Bus Shite

[rml2345]

A Leyland 680 on an Ailsa must've been interesting.

It's only an Irvine Sheet Metal Fabrications Olympian because it says so on the tax disc or whatever daft excuse they use for calling Leyland Olympians Bristols...

Futuras would make a good Autoshite touring coach but they're a bit normal. Duple 425s are a better choice, or one of the ultra rare Volvo C10M integrals with the ridiculous 7m wheelbase.

[Inspector Morose]

Duple calypso. Bova under frame with the added benefit of the sturdy* and rust resistant* duple body

[rml2345]

Hah, I'd forgotten about those! Was it not some strange affair with a low height version of Duple's Caribbean body? I'd be surprised if any survive.

Another strange combination were the Plaxton 4000 bodied Neoplan Skyliner underframes that Ribble had, which seemed to carry some sort of curse.

[Felly Magic]

They were probably from the same batch as Tracky & WYRC ended up with, socking great Gardner engine in the arse, mated to a body that leaked and rotted for a laugh, especially around the sliding sunroofs

[Inspector Morose]

one survives but it's rough and rotten (unsurprisingly).

 

For total rarity, how about the Duple bodied Neoplan then? There was also some B10M arctics delivered to Blackpool as well to be bodied as coaches for, I think, parks of Hamilton in the 80s. The law changed banning them from the outside lane on motorways (before all coaches were banned) so the chassis were rebuilt as normal B10M-60s and the trailer part off sold off abroad.

 

Odd buses and coaches are a bit of a thing for me.

[Felly Magic]

Independent of Horsforth was well known for making oddballs, I remember the rear engined beast they built from 2 old Leopard chassis, which had a TL11 in, then they got Plaxton to shove a brand new Supreme body on it. 

[Inspector Morose]

And it still exists (just) in Ireland.

[Felly Magic]

How's this for a rarity? S reg Plaxton Supreme bodied DAF MB200 no less, and it still has to earn a crust for it's owners Talisman Coaches. Seen parked up after doing a Christmas Shopper run to Ipswich

 

[320touring]

One from my chodventueing today..

[Felly Magic]

One for the lovers of Mercedes loaftins now (cms206 etc), in use on a council tender, being run by the council themselves using this beast, with tiny destination unit, and wheelchair lift on the back to get round DDA rules. 

 

[Sloth in a bowl]

I took my parents to the Black Country Museum and rode in this today

 

 

This one was spiffing as well, but not giving passenger rides (boo).

 

 

Finally a 5.7 litre 4 cylinder petrol engine just to make your car engine pistons feel inadequate about their size

 

[Inspector Morose]

Ah West Bromwich 174! Lovely grand old lady, that. If only it could stop (vacuum brakes). It's the type of bus where the handbrake is a necessary part of the slowing down procedure when you've got people on, not that it goes that fast anyway.

[catsinthewelder]

 

Just found this on a train forum and thought the National lickers might like it http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/44330-leyland-experimental-coach/

[rml2345]

^ I didn't know that still survived! It's the prototype of a great* plan British Rail and Leyland cooked up to rebody old MK1 carriage underframes. I think they only built one before realising that it was a daft idea.

[Split_Pin]

When I was in a school trip to Denmark in 91, when everybody was spending their money in Legoland, my classmate Craig amd I saved ours and each bough a large Joal model of a C10M in TWA livery. They did a Wallace Arnold one too. Still got mine, its an unusual bus. I think I only recall seeing one in the metal, in that stretch of road in Edinburgh where all the coaches park up.

[Grundig]

 

 

 

 

... after market headlamps ?

[Asimo]

I know nothing about buses that I haven't learned in this thread.

This caught my eye, or rather my ear,  a few months ago. Engine sounded big, strong and healthy, none of that screaming clatter I associate with moderns claiming low emmissions.

[mercrocker]

^Saw that growling round Totnes meself in the summer.   Was going to have a go on it but I was quite happy hearing it go up the hill.....

[Inspector Morose]

 

 

 

 

... after market headlamps ?

Possibly. Stupid fact. One of those coaches was built on the underframes of the other. Which way round?

[quicksilver]

When I was in a school trip to Denmark in 91, when everybody was spending their money in Legoland, my classmate Craig amd I saved ours and each bough a large Joal model of a C10M in TWA livery. They did a Wallace Arnold one too. Still got mine, its an unusual bus. I think I only recall seeing one in the metal, in that stretch of road in Edinburgh where all the coaches park up.

C10Ms are awesome but only 10 were sold in the UK - they were built from stainless steel in Switzerland and very pricey. One of the contractors who did transport for my school had one, along with assorted other exotica including a Merc 0303, a Setra and three Neoplan Transliners.

 

Like a Swiss watch by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

 

School bus exotica by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

 

Non-Optimal by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

[Grundig]

Possibly. Stupid fact. One of those coaches was built on the underframes of the other. Which way round?

 

Plaxton bodied the Neoplan sub frames  - the Mercedes- Benz 0303 wasn't a looker & yet was very popular worldwide 

[Felly Magic]

And the Plaxton Neoplans had huge Gardner 6LYT engines. Surreal machines

[Grundig]

And the Plaxton Neoplans had huge Gardner 6LYT engines. Surreal machines

 

Some Neoplans had Gardner engines too - sure C174 KET was one 

 

[cms206]

£500 bus. £200 in house respray. Looks pretty damn good to me...

 

[wuvvum]

Deleted cos I R twat.

[dollywobbler]

Also deleted because it referred to something removed and also lacks bus content.

[Volksy]

That Mercedes 0303 is lovely. I'd love a 'shorty' one of those

 

[wuvvum]

Is this the ultimate in bus plastic surgery?

 

 

[willswitchengage]

Some Neoplans had Gardner engines too - sure C174 KET was one 

 

 

The four axle Megaliners got 21 litre MB V12s. 80s craziness.

 

PUB QUIZ QUESTION TWO!

 

What engine did this have? (or even what is it?) I travelled on it about ten years ago when Megabus was just coming into existence. I really did get from London to Leeds for £1.50!

 

[Inspector Morose]

The legend that was the MCW 400GT. Only three or four built (or was it five?). Originally fitted with either the Gardner 6LYT or the cummins 14 litre sprinter train engine. They were known to beat cars off lights and there was a book held with the West Midlands ones on who can get the fastest 0-60 times (I kid you not).

 

Two were sold in later life to Yorkshire Traction who fitted them with Scania engines. Just as quick but a bit more reliable. Two are still around with a third (the prototype) in a yard in many pieces.