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British classic buses in New Zealand - page 3 (by Dick Gilbert)

Last updated 28 August 2024

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FINE BEDFORD CELEBRATES ITS 50TH BIRTHDAY

Back in 2010 Steve Greaves of Coromandel Panelbeating and Towing sent me this picture of his grand old # 1960 Bedford SB. Apparently it spent 25 years as Devonport Ferries bus no. 21, but now has an Isuzu 6BD1 turbo diesel engine and power steering. He says it's a lovely bus to drive. Thanks Steve - it looks terrific.

CHRISTCHURCH TIGER SURVIVOR

Paddy and Karen sent me this photo of their glorious Leyland Tiger. Paddy says:

"I have a 1950 Leyland halfcab in New Zealand. I think it's an OPS2 converted to a housebus. I have a spare 4-speed gearbox and wormdrive diff for sale if anyone's interested. Chassis no of my bus is 494327, used on the Christchurch bus run. It was first registered in New Zealand on 10 Oct 1950 to Christchurch Tramway Board as no. 287, according to the original registration papers, which I still have."

"The body was built by New Zealand Motor Bodies Ltd., Christchurch. The radiator is full alloy surround, and I made a new stainless grille. I also had another bus the same, but wooden-framed (mine's steel-framed) hence the spare parts. My bus is still a sweet runner although I don't do many miles nowadays. I have had my bus for 20 years now and will probably never sell it - but then, money talks!"

Since this item first appeared in 2007, quite a bit more information has turned up. First of all it's pretty certain that it's a Tiger OPS3/1, and part of a batch delivered to Christchurch in 1950. I don't know how many there were, but at least four survive. No. 284 (the only one with a McWhinnie body - the others were all by N. Z. Motor Bodies) is with the Tramway Historical Society at Ferrymead, Christchurch awaiting restoration in 2009. No. 286 is a house bus in Kaikoura, and was for sale in 2009. Paddy and Karen have this one, no. 287; and no. 288 was reported to be a static caravan in Managweka a few years ago, so maybe it's still around. And are there others? Does anyone know more about this batch?

Anyway very many thanks to Paddy and Karen, and congratulations for keeping this fine old lady alive and well.

MORE DISCOVERIES FROM THE CAMP SITES

Yet MORE gems from Mat and Molly Foster - where would these pages be without their delightful photos? Let's start with this creature. With the rego EW 9549 and the name Uncle Jed, it is clearly a post-war Leyland Tiger. But what are its origins? I don't know, but maybe you have some suggestions. Mat says "The Leyland is a motorhome and is still registered for road use".

Well, I got that wrong - it's not post-war at all. Robert Winchester from Auckland kindly sent me this in March 2012. "I can provide some more information about this bus. It is a 1941 model TS11, chassis number 307915. It originally belonged to the Keys Bus Company in Auckland which ran services along the Auckland waterfront until sold to the Auckland Transport Board (ATB) in 1950. The bus was Keys fleet no. 29 then became ATB 129 then 429. It was sold in 1957 and some time in the early 1960s it came into the possession of the Auckland Bus Company (ABC) in west Auckland as their no. 158. It was with them when the change to permanent number plates was made in 1965 as EW 9549 is in the ABC sequence."

"In 1969 it was sold to a smaller west Auckland company called Bus Travel as their no. 10. From 1941 until at least the time with Bus Travel, it was a half cab, and I attach a photograph (credited to Garth Stewart) of it in that state. I have no further record of its ownership but it is clear that a subsequent owner has converted it to full front."

That certainly brings us up to speed, and many thanks to Robert for all that information.

And then there's this AEC Regal, which turns out to be no. 32 (EW 9222) from the fleet of Commercial Buses Ltd, chassis number 6624709.

Mat says "The AEC Regal has pretty much had it, although the engine still fired up after putting a battery on it - not been started for 4-5 years!"

This vehicle is not what it appears. "The Bedford is not a Bedford - it's a 1955 Seddon. Once again it has an SB3 front on it. Not sure what body it has, but the chassis number is 30648."

David Edlin wrote in July 2009; "I believe the Seddon bus that isn't really all it seems is a New Zealand Motorbodies-built SB Bedford built in 1955 or thereabouts, with chassis number 30648 indicating an early SB3 Bedford build. The petrol Bedford engine has, I believe, long since been removed and transplanted with a Seddon diesel engine (good move!). The chassis number lines up with the age of the vehicle, and the styling cues are all Motorbodies. Not just the front, but the distinctive windscreen treatment and the shape of the rear end, though not the two roof-top windows which I believe were added by an owner after discharge from NZ Railways Road Services. I firmly believe that only the engine is Seddon. I do recognise that Motorbodies also bodied other marques, but all I have seen differ considerably from the SB3."

You could be right David, and thanks for the comments.

Mat wrote "the twin steer Bedford VAL is number four that I have found here so far".

"The other VAL (blue) is from 1965, and comes from South Island. I saw it on the same day - what's the chances of that?"

"The AEC is from 1957 with an AEC engine, but has not moved for a year or so - it's just parked up and for sale." Maybe it's a Regal IV from Christchurch or New Plymouth - what do you think?

Stephen Reed kindly emailed to say "The green AEC bus (Christchurch or New Plymouth) on your web site is a former Christchurch Transport Board AEC Regal mk 4. To sort out the fleet number take the registration and subtract 111 (they were all re number plated in sequence when the black plates were issued). E.G .if the registration number is DV 439 (as it appears to be in the photo) then the Christchurch Transport Board fleet number is 328. The year would be either 1952 or 1954 as I am not sure of the cut off from the first and second batches of these wonderful buses."

Thanks very much Stephen. No. 328 is shown in the Regal IV production list as chassis number 9821E1162 with a Crossley B42D body, and was new in April 1953 (although the in-service date would, of course, have been later). The original number plate was apparently P.2037.

And thanks again Mat for the great pictures.

"CHUBBY CHEEKS"

Mat Foster sent me this picture in 2011. He said "This VAL is from 1964, and the only one with that style of body still on. It's called Chubby Cheeks and is the only one of the 28 that came to New Zealand with this body. It was a Bedford promo bus."

Barry wrote to me in May 2012 and added further information:

"I owned Chubby Cheeks, the 1964 Bedford VAL approx 24 years ago. As far as I know it was built on an imported twin steer VAL chassis imported from England. The body (the only one built in this style) with the chubby front guards and single headlights was built by Modern Motor Bodies in Christchurch NZ for Days Motors. It was sold to H and M Motors and did the regular Motueka to Nelson run for many years. It was during this time at Motueka that it gained the affectionate name of Chubby Cheeks."

"I made minor changes to the interior but due to a change of circumstances I ruefully sold it to a guy from Tokomaru Bay, North Island. It has since been sold twice I think, but with major changes to the interior and an external paint job. From information I have, it is still running the original Leyland 400 motor." Thanks Barry.

And then, in February 2014 I received the following:

"My name is Alex Jacobsen and I live in Eltham, Taranaki, NZ. I own old Chubby Cheeks. She is still the same as the photo, but I have done some renovations inside. In the front of the bus I have rebuilt the lounge dining area. I have added booth seating for four, with a full sized kitchen table. On the other side is now a 4-seater couch that can be made up into a single bed. I have also added a standalone bench, high lift top freezer, and a full sized gas stove (oven, grill and hob)."

"I purchased the bus from the Chisnels in Matamata about five years ago. While they had her the motor was blown and she was repowered with a Leyland 410 engine. It also has an Isuzu 6-speed gearbox. She is still in excellent running order. I live in it for about six months of the year. She is fully self-contained with separate shower, and toilet. Also has a queen- size island bed in the rear. I thought you might be interested in learning that Chubby is still on the road so you can update your website." Many thanks Alex, and the coach is now 50 years old!

And then, in November 2016 I received the following from Alex Jacobsen:

"Just to update you on Chubby Cheeks, I have just sold her to a Mr. Jeff Leeden from Victoria in Australia. He is going to keep her in Nelson for holidaying in New Zealand. I have enjoyed owning her for nearly seven years and had a lot of good feedback from people that have seen her around." Thanks for keeping me updated Alex. Chubby Cheeks keeps on rolling!

But it continues; Mat Foster called me again in June 2017 with a new picture:

This shows the coach working in the 1980s with Skyline Travel as their fleet number 5. Skyline ran from Motueka (in South Island near the coast of Tasman Bay) to Richmond and Nelson, carrying school children and workers. Mat says that he's not sure of the origin of the photo, which may have come from the NZ Omnibus Society. If that's the case, then I hope the NZOS will be OK with me reproducing it, and thanks a lot to you guys.

CARAVAN CONVERSIONS

Mat and Molly Foster emailed to say "Hi, just found your site and think you are lacking pictures of one bus - ours! We have a 1954/55 Seddon bus converted to a housebus. We bought the bus in July 2006 and have spent every waking minute rebuilding so, although its old skin got lots of new parts, we are now living in him full time. Still a few things to be done but we will do that as we go travelling around New Zealand. So far we have not seen any other Seddon mk. 6 on the road or any pictures of one to compare to ours. So if you get anything, that would be cool. It's a Seddon Pennine 1954/55 with Perkins R series straight 6 diesel (is this a 6534?), David Brown 4 speed box, 2 speed Eton diff, approx 9.2 metres long and round about 7.5 ton."

Mike Butler from the New Zealand Bus Museum website kindly sent me this:

"I have done a bit of research on XR1171. It is a 1955 Seddon mk. 6HR with Mulliner B30F body new to Gisborne City Council Transport Department as number 1. It passed to Findlay Motors, Taupo in 1969 (believed to be Number 8, but not confirmed). When Findlay Motors were taken over by Hawkes Bay Motor Co. in 1973 it became their number 78. In 1976 it went to Turly Motors, Te Aroha, followed by a brief spell with Katikati Bus Co. in 1980-81, before becoming a movan. The original registration is unknown, but its 1956 plate was P.1208, in 1961 it was P.1119, and its permanent registration in 1966 was EM2195."

Thanks Mike, and thanks also to Mat and Molly for sending the picture. Here's another photo of it:

Meanwhile here are some more pictures they kindly sent me of other caravan conversions. Below is a 1952 Leyland Comet, still with original engine but not fired up or moved since 1997.

And here is another Leyland Comet, named the Country Comet. This one was delivered in 1951 to New Zealand Railways Road Services as their no. 2040 (EV 6469) with a NZ Motor Bodies B28F body. It lasted in service until 1965.

Next is a 1954 Foden with a Commer TS3 2-stroke supercharged 3,261 cc engine. Again this has not been started for 3 years, but they told me "we are going to attempt to get it up and running next weekend".

Whenuapai Bus Co. of Kumeu bought three Fodens in 1953 (fleet numbers 19-21, EN 6948, 6950 and 6951), and another two in 1954 (numbers 22 and 23, EN 6949 and 6952), so it looks likely that this could be one of the latter pair. All five were bodied locally by Hawke (B41F).

Jonathan Huggett wrote to say that it is a model PVRF6, which was normally powered by Foden's own FD6 two-stroke 4.2 litre diesel engine mounted in the rear of the chassis. Maybe this one has been re-engined - or maybe not. Thanks anyway for the info Jonathan.

Stacey Lowe says "All Foden buses were imported for Whenuapai Buses in Auckland. Today, they are all caravans. Two are known to be operational. One has a TS3 engine, as your site mentions, the other is powered by a recycled Merc O305 engine. Didn't know a Merc would fit a Foden, but as they say, 'Where theres a will, theres a relative...'. The other Fodens are all still around and will no doubt be for some time."

Now we have a series of Bedfords, of various types.

Stacey Lowe says that this is a former Ministry of Education Bedford VAS which is now a camper van. It was built in 1968 with a NZMB body.

GA 4759 is a 1972 Bedford SB3 according to the NZ registry. Stacey Lowe identifies it as one built for New Zealand Railways (believed to be the largest owner of SB buses, with 1260 units built 1953-1983) as their No. 4462. This is an example built for long distance work with an NZ Motor Bodies Tourmaster C36F body, then relegated to minor services after the 1970s oil crisis by Hino vehicles. It was retired in 1988.

PT 3570 is a 1959 Bedford SB3 according to the NZ registry. Again Stacey Lowe says it was built for NZ Railways Road Services, with a NZMB bus body.

Peter Preston called in Nov 2011 to say that this 1964 Bedford SB3 belongs to the Preston family, and is called Blue Angel. He thinks the picture was taken at the 2008 National Rally at Tauranga. Thanks for the info, Peter.

Stacey Lowe adds that most of these ex NZR coaches were used on long distance services before being relegated to staff transport for track gangs. A few were sold off.

Stephen Reed wrote to say "You had a question on your website about a Bedford bus registration HP 3561. This was an NZR Road Services bus fleet number 4900, built 1975, body B38D." Thanks very much Stephen.

Next we have an example of the charismatic 3-axle Bedford VAL. Quite a few Bedford VAL14 chassis were delivered to New Zealand in the mid 1960s and were bodied locally for various customers (particularly Suburban, Midland Motorways, and H and H). My good friend Richard Haughey kindly informs me that this is in fact a VAL14, chassis number 1238, with a Hawke B52F +17 body, delivered to Greenhalgh Blue Buses, Auckland in February 1967 as their fleet number 7 (they bought one other VAL in 1964, fleet number 10).

And finally an AEC. Could this be another ex-Wellington Reliance? Please let me know if you can identify it.

Thanks again for the pictures. There's obviously hidden treasure out there!

CLARKS OF KAWAKAWA

Dale Tringham published this picture on an e-group in 2004 and kindly gave me permission to reproduce it here.

He said "A shot of Clarks of Kawakawa in New Zealand - January 1999. Two classic local buses still in use - DY 7468 and ER 9684, which I presume to both be Bedfords". Clarks Coachline (Perry and Maama Clark) certainly had some interesting vehicles.

Both are Bedford SB buses. The left one (DY 7468) would probably date from around 1952, while ER 9684 is more likely from the late 1950s. They don't seem to come from the NZ Railways Road Services fleet so perhaps Clarks bought them new.

GUY HALFCAB

Joan Mitchell emailed in 2006 to say that she believes that she and Neil have the only Guy halfcab to be made in New Zealand. It was built in 1946, so the old girl was celebrating her 60th birthday that year.

She said "We purchased the bus back in 1977-78 after looking specially for a 1/2 cab to convert into a motor home for the family and we found this particular bus at Cambridge Travel Lines who were using her on school bus routes around the area. We managed to purchase the bus without realising how rare it was and, as the years have gone by, now we know it was the only Guy Arab 1/2 cab made in NZ. The story goes that Suburbia Bus Company in Auckland imported 3 double decker Guy chassis into NZ. Two of these were made into full-fronted buses and ours was the only one as a 1/2 cab, and is the only one left registered for the road."

"The bus's present power plant is a Leyland 400 power plus, with a 6 speed overdrive transmission from a 1963 Leyland Super Comet coupled to the original Guy wormdrive back axle with 6.25-1 ratio, giving it a comfortable cruising speed of 50 miles per hour, compared to the original Gardner engine and transmission - flat out at 37 miles per hour. We are presently thinking of selling the bus after 28 years of owning her so if you know the right person for her, let us know. We also have the original workshop manual for this bus."

UPDATE (1)

In 2008 the Guy appeared for sale (location Tauranga, Bay of Plenty) on the Trade me Motors website with the following details:

"Once in a lifetime opportunity for Museum or serious Bus Collector. One survivor of three only imported chassis, with one off Suburban Buses Te Papa Auckland Built Body. All history, photographs and documentation since new. This owner has owned bus for 30 years plus. Registration on hold, Leyland 400 power plus engine, 6 speed overdrive gearbox, bus in good running order. Spacious older basis livable interior, sleeps four, requires some interior redecoration, gas stove, fridge, water tanks and 230-volt power supply. Will be sold as is where is."

The sale closed on 23 May 2008, apparently with no bids having been made.

UPDATE (2)

In June 2021 Peter Berry drew my attention to a picture of the bus which had just appeared on Facebook. It had been spotted in a New Plymouth garage getting some brake work done, showed the rego to be EI 3604, and it still looked exactly the same as in the photo above. In the associated comments various bits of information about it were mentioned, some of them confusing. One correspondent said it is a 1939 Guy Arab III (The Arab III wasn't introduced until 1947), while most people agreed that it was one of only 3 Arabs imported to NZ, with the other two having full-front bodywork.

There were also comments about the bus being new to Suburban Buses of Auckland (with an SBL body), then passing to Cambridge Bus Lines, and it was apparently in the Te Puna area, north of Tauranga around 2016 on a farm (that highlights some errors in the Trade Me advert of 2008).

In fact, a close analysis of all that available data enables us to establish exactly which bus it is. With chassis number FD29100 it is definitely a Guy Arab III 5LW with a Suburban B37D body, delivered in August 1949 to Spears Garage, Tokoroa (who might have been dealers, I suppose) with rego P.580. The only other two Arab III imports were FD29113 and FD29114 delivered to Passenger Transport Company (PTC), Otahuhu in 1949 and 1950 respectively, with PTC full-front FB38F bodies, fleet numbers 9 and 18, and regos P.191 and P.198. So we're now all older and wiser! Thanks to Peter for the updated info.

RARE THAMES

Rick Brenchley of Gisborne writes "I am currently refurbishing this 1956 Thames bus, possibly the only one on the road today, as most were Bedfords. We are going on a 4 month working holiday around the south island of New Zealand in March 2007."

Good luck with the trip Rick, and thanks for the picture. Does anyone know the history of this vehicle?

SCOOTER THE SEDDON

Back in 2007 Richard and Michelle emailed to say we might like to see a picture of their bus. It's a 1955 Seddon mk 6/2 with a Mulliner body. First owner was Birkenhead Transport, Auckland (from 4 Oct 1955 to 27 March 1969), who also put the Bedford nose on it. Birkenhead imported two of these Seddons fully-assembled from England, EW 5604 in 1954, and this one (EW 5606) in 1955. Richard and Michelle are the eighth owners, and the bus has been repowered with a Isuzu 6bdi engine and a 6-speed box. They say she "hums along the highways quite nicely".

In October 2008 they sent me the above updated picture of Scooter, and it still looks in first class condition. Thanks to Richard and Michelle for the photos, and congratulations to them for their efforts in maintaining such a fine vehicle.

SOME PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE ISLANDS

Vic Brumby periodically sent me pictures that he took in New Zealand, and here is a selection. He sent me these two in 2003, when he was working his way down from North Island, exploring and generally foraging for vehicular oddments. To start, we have this Bedford.

Above is what I suspect is a Bedford MLZ converted to a 1 1/2 decker caravan.

And what's this ? Another caravan (EV 6832), which was originally Wellington City Transport 283, an AEC Reliance from the same 1957 delivery which included no. 322 (EV 6871), currently preserved by the Omnibus Society (Thanks to Mike Butler of the NZ Bus Museum for that info). My thanks to Vic for the interesting photos.

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