Launched in 1977, the Dennis Dominator was Dennis's first rear-engined double decker chassis after being absent since the last Lolines were produced in 1967. It was described as being bespoke, with there being a lot of options. It was a replacement of the Daimler/Leyland Fleetline to some extent, sometimes referred to as an "updated Fleetline".

Whilst Dennis was developing the Dominator idea, it purchased, in 1976, a Daimler CVG6LX-30 half cab with Roe 70 Seat bodywork from West Yorkshire PTE. This bus, registered 7517UA, was new to Leeds Corporation in 1959. 7517UA was subsequently kitted out with a Dennis Loline type rear axle, a Gardner 6LXB engine, and a Voith fully automatic transmission, incoporating a retarder! In January 1976 this test bed entered service with Leicester City Transport and was thereafter evaluated by other operators, including London Transport. The Dennis test bed established a reputation for reliability and economy, and once testing had been completed, 7517UA was sold to Leicester for spares and broken up.

The prototype Dennis Dominator, SHE722S was ready in July 1977. This was fitted with a Gardner 6LXB engine and a 77 seat East Lancs body. Delivered to South Yorkshire PTE and numbered 522, it painted by cream and blue, in an arrangement with Dennis where it could be used as a Demonstrator when required. Sadly SHE722S was scrapped in 1992.

In Production, the Dominator was meant to be sold mainly with the trusty Gardner 6LXB engine coupled up to a Voith DIWA transmission and a drop-centre rear axle. Though South Yorkshire PTE operated several hundred with Rolls-Royce Eagle engines and hub-reduction axles due to the hilly terrain they were destined to operate.

The Dominator also appealed to Municiples such as Leicester who operated a large fleet with East Lancs bodies from 1977 (though an odd few were Marshall bodies). It was also sold in reasonable numbers to Central Scottish from 1981 with Alexander low-height RL-type bodywork. There were others too, and in 1978-80 it was sold as a single-decker before the launch of the Dennis Falcon. Other engine options of the Dominator include the Cummins L10, the turbocharged Gardner 6LXCT and DAF engines.

In total, 1007 Dennis Dominators were produced between 1977 and 1996 during a period of 19 years and 7 months. Production of the Dominator was odd after bus deregulation in 1986 with production going on and off from the 1992-6 period (when production was finishing) i.e. 8 were built in 1992, 3 built in 1993, none in 1994 and 1995, and 4 built in 1996. The table below breaks down Dominator deliveries on a year by year basis:

Yearly Deliveries
SHE722S - Very First Dennis Dominator - 1977 (Chassis Number 101) © Unknown				N716TPK - Very Last Dennis Dominator - 1996 (Chassis Number 1107) © Unknown
	1977	-	2
	1978	-	31
	1979	-	43
	1980	-	67
	1981	-	122
	1982	-	195
	1983	-	100
	1984	-	127
	1985	-	85
	1986	-	48
	1987	-	10
	1988	-	31
	1989	-	55
	1990	-	30
	1991	-	46
	1992	-	8
	1993	-	3
	1994	-	0
	1995	-	0
	1996	-	4
	Total	-	1007

Interesting Facts and Figures:

The Top 5 largest UK operators of brand new Dennis Dominators were:

1. South Yorkshire PTE / South Yorkshire Transport (328 Dominators - inc 1 Trolleybus)
2. Leicester / Leicester City Transport / Leicester Citybus (144 Dominators)
3. Central SMT (51 Dominators)
4. Kingston Upon Hull City Transport (51 Dominators)
5. Greater Manchester PTE (44 Dominators)

The above orders accounted for 618 Dominators - or appoximately 61% of production!

The Dominators when new, ran in the following regions:

1. England (871 Dominators)
2. Scotland (87 Dominators)
3. Wales (1 Dominator)
4. Northern Ireland (0 Dominators)

Outwith the UK, the Dominators were exported and operated in only two countries:

1. China - Kowloon Motor Bus (40 Dominators)
2. China - China Motor Bus (7 Dominators)
3. Singapore - Singapore Bus Services (1 Dominator) - Later sold to Kowloon Motor Bus!

Back to the full production run of 1007 Dominators - they were built in the following configurations:

1. Double Decker Bus (922 Dominators)
2. Double Deck Coach (44 Dominators)
3. Single Deck Bus (36 Dominators)
4. Double Deck Dual Purpose (2 Dominators)
5. Fire Engine Control Unit (1 Dominator)
6. Double Decker Trolleybus (1 Dominator)