Dennis Dart

The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined single-decker midibus chassis that was introduced by Dennis of Guildford, England, in 1989, replacing the Dennis Domino. Initially built as a high-floor design, in 1996 the low-floor second generation Dennis Dart SLF was launched. In 2001, production of the Dart SLF passed to TransBus International, during which time it was sold as the TransBus Dart SLF; Alexander Dennis took over production in 2004, renaming the product as the Alexander Dennis Dart SLF.

More than 12,600 Darts were produced in total during a 19-year production run. Most were purchased by United Kingdom operators, although examples were sold in Europe, North America, Australia and Hong Kong. In the United States, the Dart SLF, with Alexander ALX200 bodywork, was built and sold by Thomas Built Buses as the Thomas SLF 200.

The first generation Dart ceased production in 1998. Production of the Dart SLF continued until 2008, when it was replaced by the Alexander Dennis Enviro200.

The Dennis Dart was conceived when Hestair Group (owner of Dennis and Duple) decided to produce a bus between a minibus and a full-sized single-decker.

It was launched in October 1988 at the British International Motor Show and was originally only available with Duple Dartline bodywork. It was 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) wide and was initially available in the length of 9.0 m (29.5 ft), but later available in lengths of 8.5 m (28 ft) and 9.8 m (32 ft). It was powered by a Cummins 6BT engine and coupled to the Allison AT545 gearbox.

In 1989, the Dart chassis was made available for bodying by other manufacturers. In 1990, Wadham Stringer became the next builder to body the Dart with a body called the Portsdown, but it was sold in small numbers and replaced by the UVG Urbanstar in 1995. In the same year, Wright bodied the Dart with the Handybus. In early 1991, Plaxton launched the Pointer (which was initially designated as Reeve Burgess Pointer as it was built at Reeve Burgess's plant, until later in the same year when it was transferred to Plaxton's Scarborough plant). Later in 1991, East Lancs bodied the Dart with its EL2000. In the latter half of 1991, Alexander launched the Dash.

As the low-floor single-decker buses became more popular in late 1990s, orders for standard-floor Dart dropped heavily and production ceased in 1998. Over 3,400 first generation Darts were produced.

In 1993, Southampton Citybus adapted six Dart 9SDL Carlyle bodied buses to use compressed natural gas, the cylinders being mounted in a pod on the roof. In 1996 a further 10 adapted vehicles were ordered. At the time of the delivery of the Darts, Southampton Citybus were the largest operator of gas-powered vehicles in the United Kingdom. They were fitted with an engine developed in the United States by Cummins and Westport.