Nova Wheels

The Dennis Dominator was Dennis's first rear-engined double-decker bus chassis, and was introduced in 1977.

Dennis had been away from the bus manufacturing business since the last Lolines were produced in 1967, and the company's return was mainly due to the heavy-handed domination of the British Bus scene by the all-powerful British Leyland.

The Dominator was described as bespoke, with numerous options for the customer to choose from - in contrast to Leyland's "one bus for everyone" aproach. To some extent it was considered a successor to the Fleetline.

It was mainly sold with the Gardner 6LXB engine coupled up to a Voith DIWA transmission and a drop-centre rear axle, but hub-reduction rear axle and other engine options including the Rolls-Royce Eagle, the Cummins L10, the turbocharged Gardner 6LXCT and DAF engines were also available.

South Yorkshire PTE was the biggest British customer for the Dominator, with a total fleet of 323 (including one trolleybus built in 1985 for test and evaluation). Most had Rolls-Royce Eagle engines and hub-reduction axles. Most also were fitted with the new style RH-Type body from Alexander, which was developed in conjunction with the SYPTE.

The Dominator was replaced by the short-lived Dennis Arrow in 1996. 1007 Dominators were sold.

Links to Dennis Dominator sites will be placed here.

If you have one, please e-mail us novawheels@novaonline.co.uk