Registation number
YT 3738
Engine
5.5 Leyland OHV 4 cylinder engine
Horsepower
50 bhp
This unique vehicle is the only example of an original PLC1 Lioness Charabanc. It had many advanced features that were to appear in future cars, such as the automatic choke, Servo brakes. dipping headlights, hydraulic shock absorbers and torque tube transmission.
The vehicle was produced for King George V and Queen Mary. It was used to transport the King's 'servants' and luggage on visits to the various Royal estates, and was available to the King as a shooting brake. The Lioness was bought by Jersey Motor Transport in 1938, where it operated as a Jersey Island charabanc tour coach, and was used by the occupying forces in WW2 from 1940 until liberation in 1945 .The Lioness was reunited with its Royal connections in 2019 when the Duke of Kent visited for the reopening of the Museum.
The roof of this very long vehicle folds all the way back, like a convertible limousine! This was a change made by Jersey Motor Transport, because originally the roof was a hard top. JMT also fitted extra seats, and changed the livery - the original Royal specification was for a greyish colour
