First announced in early 1988,[1] the Optare Delta was formally launched as the first body for the UK market to be fitted to the DAF SB220 chassis in June 1988.

The Delta bodywork featured a distinctive sloping one-piece windscreen with a separately mounted destination display, as well as gasket glazed tinted windows in the passenger cabin,[2] and was constructed with an Alusuisse bolted aluminium frame, which Optare had gained the exclusive rights to use in Great Britain.

[4][5][page needed] The Delta's design was originally utilised by Optare as part of proposals for a trolleybus system in Leeds.

Named the 'Amway Showcase', the vehicle was built on a left-hand drive MAN articulated chassis and LAG Panoramic coach framework, using a combination of Bova Futura coach mouldings, the Optare Delta's front fascia and the LAG Panormaic's rear fascia.

[10][11] The second largest operator of Deltas was British Airways, who purchased 49 of the type between 1990 and 1993 for airside passenger transfer services at Heathrow Airport.