Although Daimler CWA6 is well-known as an austerity bus made late in World War II, I've recently noticed mention, in several places, of CWA6D's, which seem to have been made in 1945 and 1946.
What chassis changes caused this sub-class to be so designated?
Chris Hebbron
16/12/13 - 11:55
The D suffix referred to the rear axle being of Daimler manufacture, of the same design as that developed for the CWD6 chassis. The original CWA6 I think had AEC rear axle (engine and gearbox were certainly by AEC) but I have a bell ringing about the CWA6 rear axle possibly coming from elsewhere - Kirkstall...?
Newcastle had a batch of CWA6s in 1945/6 (13-26, JVK 613-26) of which four (20/1/3/4) were designated CWA6D. Just why this happened isn't recorded anywhere that I've seen. The CWA6D chassis numbers were in the same range as the rest of this batch so all very mysterious.
Tony Fox
16/12/13 - 11:56
The CWA6D model referred to those CWD6 chassis which reverted to the AEC 7.7 litre engine. Ref. "Londons utility Buses" by Ken Blacker pub. Capital Transport
John Whitaker
16/12/13 - 11:56
I believe that the Daimler CWA6D had a Daimler designed (and manufactured?) rear axle (was the standard one a Kirkstall?). It was brought in at the very end of the production run. I'm guessing that this would have perhaps been an interim production test before putting the CV series into major production.
Michael Hampton
17/12/13 - 06:40
Alan Townsin's book on Daimler confirms that the final 'D' denoted the use of the Daimler rear axle on the CWA6, which had the Kirkstall unit as standard.
Roger Cox
17/12/13 - 14:21
Thanks Roger. Alan Townsin is "the final word" on all bus matters for me, and that's what Ken Blacker says too.
John Whitaker
17/12/13 - 14:24
Once again this marvellous Forum informs us of facts we may never have known. In all my long association of working with Daimler CW vehicles I had no idea until now that there was any model designation variation from the familiar CWA6 and CWD6 types !!
Chris Youhill
18/12/13 - 15:09
I'd like to echo Chris Y's comments on the knowledge of posters springing forth on this conundrum and my appreciation of their solving of it. It is surprising how it escaped us both for so long, having been around these excellent chassis in our younger days. Born in hard times, they served the nation well for around 10-15 years, usually with only the bodies letting them down.
Chris Hebbron
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