THE SCOTTISH VINTAGE BUS MUSEUM - FAS 984 (J1359)
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DETAILS Chassis: Albion Victor FT39, built 1958 Body: Single Deck, Reading Coachworks of Portsmouth Engine: First Licenced: 1958 |
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BACK ON THE ROAD – AT
LAST! |
After four years of restoration work by joint-owners Doug Dickson and John Toshack, JMT 5, an Albion Victor FT39, registration number J1359 (now re-registered FAS 984) has a class five MoT and is legally on the UK roads for the first time!
JMT5 (her Jersey Motor Transport fleet number] was built in Glasgow and bodied by Reading Coachworks of Portsmouth, before being shipped over to the sunshine isle in 1958 where she worked until her retirement in 1976. After being owned by a couple of Jersey residents to keep her from being broken up, she was 'imported' to the UK in 1984. The only thing that was done to JMT5 was an engine change after the crankshaft broke when the vehicle was en-route to her new home where she sat in a barn for the next 15 years!
Purchased for restoration in 1999 she was transported from the Lincoln barn to the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond. Initial inspection had not revealed the true facts ... the body framing was 'shot' at the back end and the wiring was a fire hazard; the engine was dour to start and smoked a bit - probably because there was a hole in no. 3 piston! And that was only the start! Apart from renewing these items, other things that have been done include a bare metal repaint, inside and out, new window rubbers, new flooring, complete new upholstery etc. etc. The funds got shorter as the list got longer!
After a few sleepless nights JMT5 gained a class five MoT in August 2002 and attended her first rally at Glamis Castle in September where she was awarded fourth prize!
The owners are looking for photographs of JMT5 in service to complete the archive and can be contacted on 01383 733399 if you can help. The Scottish Vintage Museum would also appreciate donations of bus memorabilia and can be contacted on the same number.
May 2009
After languishing in the workshop for five
years since a disastrous (and expensive) engine failure, J1359 has eventually
got to the stage of having her rebuilt engine installed. Thanks to the efforts
and guidance, not to mention blood, sweat and tears and a few b...... - sorry,
many choice words, Sandy Page got her running, with its owner, Doug Dickson,
playing the part of gofer! (I know how that feels. - Ed.) Rab Paterson's
experience and advice saved a lot of guesswork and all that remains is to
present her for a MoT - nae bother! Pity they're not available on the Internet!! (Are you sure?! -
Ed.)