampshire & Dorset Limited, Southampton (800)
May 03 In service with First Hampshire & Dorset Limited, Southampton (800)
Nov 03 Out of service with First Hampshire & Dorset Limited, Southampton (800)
Nov 03 First Hampshire & Dorset Limited, Southampton (800)
Jan 04 Allocated fleet number 62999, but not carried
Sep 04 Provincial Society
Aug 07 Repainted into original People's Provincial livery
   
Undergoing a test run in Holmfirth prior to delivery People's Provincial No.3 at Hoeford in January 1991
(C) Stephen Didymus Collection (C) Bob Gray
   
People's Provincial No.3 at Hoeford in January 1991 People's Provincial No.3 at Hoeford in January 1991
(C) Bob Gray (C) Bob Gray
   
People's Provincial No.3 at Cosham in March 1991 People's Provincial No.333 at Guildhall Portsmouth in June 1992
(C) Malcolm Audsley (c) Bob Gray
   
People's Provincial No.333 at The Hard, Portsmouth People's Provincial No.3 in Stubbington in May 1996
(C) Terry Partridge (C) Malcolm Audsley
   
First Provincial No.600 at Fareham Bus Station in April 1997 First Hampshire & Dorset No.800 at Gosport Bus Station in May 2003
(C) Malcolm Audsley (C) Malcolm Audsley
   
Bishops Waltham in April 2005 Horse & Jockey, Curbridge in September 2007
(C) Gerry Tormey) (C) Gerry Tormey
   
On its way to the Tilford Rural Life Museum and Bus rally on Bank Holiday Sunday, the Cougar failed near Butser Hill when the oil breather pipe came away from the mounting. It was beyond roadside repair so it was put onto a lowloader and brought back to its base in Fareham

(C) John Sherwin

ACE Cougar Facts

■ There was a need to replace early Leyland Nationals that were reaching the end of their working lives
   
■ The MD of People's Provincial, James Freeman, was concerned about the braking system of the then fledgling Dennis Dart, which in any case was a radical change from the existing fleet
   
■ Alternatives were considered such as the Leyland Swift which was loaned to People's Provincial in January 1989
   
■ People's Provincial were approached by Alternative Chassis Engineering (ACE) with their plans for a bus that used components similar to a Leyland National and which were 'off the shelf'
   
■ People's Provincial were attracted to the new design as a viable replacement
   
■ The resulting vehicle was the ACE Cougar which was fitted with a Wadham Stringer Portsdown body tailored to People's Provincial needs
   
■ Having an area of longitudinal seating to increase gangway space, a People's Provincial innovation, and a narrower body for use on routes where clearances were tight
   
■ The ACE Cougar entered service with People's Provincial in 1990
   
■ 2.3 mtr wide x 10.5 mtr long
   
■ Perkins Phaser Engine
   
■ Allison Automatic Transmission
   
■ Air Suspension
   
■ More powerfull braking system than contemporary chassis' such as the Dennis Dart
   
■ Used Leyland National components wherever possible
   
■ Bodied with Wadham Stringer of Waterlooville
   
■ Exhibited at the British Coach rally in April 1991, one of only two Cougar chassis' ever built
   
■ ACE went out of business in 1991

Restoration of ACE Cougar

Recovery of No.3 Unserviceable engine removed, awaiting installation of replacement
(C) John Sherwin (C) John Sherwin
   
Damaged panelling removed New panelling fitted and paint rub down commenced
(C) John Sherwin (C) John Sherwin
   
Undercoat applied Awaiting unmasking after top coat application
(C) Paul Mitchell (C) Paul Mitchell
   
No.3 emerges from the paintshop and awaits full application of vinyls and legals
(C) Paul Mitchell
 

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Registered Charity No. 1104834