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“At Wheel Of New Baby”

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Image

Description: These images were taken for the June 11th 1978, edition of the Tribune weekly newspaper, the first of which was published.

The short article read: “Mr Galbraith at the wheel of his new "baby" - one of the vehicles which other bus operators see as a threat to them. This Leyland Leopard chassis, costing $32,000 in its present state, has been delivered to the city council by Domtrac Equipment Ltd, a company with a Palmerston North operation. The body for the vehicle will be provided by another company with a base in the city, New Zealand Motor Bodies Ltd. Mr Galbraith expects the new vehicle to be on the road by November. The new bus will cost around $70,000 in its completed form, and will join two second-hand buses which the council has already obtained. The other two vehicles cost $60,000, and will also be used for charter work. With Mr Galbraith in the picture is Mr Ron Waite, Domtrac's bus and truck salesman. He drove the chassis, in its present form, from Auckland to Palmerston North to fulfil the council's order. Mr Galbraith said the 178 bhp six-cylinder diesel engine should last for 400,000 miles without a major overhaul. The vehicle has automatic transmission.”

These images form part of the Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection. Unfortunately, only negatives between April and December 1978 are held.