This thread has certainly thrown up a wide variety of odd and unusual buses but there are a few more that I can add to the list. The attached photos are all mine. Would I be right in thinking that welfare buses and novelty buses fall outside the scope of this thread?
Metro Scania demonstrator VWD 401H.
This bus differs from the production Metro Scania by having glazed rear corners. I travelled across south London by Routemaster on my way from Oxford to Woolwich to sample it on LT route 99 (Woolwich – Erith).
Leyland Lowloader
Leyland’s first attempt at a rear engine double decker was unveiled in 1952. Registered STF 90, it had a turbocharged O.350 engine mounted transversely in the rear offside corner and carried a Saunders Roe full front rear entrance open platform body. It had the overall appearance of a trolleybus of that era. The rear engine allowed the bus to be lowheight to rival the Bristol Lodekka but without having to accommodate a propshaft under the floor. A second version (XTC 684) appeared in 1954 with a similar layout but had an MCW half cab lowheight Orion style body and platform doors. Both buses were sold on for further use. I had the pleasure of travelling on XTC 684 on a quick trip round Leighton Buzzard but can't trace that I took a photo. I believe the bus is still in preservation. STF 90, however, has been scrapped.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rw3-497alh/16035877772
http://www.sct61.org.uk/index/chassis/la/zzxtc684
Silver Eagle
The Eagle range of coaches was developed for American interstate bus operator Trailways. Initially they were built in Belgium but later production moved to Texas. Some right hand drive versions were produced for South Africa and Australia. One also made it to the UK and was exhibited at the 1976 Southsea bus rally with Tatlocks fleetnames. However, I don’t think it ever operated here.
Walsall Daimler CRC6-36 XDH 56G
This bus was had a passing mention in post #84 as being a long Fleetline. However, it is rather more than that as it has Cummins V6-200 engine in the rear offside corner which allows it have both front and rear doors and two staircases. At 36ft long with 86 seats it was, for a time, the biggest bus in the country. A closed circuit TV camera was used to allow the driver to observe the rear door but, when I travelled on it between Walsall and Birmingham, it had a conductor. This bus survives in preservation.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/10508928396
SELNEC Mercedes O305/Northern Counties
In 1973 SELNEC bought two of these single deck buses as part of a number of “experimental” buses that it acquired whilst it was assessing future vehicle policy. Whilst it was a very neat design, it clearly did not find favour and these 2 buses were the only ones built. In the days before bus spotting apps, finding odd vehicles in a large fleet in a large built-up area was always a challenge but, working on published information, I travelled to Oldham to find them. I thought I was in luck when I saw one coming along the road towards me. I had just got my camera ready when it turned down a side street and was not seen again.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tarquinius_superbus/50803933052
Park Royal Royalist
Park Royal was very much a bus builder but, from time to time, tried to diversify into building coaches. In 1967, it developed the Royalist. This was a coach, which to my eyes, was attractively modern with straight line styling. It was initially built on a rear engined Albion chassis which it was thought would appeal to smaller operators though there were plans to offer it on Bedford or Ford chassis. In the event only 5 were built, all on the Albion chassis. One was a demonstrator, the others went to the Red House Garage group in Coventry.
http://www.sct61.org.uk/index/body/pr/zzjcs819f
Barton Transport Bedford VAL
The Bedford VAL was very commonplace as a coach and, to a lesser extent, as a bus. However, Barton Transport had a fleet where the difference between buses and coaches was blurred and, even then, could be relied upon to have something different. Its VALs had Yeates bodies with coach styling and seats but with dual sliding doors so were suitable for bus and coach work.
Plaxton Leopard Interurban
I cannot see that anyone has mentioned the Lothian dual door Plaxton Leopard commuter coaches. There cannot be many of them and I doubt if there will be any more.
Fast Starter
This vehicle was mentioned in post #64 where it was established that only 12 were sold in UK, one of which ended up with McGills. However, if Bus Lists on the Web is to be believed, the McGills bus is even more rare as it is one of only two that had a wheelchair lift. If anyone has photos of the lift from inside or outside the vehicle, I would be very interested to see them.