AEC Swift

The AEC Swift was a rear-engined, step-entrance single-decker bus chassis built by AEC from 1964 to 1980, closely related to the Leyland Panther and offered in 33 foot and 36 foot lengths with an AEC AH505 or AH691 engine. Its layout suited driver-only operation, which helped operators short of conductors at a time when British law still barred one-person double-deckers. London Transport and London Country took more than 1,500 between 1966 and 1972, the 36 foot ones being called Merlins, but neither operator rated them a success and the first were sold off in 1972. Other buyers included Leeds, Blackpool and Belfast, and the chassis was exported to Australia and South Africa.