Historic Ford Buses/Coaches

[Merthyr Imp]

A Ford R226/Duple belonging to Buckmaster of Leighton Buzzard seen on Huntingdon Street in Nottingham in about 1970 or 1971. It was new in 1969.

 

[DunsBus]

I had forgotten about that one, and yes, that pretty much matches my understanding of how a 1975 vehicle ended up with a 1987 registration (not sure if DVLA would do it like that now.)

It also ended up with Brylaine Travel in Lincolnshire.

Can find suggestions it went in to preservation in the north-east, this picture (not mine) appears to be at a Lincoln Museum event in November 2002, but a vehicle tax / MOT search does not look like good news, it says last tax expired in 2001 (which doesn't quite match it appearing in public in 2002, although there's another photo out there, probably at the same event, with it showing trade plates.)

There's a chance it could still be lurking somewhere, although probably ought to be shown as on SORN if it is (although I think that if a vehicle wasn't taxed when SORN started, then you don't need to declare SORN - I just can't quite remember when SORN started.)

I believe that it still exists and is preserved in its native Co. Durham. Had these coaches been uncovered a few years later, there's every chance they'd have received age-related registrations rather than the current year letter.

 

[Voo]

I had the misfortune to have to drive two R1114's, both with Duple Dominant 2 bodies; one with express doors one without. It was like having a hundred toffee hammers being pounded next to you all day.
I later had another with a Plaxton Paramount body; it was quite nice to drive but still noisy.

 

[Merthyr Imp]

A Ford R192/Strachan new in 1968. Seen with Wallace Arnold in Sheffield on 14.3.70.

 

[90sWereBetter]

Does anyone have any interior views of the Ford R-Series? I can imagine it must've been a pretty clunky entrance arrangement with the big Ford lump right next to the driver.

 

[GusB]

Does anyone have any interior views of the Ford R-Series? I can imagine it must've been a pretty clunky entrance arrangement with the big Ford lump right next to the driver.

Would you like sound as well?

(Link to video of former Midland/Strathay RLS469T)

 

[Strathclyder]

Found these which may by of interest:

Flickr Search — “R-Series”

www.flickr.com

A Ford R-Series brochure dating from the 1974/75 period, expectedly touting the type's advantages. From the Retro.bus Flickr channel.

It's totally cheating since the first post specified UK, but as is often the case the absolute last place the R-series models could be found in service (unless anyone knows better!) is Malta in 2011. I was born in 1992 so never experienced them back here except in preservation, but managed three or four over two trips to the island that year.

I didn't exclude overseas examples (I really need to start phrasing my OPs better lol), so the likes of Malta are totally fine.

Does anyone have any interior views of the Ford R-Series? I can imagine it must've been a pretty clunky entrance arrangement with the big Ford lump right next to the driver.

Much like the front-engined front entrance deckers of the time period (Guy Wulfrunian, Volvo Ailsa, Guy/Leyland Victory & Dennis Jubliant).

Would you like sound as well?

(Link to video of former Midland/Strathay RLS469T)

That one is on my long-term 'hitlist' of preserved motors, been after it for a while now. Have already bagged a Y-Type Albion Viking (a rear-engined example), so a front-engined R-Series example would compliment things nicely.

 

[F262YTJ]

Other major operators of the Ford R series were Smith's Happiway Spencer's of Wigan and Shearings of Altrincham later combined into Shearings.

Smith's dual sourced in the 1970s and 1980s with AEC Reliance chassis and lager Volvo B58 and B10M chassis up until the 1983 order then they favoured the Leyland Tiger instead of Ford R series.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Other major operators of the Ford R series were Smith's Happiway Spencer's of Wigan and Shearings of Altrincham later combined into Shearings.

Smith's dual sourced in the 1970s and 1980s with AEC Reliance chassis and lager Volvo B58 and B10M chassis up until the 1983 order then they favoured the Leyland Tiger instead of Ford R series.

Lager Volvos - one for bus SKOLars

That’ll be my taxi then?

 

[Merthyr Imp]

Does anyone have any interior views of the Ford R-Series? I can imagine it must've been a pretty clunky entrance arrangement with the big Ford lump right next to the driver


Much like the front-engined front entrance deckers of the time period (Guy Wulfrunian, Volvo Ailsa, Guy/Leyland Victory & Dennis Jubilant).

Or Bedford VAM and VAL.

This is a Ford R192/Duple, new to Skill's of Nottingham in 1969 and seen at Huntingdon Street bus station there when a year or two old.

 

[GusB]

Or Bedford VAM and VAL.

This is a Ford R192/Duple, new to Skill's of Nottingham in 1969 and seen at Huntingdon Street bus station there when a year or two old.

View attachment 117020

I quite liked the Duple Viceroy bodywork. I had a Dinky model when I was a kid which I think was in the Swiss PTT livery (?!)

My local bus company had a few Fords with the same body, also in yellow.

 

[Strathclyder]

Or Bedford VAM and VAL.

This is a Ford R192/Duple, new to Skill's of Nottingham in 1969 and seen at Huntingdon Street bus station there when a year or two old.

View attachment 117020

Indeed, a rather cumbersome arrangement (to say nothing of driver ergonomics and comfort) despite it's advantages in terms of airflow and (relative!) ease of maintenance.

I quite liked the Duple Viceroy bodywork. I had a Dinky model when I was a kid which I think was in the Swiss PTT livery (?!)

My local bus company had a few Fords with the same body, also in yellow.

As do I, rather stylish and graceful. Can't comment on the structural integrity/build quality of such bodies (!), but there's no denying that they looked like little else on British roads at the time.

Lager Volvos - one for bus SKOLars

That’ll be my taxi then?

Don't forget yer coat.

 

[Merthyr Imp]

I quite liked the Duple Viceroy bodywork. I had a Dinky model when I was a kid which I think was in the Swiss PTT livery (?!)

My local bus company had a few Fords with the same body, also in yellow.

This is a Ford R192 with Duple Viceroy Express bodywork operated by Cumberland Motor Services. Seen in Blackpool in 1972 when it was practically brand new.