Cavcraft's cavalcade of crap. Local honey.

[Split_Pin]

Agreed, I'd buy it!

[Inspector Morose]

Aw, shucks.

[Pillock]

I'd have one too. I love reading stuff like this. Get yer typewriter out.

[Cavcraft]

Aw, shucks.

 

Genuine like, you really should.

[HillmanImp]

One thing I've never driven is a National, I'd love to at some point.

My favourite bus to drive was the National. I am not sure if it the nostalgia aspect as I used to ride on them as a kid or the fact that they were so different to drive to the Darts and B10s.

 

Not sure what engines they had though? Both I drove were at Worthing bus depot about 17yrs ago if any bus geeks know. They were the last two there.

[Guest Hooli]

My favourite bus to drive was the National. I am not sure if it the nostalgia aspect as I used to ride on them as a kid or the fact that they were so different to drive to the Darts and B10s.

 

Not sure what engines they had though? Both I drove were at Worthing bus depot about 17yrs ago if any bus geeks know. They were the last two there.

 

Christ I might have met you!

 

I drove out of there for 18months, about 2002-2004 or so. When I left I had the record for most written complaints, I was averaging one a fortnight

 

 

Edit: I do recall a National parked up when I started, never got a go in it though.

[Grundig]

...... Soz for the hijack           

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23207961@N07/sets/72157621791381533/

[Cavcraft]

Live from Chester, parked up the road from Cavcraft Enterprises

[Craig the Princess]

Really really really really dark blue?

[phil_lihp]

Ah, looks nigh on identical to my first car, a 954cc Debut in dark blue. It's obviously lasted better than mine did.

[83C]

I know someone who has just scrapped half a dozen AXs.

 

Also, I can't fit in them. Dad bought one to fix and flog back in the day and I tried to get in it. I was very glad it had an aftermarket sunroof fitted.

[83C]

On the subject of Leyland Nationals, there was also this offshoot:

 

 

The Leyland-DAB artic. It's NOT a National, but does use many of the body components. The chassis uses a mid-mounted underfloor Saurer engine coupled to an Allison autobox, which is why the lower panels are taller than on a National. The rear section is a semi-permenant trailer, but does have full rear wheel steering.

[lisbon_road]

That's at Winkleigh.  I'll buy a beer for anyone that gets that going.

[Felly Magic]

SYPTE were daring when they got these. I thought they were 680 powered, with a ZF 2 speed auto as fitted to the odd National including Mike Nash's ECW C27

[83C]

SYPTE were daring when they got these. I thought they were 680 powered, with a ZF 2 speed auto as fitted to the odd National including Mike Nash's ECW C27

I defer to a more expert answer but as I understand it the early machines (including the handful of DABs with National panels) were Saurer powered, the later ones used a Leyland power unit. Unfortunately I'm not willing to do battle with the brambles to get underneath and see if I could ID the engines on the Winkleigh trio!

[Inspector Morose]

I think they were 690 powered. The later ones were TL11s

Winkleigh has the first one there CRM???T I've a feeling that that one was different to the rest.

[83C]

I think they were 690 powered. The later ones were TL11s

Winkleigh has the first one there CRM???T I've a feeling that that one was different to the rest.

The two complete examples at Winkleigh are CRM 927T & FWA 450V, whilst the remaining half is probably the front section of FHE 292V.

[Cavcraft]

Modern car but I'd love one

 

[Cavcraft]

Just been to lo at (and buy, of course) a reasonably shit Renault diesel. Across the road were these gems, initial enquiry made, though I do f*ck*ng hate 309s:

 

 

And 100 yards from the river on Sealand Road was this slightly abandoned looking Focus. Again, no love felt for these but I love spotting shite like this:

 

[mercrocker]

I know its actually getting on but I still can't get used to seeing things as new* as that Focus looking so decrepit!

[HillmanImp]

Christ I might have met you!

 

I drove out of there for 18months, about 2002-2004 or so. When I left I had the record for most written complaints, I was averaging one a fortnight

 

 

Edit: I do recall a National parked up when I started, never got a go in it though.

 

Possibly but I think I probably left shortly before 2002, I was only there a couple of years. Good memories though as I enjoyed driving buses like a fucking lunatic. Surprisingly good fun. 

[Cavcraft]

 

Chester bus station 30th December 1989, apparently.

[Split_Pin]

The livery on that VR is mental. Some quite far out liveries kicking around in the period immediately after deregulation.

[Guest Hooli]

Possibly but I think I probably left shortly before 2002, I was only there a couple of years. Good memories though as I enjoyed driving buses like a fucking lunatic. Surprisingly good fun. 

 

Laugh, yes they could be fun.

 

I got a decker sideways on the seafront when turning right out of Lancing at those lights by the park, route 7?

 

Also on the 7? heading up to Sainsburys & the huge bump across the A27 lights, don't do it at 30+mph the windscreen comes out as the front hits the floor!

 

(Both done with empty buses btw)

 

Oh & the left hand turn out of the bus wash, don't lift in a Dennis Dart & it'd go totally sideways down the garage. Nearly took out a row of parked cars when I discovered that...

 

I hated the passengers though.

[83C]

I hated the passengers though.

Same for most drivers I think!

 

Self loading freight, the only sort of freight that complains.

[Cavcraft]

Found these two wonders today when I went to view a shit modern car. The kit car thing is truly dreadful

 

[Supernaut]

Have any of the SVM owned a Volvo limo yet?

 

I love the look of them, but I genuinely don't have anywhere to park one, short of my parents' farm 30+ miles from here.

[Cavcraft]

Oh aye, came across this yesterday...

 

[Ghosty]

S reg 740, WTF?

[Noel Tidybeard]

i wonder if that Spartan is ford or ferald based- you can see the rear wings were clearly designed for bostin 1300 lights