Having expended a large amount of time and money developing the Leyland Atlantean's transverse rear engine and Z-drive transmission, Leyland Motors sought further applications for it (the Dromedary 8x2 petrol tanker sold in the thousands, but only as a Lesney Matchbox toy; only one full size example entered service).
Its layout is similar to that of foreign vehicles which have proved popular with coach operators, in that the underfloor space between the axles can be used for luggage accommodation.
Drive was transmitted from engine to gearbox through either a centrifugal clutch or in later models via a fluid-friction coupling which enabled a solid connection at higher road speeds.
Although said at the show to be purchased by Highway Products Inc of Kent, Ohio, USA, it was later dispatched to Leyland Iberica SA and became the Ayats bodied coach mentioned later.
[1] The largest customer was the Government of Iran who took 52 with local bodies resembling those of Mercedes-Benz and Magirus-Deutz vehicles entering service at the same time.
Black & White in Brisbane, Cumberland Coaches in Sydney, Sinclair's Bus Service in Melbourne and the Western Australian Government Railways purchased examples.
The Spanish one received a striking high-floor luxury body, that showed the Atlantean-style bustle, by Ayats, and was operated by Chacosa on the Alicante-Madrid line.