One of Eastbourne Corporation's first Leyland Atlanteans posed outside the finishing shop of East Lancashire Coachbuilders factory in Whalley New Road, Blackburn before delivery early in 1972.

The Corporation's first rear-engined double deck vehicles - seven in number - were all PDR1A/1 models and were registered KHC 811K - KHC 817K inclusive and bore fleet numbers 11 - 17. The chassis featured Leyland 0680 11.6 litre engines and direct air operated "pneumocyclic" four-speed gearboxes like the Leyland "Panthers" that preceded them (later purchases had electro-pneumatic control).

They sat 76 passengers on seats covered in blue leather (H41/35F) and weighed 8tons 15cwt unladen delivered.

Note the blue lining out on the beading which was unique to these vehicles but followed a theme introduced on a batch of AEC Regents (56 - 60) in 1961. This only lasted until the first repaint when only the deep blue band under the lower-deck windows was retained.

When first delivered most were immediately fitted with "autofare" vaults and passengers paid by dropping the correct fare through a hopper - this was an American idea and did not last long in Eastbourne. For this experiment each bus was emblazoned with "Exact Fare Only" on the front lower panel and this remained years after the experiment ceased.

The vehicles were first used on the then service 2 and 2A (Churchdale Road - Farlaine Road or Filching Road). The first "all over" advertisement in Eastbourne was put on number 16 on behalf of Personal Service Travel and featured multifarious flags.