It was of the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with forward control, sold as a bare chassis including engine, transmission and driving controls, and was intended to be fitted with double deck bodywork built either by Crossley or by an outside coachbuilder.
Crossley Motors had produced rolling chassis suitable for buses since 1928, and the principal models of the early 1930s were the Alpha and Condor, intended for single- and double-deck bodywork respectively.
This used a new version of their oil engine, utilising a Ricardo Comet cylinder head, and having a displacement of 8.367 litres (510.6 cu in); other changes from the design of the Condor included the gearbox, which was fitted to the rear of the engine instead of part-way along the chassis.
Production ended in 1941, by which time a little over 500 had been built – about seventy that were on order (mainly for MCT) at the outbreak of war were subsequently cancelled.
In addition, 22 of the Crossley Alpha single-deck chassis (twenty for MCT in 1937 and two for Sunderland Corporation in 1939) were badged as Mancunians since they were equipped with the same engine and transmission.