gingerfold:
ramone:
gingerfold:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^The Sabre was by far the most powerful coach made in the UK in 1970 when it was announced. The compact V8 engine was mounted on a platform that allowed it to slide out of its rear compartment. The sole survivor is now a unique coach, there isn’t another like it. From the photo below it has had a makeover. Kemps have owned it for many years.
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0Well maybe space was the issue Graham or maybe they didn’t consider it , i would imagine it was a flying machine do you know how many were made ?
There were four chassis numbers issued but there is dispute if all four were actually built. Two definitely were, the Kemp’s Sabre and one that went to Black and white, Queensland Australia. The two uncertainties were for Portugal, which is feasible because AEC had most of the bus business in Portugal with UTIC. The fourth one was for Israel which is very unlikely because AEC supplied Arab countries at that time. Leyland had a lot of business in Israel so anything made by AEC would have had to have all reference to AEC removed from it, components, part numbers etc. etc.
How did the Kemps Sabre perform , was it dogged by the familiar V8 problems ,and were there any accounts of it from the drivers. I’m fascinated with AEC at this time and think it’s frustrating to see what may have been