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Surviving single-deck halfcabs (by Dick Gilbert)

Last updated 24 August 2024


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Single-deck halfcabs Double-deckers converted to single-deck service vehicles Single-deck halfcabs abroad, based on an exported British chassis Double-deck halfcabs abroad, based on an exported British chassis Trolleybuses abroad, based on an exported British chassis Preserved trolleybuses

Because of my particular interest in this area, this is a list of all known British single-deck halfcab / half-canopy buses and coaches that I believe survive in the UK - and sometimes elsewhere. This list is probably the most comprehensive around, and I try to keep it as up to date as possible.

I have included buses and coaches converted to trucks or breakdown vehicles and chassis only entries, and include all British buses (i.e. vehicles that once served with a British operator) that are preserved abroad - not that there are many. It's a bit difficult to decide whether a vehicle should be included if it was once a halfcab, but isn't now (e.g. later converted to double-deck or full-front), so the rules are a bit arbitrary in certain grey areas!

The listing is arranged in order of (1) Chassis manufacturer, (2) Chassis model (e.g. Bristol L5, then L6, or Tiger TS7 then TS8 etc.), (3) Original operator in alphabetical order. Then each entry shows original operator, original fleet number, subsequent owners / fleet numbers if applicable, chassis type, chassis number in brackets {__} if known, body type (and age if different from chassis age), body number in brackets {__} if known, chassis build date, registration number, ownership details.

Abbreviations are listed at the end. The bodywork abbreviations are in the standard format, i.e. B, C or DP (for bus, coach or dual-purpose), followed by the seating capacity, then by the door position F, C, R or D (for Front, Centre, Rear or Dual). The prefix U means a wartime Utility body, F means a full-front, and O means Open Top.

For the latest additions (i.e. a bus that was always around, but I've only just found out about it!) look for the *NEW* symbol. For any significant information updates see the *UPDATED* symbol.

Entries with links from the registration number (or with links crediting a photographer) will connect to a photograph of the vehicle elsewhere on this site, or to information on another site. Surprisingly, there are now over 600 vehicles in this list so the following links may be useful:

My thanks to David Slater and John Godwin for starting me off with their 1993 book Preserved Buses, Trolleys and Trams, and thanks also to the multitude of other sources (and owners) who give me snippets of information and help me keep it all up to date, particularly information from the PSV Circle.

Well, here goes..... (By the way, the colour scheme is meant to represent the coaches of South Wales.)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

ADC (Associated Daimler) (5 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

AEC (86 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

ALBION (16 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

BMMO (12 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

BEDFORD (1 Vehicle)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

BRISTOL (116 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

CROSSLEY (18 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

DAIMLER (23 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

DENNIS (41 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

FODEN (6 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

GILFORD (6 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

GNR GARDNER (5 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

GUY (10 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

KARRIER (3 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

LEYLAND pre-1945 buses (113 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

LEYLAND post-1945 buses (107 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

MAUDSLAY (7 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

MORRIS COMMERCIAL (3 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

SENTINEL (1 vehicle)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

THORNYCROFT (3 vehicles)


Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

TILLING STEVENS (19 vehicles)


GRAND TOTAL OF 601 vehicles

ABBREVIATIONS


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