Denning Manufacturing was an Australian bus manufacturer in Acacia Ridge, Brisbane, Australia. In September 2019, it was acquired by Custom Bus, but its branding and operations were retained. As of December 2024, manufacturing operations have ceased.
Denning Manufacturing was rebranded from Alan B Denning after the latter went into administration in 2004, and was subsequently bought by Aussie Drifter Luxury Motor HomesAustralian Bus Body Builders Bus Australia Alan B Denning had been formed ten years earlier in 1994. It manufactured integral buses and coaches (chassis and body) as well as chassis for bodying by other manufacturers with Caterpillar or Cummins engines.Our Products Denning Manufacturing
History
Denning
Denning commenced bodying buses in Brisbane in 1958. Denning's first integral bus (both chassis and body), the Monocoach, was launched in 1966. Along with the later Denair and Landseer, it would become the dominant long-distance coach in Australia.
In 1968, Denning was sold to Leyland Australia. Between 1968 and 1970 it bodied 136 Leyland Panthers for the Brisbane City Council.Leyland Panther PSUR1-1 Denning Brisbane Transport Buses fleet lists
In 1970, a plant was opened in Beverley, South Australia to body 292 AEC Swift 691s for the Municipal Tramways Trust in Adelaide. Some monocoaches were built there before the plant closed in August 1974. In 1979, Denning coaches began to be assembled under licence in New Zealand by the Mount Cook Group.Leylands built down under Commercial Motor 9 December 1977
In December 1988, Leyland Australia (by now renamed JRA Limited) purchased Denning's biggest competitor in the coach market, Austral from AP Group."JRA acquires Austral"; Fleetline (February 1989); page 22"Industry News" Australian Bus Panorama; (4/5 March 1989); page 10 Both continued to operate separately until 1990 when the Denning plant in Acacia Ridge was closed and production transferred to the Austral facility in Geebung."Bodybuilder News" Fleetline; (September 1991); page 151
Alan B Denning Co. The Alan B Denning Co. commenced operations supplying body kits for buses assembled in Asia, primarily on Mercedes-Benz chassis in 1994."Bodybuilders" Fleetline January 1996 page 20 In February 1995 it began bodying buses and coaches for Australian operators."History repeats itself" Australian Bus Panorama; May 1995 issue; 10/8; page 19 The company was placed in administration in November 2003 with the plant subsequently being purchased by Aussie Drifter Luxury Motor Homes who rebranded the business as Denning Manufacturing.Denning takes orders Australasian Bus & Coach Australasian Bus & CoachAbout Us Denning Manufacturing
The business was successfully operated up until its sale to the Dunn Group in 2019.
See also Transport in Brisbane
References
External links Bus Australia gallery Custom Denning