Metro Cammell Weymann

Metro Cammell Weymann, commonly known as MCW, was a British bus manufacturer and bus-body builder headquartered in Birmingham. The company was created in 1932 as a joint sales and production organisation linking the bus-body divisions of Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company, generally known as Metro-Cammell, and Weymann Motor Bodies. The arrangement combined the two businesses’ commercial resources and manufacturing capabilities for the production and sale of bus bodies. During its early decades, MCW concentrated primarily on bodywork rather than complete buses. Its bodies were produced in factories associated with both Metro-Cammell and Weymann. The company supplied bodies for British public-service operators and transport authorities, including London Transport and several passenger transport executives. Its work covered single-deck and double-deck buses, with products ranging from bodies for London Transport designs to more standardised bodies mounted on chassis supplied by manufacturers such as Daimler, Leyland, Bristol and Scania. A significant organisational change took place in 1966, when Weymann’s Addlestone factory closed. Production was consolidated at Metro-Cammell’s Elmdon factory, and the separate Metro-Cammell and Weymann brand names were discontinued. MCW initially remained associated with Elmdon, but its headquarters returned to the original Washwood Heath site in 1969. This consolidation reflected the broader movement in the British bus industry toward larger-scale, integrated manufacturing and fewer independent body-building operations. MCW expanded beyond body manufacture in the 1970s. It developed complete bus and coach products and began building chassis, most notably with the introduction of the integral MCW Metrobus double-decker in 1977. The company also developed the Metro-Scania semi-integral single-decker, the Metropolitan double-decker based on Scania running units, the Metroliner family of coaches, the Metro Hiliner, and the Metrorider midibus. Some MCW bodies and designs were also produced in cooperation with other body builders or later associated with other manufacturers. The company’s portfolio extended beyond conventional buses. MCW developed the Metrocab London taxi, which became a distinct product line and was later separated from the rest of the business. Its bus range served urban, regional and coach applications, while its body-building activities supported major public transport fleets in Britain. The company therefore occupied a position between a traditional specialist body builder and a more vertically integrated bus manufacturer. In 1989, the Laird Group decided to dispose of its bus and rail interests. A single purchaser for all of the relevant businesses and assets could not be found, so MCW’s products and designs were sold separately. Optare acquired the Metrorider and relaunched it as the MetroRider. The Metrobus design was divided between DAF, which acquired the chassis design, and Optare, which acquired the body design; the two companies subsequently reworked the concept into the Optare Spectra. Optare also acquired the Metroliner design, although it did not pursue it commercially. Reliant acquired the Metrocab. Metro-Cammell’s rail division and the Washwood Heath factory were transferred to GEC Alsthom. These transactions ended MCW as an independent bus manufacturer. The brand is now of historical significance in the development of British bus bodies, integral buses, coaches and London taxis.

Metro Cammell Weymann was established in 1932 as a joint sales organisation formed by Metro-Cammell’s bus-body division and Weymann Motor Bodies. The purpose of the arrangement was to pool commercial resources and coordinate the production and sale of bus bodies. Although the company later became associated with complete buses and coaches, its initial role was that of a specialist British body builder serving chassis manufacturers and public transport operators. MCW bodies were produced in factories belonging to the two participating businesses. Its products were used on vehicles operated by major British transport organisations, including London Transport and regional passenger transport executives. The company supplied bodies for a wide range of applications, including London Transport RF and RLH vehicles, Orion-series bodies, double-deck buses, and bodies for Daimler, Leyland and Bristol chassis. During the 1970s it also built London Transport’s DMS body in cooperation with Park Royal and supplied standardised bodies for operators such as the Merseyside, Tyne & Wear and West Midlands passenger transport executives. The manufacturing structure changed in 1966 when Weymann’s Addlestone factory closed. MCW moved the associated work to Metro-Cammell’s Elmdon factory, and the Metro-Cammell and Weymann names were dropped as separate body brands. MCW continued to operate from Elmdon for approximately twenty-five years before moving its headquarters back to Washwood Heath in Birmingham in 1969. This period marked the company’s transition from a partnership built around two historic body-building names to a unified MCW identity. From the 1970s, MCW broadened its activities into chassis and complete vehicles. The company developed the Metro-Scania semi-integral single-decker and the Metropolitan double-decker, both using Scania running units. Its major bus programme was the Metrobus, an integral double-decker launched in 1977 and subsequently produced in several versions, including Mark 1, Mark 2 and Mark 2A forms. Metrobus bodies or related production were also associated with other manufacturers, including Alexander and Northern Counties, for particular operator requirements. MCW also entered the coach market with the Metroliner family. The range included semi-integral and integral double-deck coaches, a high-floor 4.23-metre version, a 4-metre 400GT integral version, and a 3.2-metre single-deck coach. The Metro Hiliner was an integral single-deck coach with a 3.4-metre height, while the Metrorider served the midibus market. MCW’s Metrocab added London taxi manufacture to the company’s portfolio. The business was dismantled at the end of the 1980s. In 1989, the Laird Group elected to sell its bus and rail divisions. The lack of a purchaser for the entire operation resulted in a series of asset and product sales rather than a single corporate takeover. Optare acquired the Metrorider and relaunched it as the MetroRider. The Metrobus design was divided between DAF, which took the chassis design, and Optare, which took the body design; their subsequent cooperation produced the Optare Spectra. Optare also acquired the Metroliner design but did not develop it further. Reliant acquired the Metrocab, while the rail division and Washwood Heath factory passed to GEC Alsthom. These disposals brought the MCW manufacturing business to an end and left its principal legacy in the British bus and coach designs that continued under successor companies.

• 1989

  Bus and rail interests are sold separately

  [1]Metro Cammell Weymannen.wikipedia.org

  The Laird Group begins selling MCW’s bus and rail interests. Different products, designs and facilities are acquired by Optare, DAF, Reliant and GEC Alsthom.

• 1977

  Metrobus launches

  [1]Metro Cammell Weymannen.wikipedia.org

  MCW enters integral bus manufacture with the Metrobus double-decker, later offered in several model versions.

• 1969

  Headquarters return to Washwood Heath

  [1]Metro Cammell Weymannen.wikipedia.org

  After operating from Elmdon, MCW moves its headquarters back to its original Washwood Heath site in Birmingham.

• 1966

  Production is consolidated at Elmdon

  [1]Metro Cammell Weymannen.wikipedia.org

  Weymann’s Addlestone factory closes, body production moves to Metro-Cammell’s Elmdon factory, and the separate Metro-Cammell and Weymann brand names are discontinued.

• 1932

  MCW is established

  [1]Metro Cammell Weymannen.wikipedia.org

  Metro-Cammell’s bus-body division and Weymann Motor Bodies form MCW as a joint sales and production organisation for bus bodies.

A British public-transport vehicle manufacturer that evolved from a specialist bus-body partnership into a producer of complete buses, coaches, chassis and taxis.

• Bus bodies

  MCW Bus Bodies

  MCW’s original business centred on bodies for British public-service buses. The company produced bodies for London Transport vehicles, including RF and RLH types, as well as Orion-series bodies and standardised double-deck designs. Its bodies were mounted on chassis from manufacturers including Daimler, Leyland, Bristol and Scania, and were supplied to operators and passenger transport executives across Britain.

• Single-deck bus

  Metro-Scania

  The Metro-Scania was a semi-integral single-decker using Scania running units. It represented MCW’s move beyond conventional body construction toward more integrated vehicle production, combining MCW bodywork with a Scania-based mechanical package.

• Double-decker bus

  Metropolitan

  The Metropolitan was a semi-integral double-decker based on Scania running units. It formed part of MCW’s effort to develop complete public-service buses rather than supplying bodywork alone.

• Integral double-decker bus · 1977

  Metrobus

  Introduced in 1977, the Metrobus was MCW’s principal integral double-decker bus programme. The range included Mark 1, Mark 2 and Mark 2A versions. Related body production was also undertaken by Alexander and Northern Counties for selected operator markets. The design later became the subject of separate acquisitions by DAF and Optare.

• Coach

  Metroliner

  The Metroliner was a family of single- and double-deck coaches developed in several configurations. The range included a semi-integral 4.23-metre-high double-deck coach, the integral 4-metre-high Metroliner 400GT, and a semi-integral 3.2-metre-high single-deck coach.

• Single-deck coach

  Metro Hiliner

  The Metro Hiliner was an integral single-deck coach with a stated height of 3.4 metres. It formed part of MCW’s coach-oriented product range alongside the Metroliner family.

• Midibus

  Metrorider

  The Metrorider was MCW’s midibus design. Following the breakup of MCW’s bus interests, Optare acquired the design and relaunched it under the name MetroRider.

• London taxi

  Metrocab

  The Metrocab was MCW’s London taxi cab product. It was separated from the wider MCW portfolio during the 1989 asset sales and acquired by Reliant.

• 1989

  Breakup and disposal of MCW interestsM&A

  Background

  The Laird Group decided to sell its bus and rail divisions, but no single buyer was found for all of the relevant businesses and assets.

  Action taken

  The Metrorider was sold to Optare, the Metrobus chassis design went to DAF, the Metrobus body design went to Optare, the Metroliner design went to Optare, the Metrocab went to Reliant, and the rail division and Washwood Heath factory went to GEC Alsthom.

  Aftermath

  MCW ceased operating as an independent bus manufacturer. Some designs continued or were reworked by successor companies, including the Optare MetroRider and Optare Spectra.

  Source

• 1977

  Launch of the MCW MetrobusProduct launch

  Background

  MCW had historically been associated mainly with bus bodies but was expanding toward complete vehicles and chassis manufacture.

  Action taken

  The company introduced the integral Metrobus double-decker and subsequently developed Mark 1, Mark 2 and Mark 2A versions.

  Aftermath

  The Metrobus became one of MCW’s principal complete-vehicle designs and was later divided between DAF and Optare during the company’s breakup.

  Source

• 1966

  Consolidation of body manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  Weymann’s Addlestone factory was closed, leaving MCW to reorganise production within Metro-Cammell’s manufacturing network.

  Action taken

  MCW transferred production to the Elmdon factory and discontinued the separate Metro-Cammell and Weymann brand names.

  Aftermath

  The change created a more unified MCW manufacturing identity and ended production under the two legacy body-builder names.

  Source

1. 1Metro Cammell Weymannen.wikipedia.org