British Classic Buses in New Zealand (Page 1)

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Last updated 4 December 2007

In recent years I have received quite a bit of material about buses of British origin in New Zealand, so here are two pages to display some of it. Please feel free to send any suitable items and I will be happy to post them.

There are some New Zealand bus links at the foot of this page;

New Zealand buses Page Two is here and Page Three is here.

SOME PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE ISLANDS

Vic Brumby periodically sends me pictures that he has taken in New Zealand, and here is a selection. He sent me these three in 2003, when he was working his way down from North Island, exploring and generally foraging for vehicular oddments. To start, we have a glorious Bristol;

Seen in Taupo, North Island, this Bristol KSW5G originally served with Wilts & Dorset as their No.341 (HHR 823), the last of the type to be delivered to the company in 1951 (though many more were to follow in subsequent years). It was still in the fleet in 1963, but at some stage thereafter two girls and four boys set off in it from London and travelled through 30 countries in Europe and Asia before arriving in New Zealand 2 1/2 years later. Their stated intention was then to take the bus to South America and continue their tour but Gerry Hopkins tells me that, on reaching New Zealand, two of the party were penniless and left. The rest could not finance any further travel, so the bus was abandoned in NZ. There it was refurbished with non-standard high-backed seats and is now used for tours around the Taupo Lake area. It is a credit to the sturdiness of the Bristol KSW that it got as far as it did, and is still earning its keep.

(Paul Green tells me that it was a 5G re-engined as a 6G, chassis number 86.002, built 12/1951. Allocations; 1952 Salisbury, 1954 Basingstoke, 1955 Andover, 1963 Salisbury, 1967 withdrawn. Thanks Paul.)

Here 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. No doubt readers will be able to throw more light on the vehicles shown.

TIGER TURNS UP

In 2003 Terry Bingham emailed me to say that he had just bought this Leyland Tiger, which he understood was built in 1950 and originated at Dunedin.

He said "My intentions are to restore this into a housebus for my own purposes. Its original motor and gearbox run well. It was registered in New Zealand first in 1950 as DK3253, chassis number 494337. The timber cab frame appears to be made of ash. I'm currently restoring the cab and dashboard, and need to locate an original clock - and also the front cab sidelight is rotten, can you help locate one? Please also find attached a photo of my 1957 Bedford SBG that I have lived in for 7 years, running an Isuzu 6 cyl diesel, 150 hp, 4-speed Bedford gearbox and 2-speed Eaton diff."

I asked around for further information, and John Murphy told me "The picture of the bus converted to a motor caravan is a Leyland Tiger OPS3. It was new in 1950 to Dunedin City Council Transport (DCCT) as No.50 and had DCCT bodywork, B34/17D. It was one of two (49 & 50), which were unique in that the rear passenger entrance was forward of the rear wheel arch. No.49 also still exists as far as I know. DCCT had 11 OPS1, 1 OPS2 and 2 OPS3, all half cabs, put into service 1947-50." He explained that "B34/17D" refers to a vehicle licenced to carry 34 seated and 17 standing passengers.

Thanks to Terry for sending the picture and to John for the additional information. Finally, here is the picture of Terry's Bedford SBG.

LONDON RTL

Joe Goodin from New Plymouth called me in 2005 to ask for repair information for his wonderful ex London Transport 1948 Leyland Titan RTL68 (JXN 391). I'm not the man for technical stuff, but I knew someone who could help. He was also looking for an authentic London Transport driver's uniform !

This is almost certainly the only RTL ever to come to New Zealand and, by my reckoning, the fourth oldest surviving RTL in the world - only RTLs 43, 47 and 48 (all in UK) pre-date it. Whether it was actually built at the very end of 1948 or January 1949 is not clear, but it's a pleasure to see it in use. Thanks Joe.

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, but I have no information about these two. Can anyone throw further light on the subject ?

GUY HALFCAB

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

She says "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."

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

Richard and Michelle emailed to say we might like to see a picture of their bus. It's a 1955 Seddon Mk6/2 with 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 and a 6-speed box. They say she "hums along the highways quite nicely". Thanks to Richard and Michelle for the photo.

Some New Zealand bus links;

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New Zealand buses Page Two is here and Page Three is here.

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SB