![]() The gearbox is the ZF 6AS800-OD MAN TipMatic automated manual transmission which is derived from the ZF AS-Tronic. Peak power is achieved at 2,300rpm and the green band is from 1,620-1,800rpm. It is based on the MAN TGL 10-180 4x2BL Euro6 chassis, which features a front mounted 180bhp/132kW MAN D0834-LFL67 engine. Mobi People showed them its ideas for a small coach for the UK and after a number of tweaks to the proposal a specification was agreed upon. It already has manufacturing and supply arrangements in place for a number of European markets, including the Benelux countries where Patrick Jonckheere’s Mercury Trading organisation handles sales. Most of the workforce previously worked at the Marcopolo plant. Based in Coimbra, Portugal, Mobi People is headed by Antonio Catarino who previously held a senior position with Marcopolo. Indcar was not an option because, although Holmeswood are very pleased with the Wing bodied examples they operate, they do not believe the market is ready to accept an Iveco Daily placed product.Īt this point they linked up with a new company, but one with strong links to the Marcopolo team they knew well. ![]() They first looked to the Beulas range which includes the Gianino model that was sold over here as the Stela on an Atego chassis, but as Beulas has no plans to produce it with more than 27 seats this was considered inadequate for a market that has traditionally looked for 29-33 seats. With no midibus product in its current line up and the disappearance from the market of the Mercedes-Benz Vario that has dominated the sector for decades, they sought to introduce a model that would meet the requirements. Holmeswood Director, Colin Aspinall, explained that BASE’s philosophy was to appeal to niches in the market that were not well served by other manufacturers and dealers and to this end they were always keen to refresh their offering. Intea customers included Harry Shaw, Impact Travel, Gwynne Price of Trimsaran, Wheelers, Merryhill and AAA Travel of Edinburgh. Unfortunately, only eight Inteas had been supplied in right hand drive when the Indian owners decided to pull the plug on the loss making Tata-Hispano operation late last year. Tata-Hispano’s Zaragoza plant produced the Intea high capacity low height body for the UK on the MAN A91-18.293HOCL chassis powered by a 293bhp engine, as well a single Xerus high floor coach on a VDL SB4000 chassis that is part of Holmeswood’s own fleet. In addition to Marcopolo, BASE has also sold products from several Spanish coachbuilders including Indcar, Tata-Hispano and Beulas, who it continues to represent in the UK ![]() It had first been imported by John Dunn of DSB Sales back in 1993. In all, BASE brought in 167 Marcopolos from the Coimbra plant in Portugal, having taken over responsibility for the brand when Alf Moseley stopped selling the range. BASE Coach Sales, part of the Holmeswood Group based near Ormskirk in Lancashire, was the UK importer for the bus and coach products of the European arm of the Brazilian based Marcopolo coachbuilding business, before the South Americans decided to close down its satellite manufacturing operation four years ago.
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