THE AUSTRALIAN BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Ventura Designline bodies
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 The first of many New Zealand bodied Designline buses on MAN chassis arrived in late 2005 in the shape of this MAN 15.220 with Citybus style of bodywork, a prolific design in its home country but inseen in Australia. The buses were put to work on the Melbourne free Tourist Shuttle, a contract that subsequently passed to Drive Bus Lines. The bus is seen at work at the Queen Victoria Market in April 2007. |
 The relationship with Designline came to an end in 2009 after several hundred buses had been delivered, including this advanced integral hybrid design. Unlike other hybrid designs the non-electric power comes from a small gas turbine engine. Designline was acquired by an American interests in 2006, established a manufacturing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina and received orders for the jet hybrids for New York. The inital batch proved troublesome, and Ventura's faired no better. The bus 200 (7408AO) is seen languishing in National Bus' Doncaster yard in April 2010, an official there saying he hoped it would spontaneously combust! |
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 In February 2012 the bus was found languishing in the Oakley depot yard, seemingly banished from regular service. |
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 A rear view of 200 in Oakley depot. The New York debacle ultimately led to Designline's collapse. The NZ operation continues with Malaysian investment and the status of the American operation is unknown. |
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