AEC Regent

Thumbnail image of the 1947 AEC Regent III. Click here for a larger image that will open a new window. This AEC Regent III of 1947 (batch of six), Registration Number GTJ 692, was Morecambe & Heysham No 7. This was an inspection (9th May 1947) demonstrating that an omnibus can lean at least 35 degrees before falling over.  Information courtesy of Martin Ingle

bor011.jpg (60047 bytes)bor006.jpg (44315 bytes)bor767vv.jpg (40782 bytes)parkroyal.jpg (68371 bytes)

This AEC Regent I (BOR 767) with Park Royal H30/26R body has been preserved by David Whittaker who kindly sent in these images.  Built in 1936 the first image above is that taken by AEC/PRC's official photographers (Bowers) prior to delivery to Gosport & Fareham Omnibus Company Limited, September 18th 1936 as Fleet Name/Number Provincial 35.

Please visit http://www.provincialsociety.org/preserved/bor767.htm for the full story.  Many more preserved buses can be found at The Provincial Society's excellent website.

The Park Royal Vehicles emblem is a fine image but there's an issue. In 1936 PRV was PRC (Park Royal Coachworks); it did not become the public company PRV until 1947?

David Whittaker writes: When I bought the bus in 1969 I was determined to put her, as near as possible back to original 1936 condition. I contacted Park Royal and they were good enough to provide the last two emblem transfers in stock. I knew where the transfers should be, one on the platform staircase and one on each battery cover. When the bus was painted these two were applied. It's quite correct that these transfers are of the later name but were the nearest available.  The bus has since been repainted but it has proved possible to save the PRV transfers as they are now.  When rubbing down the paintwork some years ago I rediscovered the original PRC emblem on the second battery cover. Sadly, it was no longer perfect so it was simply painted over again - but it's still there!  Incidentally, I have since found the correct design for the PSV licence plate and hope one day to show one in the correct position on the rear of the bus.

The PRV 'sedan chair' emblem was originally designed for Hall Lewis and merely updated with the name Park Royal Coachworks and latterly Vehicles.  The centralised words always being COACHBUILDERS PARK ROYAL. LONDON. NW10. (Ed)

Four Park Royal bodied Regents (numbers B4408-11 registered BOR 766-9) were delivered with the more robust teak framing that contributed to these vehicles' service longevity (30 years).  BOR 767 is however the only survivor of the initial delivery.  Twelve similar vehicles were delivered to Provincial, the last in March 1940.