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A Northampton company that specialises in keeping people on the move has launched an upmarket version of one of its popular Mercedes-based minibuses.
Bernard Mansell Commercials, of St James Mill Road, creates wheelchair accessible people carriers and minibuses, regularly sourcing base vehicles bearing the famous three-pointed star from Wellingborough dealer Intercounty Truck and Van.
Its latest Mercedes Sprinter-based 388Traveller Minibus Executive comes with wider, more comfortable reclining seats, and has been built to order for a taxi firm in Abingdon, near Oxford.
Each month Bernard Mansell Commercials takes delivery from Mercedes-Benz factories of four or five Sprinter and Vito Traveliner minibuses in different body lengths and with various engine options.
The company’s specialists then set to work adapting the vehicles, with larger minibuses often being fitted with a unique, eight-rail flooring system that allows seats to be moved into various positions or removed altogether to make way for wheelchairs.
Most enter service as local authority transport, school minibuses, taxis or private hire vehicles.
“We convert vehicles from other manufacturers but Mercedes are always a popular choice,” says Director Steve Ponting. “They are quality products with a very good after-sales back-up, while people also like the prestige that comes with the Mercedes-Benz badge.”
Sprinters could end up in one of three guises:
· Mercedes 388 Traveller Minibus, with a choice of four seating layouts for up to 16 passengers;
· Mercedes Airport Traveller, providing luxury travel for up to eight passengers and their luggage, or
· Mercedes Unique Bus, a versatile all-rounder with room for 16 passengers and the facility to accommodate up six wheelchairs.
The smaller Vito is a popular choice for conversion into a wheelchair-accessible taxi or private hire cab.
Bernard Mansell Commercials’ work is fully approved by Mercedes-Benz, so that despite the conversion work the manufacturer is happy to stand by its market-leading three-year, unlimited mileage warranty on its Vito and Sprinter ranges.
Both vehicles are stylish, comfortable and car-like to drive, and bristle with class-leading standard safety equipment, including an advanced new version of the remarkable ESP® anti-skid system called Adaptive ESP®. |
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