It was built on three-axle Bedford VAL, two-axle Ford Thames 676E, and two specials on Guy Victory tram bus chassis.

It also differed from the company's Cavalier and Grenadier models by having plated window surrounds; a large brightwork grille with twin headlights; and a Grenadier-style front windscreen duplicated as a rear door.

The Harrington was featured in the 1969 film, The Italian Job,[1] Legionnaire bodied Bedford VAL14 'ALR 453B', new in April 1964 to Batten of London.

[2] For use in the film, it was modified to reinforce the bulkhead behind the driver's seat to allow the Mini Cooper S getaway cars to be driven into the bus safely.

Corgi Toys released a sought-after gift set which included the three Mini Cooper cars (albeit incorrectly modelled on much newer Minis) in 1:36 scale and a 1:50 scale Plaxton Panorama 1-bodied Bedford VAL coach, in place of the Harrington Legionnaire which accuracy demanded.