File:2002 Dennis Dart SLF-Plaxton Pointer B29F.jpg

English: 2002 Dennis Dart SLF chassis with Plaxton Pointer B29F one door bus body with a Cummins ISBe 3.9 litre 4-cylinder diesel engine in Bws Caerdydd/Cardiff Bus livery, Reg, No.CE02UVC and Fleet No.218, at the Bristol Bus Show, Brislington, 28 July 2024.

DENNIS DART

The Dennis Dart chassis was launched in 1988 and entered production in 1989, initially as a high-floor, step-entrance design. The chassis was 7’7” wide and either 28’, 29’5” or 32’ long. At first, only the Duple Dartline body was available, specially designed for the Dart. Dennis (of Guildford) and Duple (of Blackpool) were both part of the Hestair Group. The prototype (and production vehicles) had a Cummins 6BT 5.9 litre 6-cylinder diesel engine.

Once in production, it was decided to offer other bodies – in 1990 the Wadham Stringer Portsdown, in 1991 the Reeve Burgess (later Plaxton) Pointer, East Lancs EL2000 and Alexander Dash and in 1995 the UVG Urbanstar and Wright Handybus. The production of the first generation high-floor Dart finished in 1998, over 3,400 having been built.

The second generation low-floor Dennis Dart SLF (Super Low Floor) was launched in 1996. It was wider than the first generation Dart at 7’10” or 8’2” and was initially offered in two lengths, 33’ and 35’, and only with the low-floor version of the Plaxton Pointer 1 body, replaced by the Pointer 2 in 1997. However, it was then offered with a plethora of other bodies – the East Lancs Spryte, the UVG Urbanstar (later renamed the Caetano Compass), the Caetano Nimbus (from 1999), the Wright Crusader, Alexander ALX200, Marshall Capital (later MCV Capital) and MCV Evolution. Chassis 30’ 31’ and 32'10” long were added to the choice.

In 2002 a narrower 7’7” version was offered for the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. In 2001 the Cummins 6BT engine was replaced by the ISBe 3.9 litre 4-cylinder engine. Over 9,100 Dart SLF’s were built when production ceased in 2008.

In 1997 the low-floor 37’ long Dart SPD (Super Pointer Dart) version of the SLF was launched with the Cummins ISBe 5.9 litre 6-cylinder engine. At first it was intended that only the Pointer 2 body would be offered but eventually the East Lancs Myllennium, Alexander ALX200 and Marshall Capital bodies were offered too. In 1998 the 29’ long Dart MPD (Mini Pointer Dart) version of the SLF was launched, again, only with the Pointer 2 body but eventually small numbers of other bodies were fitted.

Interestingly, in 1998 Thomas Built Buses in the USA entered into a joint venture with Dennis to produce the Dart with an Alexander ALX200 body and a Cummins engine (later a Mercedes engine); the Thomas SLF200 was launched in 1999 (later renamed Daimler Chrysler SLF200) but the venture was dissolved in 2003.

In 2000 Dennis, Alexander and Plaxton merged into Transbus and the Dart SLF was rebranded Transbus SLF accordingly, but in 2004 Transbus went into liquidation. Dennis and Alexander was subject to a management buyout to form Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) so the Dart SLF was rebranded Alexander Dennis SLF.

Over 12,600 Darts of all kinds were produced in 1988-2008.

PLAXTON POINTER

The Pointer bus body was not, in fact, a Plaxton design. It was designed by a Plaxton subsidiary, Reeve Burgess (of Pilsley, Derbyshire) and entered production in 1991 as the Reeve Burgess Pointer, a 7’7” wide, 28’ long step-entrance, single-door body specifically for the Dennis Dart chassis with the Cummins 6BT engine. Very soon, 30’ and 32’ lengths were also offered.

Although the Reeve Burgess plant had only recently been expanded, such was the success of the Dart/Pointer combination that Reeve Burgess could not keep up with demand. Plaxton’s solution was to close Reeve Burgess’s Pilsey factory and transfer production to Plaxton’s own factory at Scarborough, eventually rebranding the body the Plaxton Pointer (retrospectively known as the Pointer 1). Such are the rewards of an excellent design and a bulging order book.

In 1996 Plaxton decided not to put all its Pointer eggs in one basket so offered it with the Volvo B6 chassis and Volvo TD63 engine as well, though this combination proved nothing like as popular as the Dart/Pointer one. In 1995, the Pointer 1 received a facelift and a low floor to suit the new Dennis Dart SLF (with Cummins ISBe engine) and Volvo B6LE (with Volvo TD63 or D6A engine). The Pointer 1 received many export orders (including two door versions).

In 1998 a completely redesigned Plaxton Pointer 2 appeared for the Dart SLF, being offered in 31’, 33’ and 35’ lengths, followed by a 37’ body for the Dart SPD and 29’ for the Dart MPD. The Pointer 2 was fitted only on the Dart SLF (and derivatives) except for two on Volvo B6BLE chassis and one on an American Blue Bird LFCC9 chassis in 2003.

With the formation of Transbus in 2000, the Plaxton Pointer 2 was rebranded the Transbus Pointer 2, but following the liquidation of Transbus in 2004 the replacement Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) further rebranded the body the Alexander Dennis Pointer 2.

The Pointer was in production from 1991 to 2006 and was a huge success.