Australasian Bus & Coach – May 2019

(^48) ABC May 2019 busnews.com.au
Specs
MAKE:Denning
MODEL:DenAirMono
YEAROFBUILD: 1983
ENGINE:GMDetroitDieselV8
two-strokeengine– 568cimodel
8V71,300hp
TRANSMISSION:Five-
speedFullerconstant-mesh
transmission
INTERIOR:Brownandgold
upholstery,EasyRideseats
We could just stand and listen
to it run all day. You can tell it’s
tough, you can tell it’s strong.
We can’t forget that sound, it has
us hooked.
Externally, the DenAir Mono
is finished in the Driver Bus
Lines fleet colours, but what we
love about this old beauty is
the look of chrome work. This
one has some pretty impressive
aluminium bumpers that
continue right around the base
into stainless steel side panels.
There’s something about this
inclusion that screams solid,
strong and quality and hints at
the American counterparts of
its era.
The driver’s cabin is basic
and definitely what you would
expect from a vehicle of that era:
simple layout, all easy to read. A
forward-facing heater vent for
the driver would have been a
welcome inclusion. Vision and
mirrors are comparable to
today’s vehicles, there are
no blind spots with the
wraparound windscreen.
It has 300hp (224kW), which
in modern day terms might not
sound huge, but in its day it was
considered hugely powerful.
“It could go up and down hills
as though they’re not there,”
Driver said.
DREAM DRIVE
In our short drive we were
certainly impressed. With so
much torque it’s a dream to
drive. He was also right about
the gearbox; it drives as if it were
new. It’s so smooth it’s hard to
believe that this coach was built
in 1983.
Upshifting was great, but as
we don’t get to drive crash boxes
too often the down shifting took
a bit more time and patience to
master.
Overall, the DenAir Mono
is perfect in its simplicity.
Mechanics would love how easy
this vehicle would be to work
on. Great access to all areas,
everything at your fingertips –
and just looking in the engine
compartment it seems handy
tinkerers could even change the
exhaust manifold in 20 minutes.
Everything is clearly visible with
plenty of room to work on. It’s
hard to often understand why
we have come so far away from
the simplicity of these vehicles of
the past.
There really isn’t a huge
difference to buses of this era
and the modern-day vehicles,
as a driver. Turning circles have
certainly improved as have safety
features and creature comforts,
but this DenAir Mono was
certainly luxurious in its day and
still would be a vehicle many
drivers would be happy and
comfortable to drive every day.
Indeed, it’s a pleasure to drive,
great to look at and be aboard,
and is a wonderful example of
Australian bus history preserved
for future generations to
experience, so job well done by
Driver Bus Lines.
Driver Group Australia plans to
remain a family owned business
and the new generations of the
Driver family coming through
continue to build on these
strong foundations, goals and
principles of the founding Driver
Brothers.
Gary Driver is an inspirational
‘busman’ to interview and the
Driver Classic Fleet is making
sure our history is safe for us all
to experience.
It is a wonderful example
of Australian bus history
preserved for future
generations.
Above:
There is great
access to all areas
for maintenance.
Below:
The drive is so
smooth it’s hard
to believe that
this coach was
built in 1983.
DRIVEN DENNING DENAIR MONO