AECs abroad
News and Photos

The bus scene on Malta has long been a preserve of elderly buses imported from the UK. Buses from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, some even older, are still in regular service there, and have often been heavily rebuilt and customised by their owner drivers. 60 or so redundant London Transport AEC Swifts were exported, and a large number were still in use in 2010. There are also AECs of various other varieties, alongside Bedfords, Albions, Leylands and various other historic marques.

These buses are privately owned and operate the yellow "route bus" services driven by their owners. The owners are pround of their vehicles and of their engineering expertise, and often rebuild and embellish their prized possessions in a very individual way. However the situation will change soon, as the government is to change the system with owners becoming contractors of the government to drive their new fleet of low-floor buses. The old buses will be taken off the road for good (with most being scrapped to prevent subsequent re-use), and from July 2011 a new and secondhand fleet of modern low-floor buses operated by Arriva will replace them.

Mac Head, a regular correspondent and visitor to the island, has sent a list of the former London AEC Swifts and of the other AECs on the islands. Mac has also sent many of the photographs on this page, including some from sister island Gozo. Photos are in three sections: one for the Swifts, one for the other AEC route buses, and one for non route buses.

AECBus acknowledges Bus Lists on the Web, which has been a resource for much of the first owner and bodywork information on this and other pages on the site. You can get a full flavour of all the different types on the island, including many historical views, at Keith Till's Malta buses site.

If you would like to add information or photos to this page please email the author at

London Swifts

EBY 534 (ex SMS572) - seen in April 2008 - is one of very few to operate in largely original form. The majority of those still running have been extensively rebuilt over the years, but EBY 534 still has its AEC engine and gearbox and even sports a No Entry legend where the centre door once was. Picture by Mac Head.	EBY 534 again, in the company of rebuilt FBY 656 (ex SM14) - providing a comparison between the original and a restyled model. Picture by Mac Head.	Another still in largely original form is Marshall bodied former SM11, now registered FBY 675, also pictured at work in April 2008. Picture by Mac Head.
Former SMS232 (DBY 380) has received some embellishments to the front but is otherwise in original form. It was seen at Valletta in April 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	Former SMS200 (DBY 301) is another to gain only minor modifications, and was seen picking up passengers at Bugibba bus station in February 2011, alongside rebuilding works. Picture by Stephen Gow.	SMS327 (EBY 525) is another to gain only minor modifications, and was seen on a service to the University in April 2008. Picture by Mac Head.
Many of the ex London Swifts have been modified with an extra entrance step to enable a flat floor throughout. This is demonstrated by DBY 321(former SM13). Rebadging of buses with different model or manufacturer names is a common custom too. Picture by Mac Head.	Former SMD427 (DBY 420) has also had the high-floor conversion and some frontal modifications, but its origins are unmistakeable. It also pretends to be a different AEC model. It was pictured at Rabat in February 2011.	Here's another one claiming to be a Reliance. FBY 779 is former SMS280, and was pictured at Mosta in February 2011. Picture by Stephen Gow.
Former SM16 (EBY 554) has frontal embellishments but its origins are still clear. It was new to LT as a single-door vehicle with Marshall body - neither of which featured in later deliveries. It was seen in October 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	EBY 564 (ex SMS268) was seen in Valletta in October 2008. Although some of the very first batch of Marshall bodied Swifts are on the island, this one had a Park Royal dual-doorway body when new. Picture by Mac Head.	Another picture of EBY 564, loading at Msida in February 2011. It has also had the high-floor modification.
Former SMD60 (EBY 576) looking smart on the layover bay at Valletta in April 2008. It proudly proclaims its AEC origins alongside its claim to be a Marshall bodied vehicle (it is a member of the Park Royal batch that followed on immediately after the first 50 Marshall Swifts). Picture by Mac Head.	Another picture of EBY 576, picking up passengers at Msida in February 2011. This bus now has a Cummins engine and a six-speed manual gearbox, and is a lively performer.	EBY 589 (ex SMS292) takes its layover at Valletta in April 2008. Picture by Mac Head.
EBY 623 (ex SMS274) stands in heavy rain at Valletta bus station in February 2011.	One of the earliest Swifts on the Island, EBY 625 was the former SM8 and is genuinely Marshall bodied. It was photographed splashing its way into Valletta bus station in February 2011. Picture by Stephen Gow.	Former SMS603 (EBY 633) passes through Mosta on the route from Rabat to Bugibba in February 2011. This is one of the so-called direct routes, i.e. it doesn't serve Valletta.
EBY 634 (ex SMS212) was seen st Sliema harbour in February 2011.	Seen four days later in much wetter conditions, EBY 634 in the company of Bedford YLQ DBY 365 demonstrates a common feature of years of modifications. It makes no mention of its AEC heritage whilst the Bedford prominently displays the legend "AEC 505" - possibly it ran with an AEC engine at some time in its history. Picture by Stephen Gow.	FBY 641(ex SMS202) heads out of Bugibba en route for Rabat and Mdina in October 2008. Picture by Mac Head.
FBY 642 (ex SMS243) in April 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	Marshall bodied former SM33 (FBY 662) in April 2008. Unfortunately this was burnt out in June 2010. Picture by Mac Head.	Ex SMS810, now FBY 665, returned to service in 2010 following a rebuild, after a 15 year gap, and sports a rather attractive and probably unofficial livery variation. Picture by Mac Head.
Marshall bodied former SM9 (FBY 738) in October 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	FBY 744 (ex SMS258) in April 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	FBY 763 (ex SM34) in October 2008. Significant rebuilding is evident when compared with sister FBY 662 above. Picture by Mac Head.
FBY 756 (SMS275) in September 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	FBY 776 (ex SMS238), seen at Valletta bus station in April 2008, has been significantly rebuilt with restyled front and sides. Picture by Mac Head.	Another photo of FBY 776, driving down Bugibba seafront in February 2011. It sports a plethora of alternative model and manufacturers names.
DBY 466 (SM18) is even more radically rebuilt, with its original Marshall body heavily disguised by the high-floor modification, restyled sides and the addition of a Duple Dominant coach front. Picture by Mac Head.	The most radical rebuild of all is of former SMS244 (DBY 305), now with high floor, coach style trims on the sides, express coach doors and a completely new front. It's nice to see it still carries an AEC badge though. We can't see if the original AEC instrument binnacle is still there as it is obscured by decorations. Picture by Mac Head.	FBY 797 has been undergoing a rebuild but it seems unlikely it will be completed with the end now in sight for these vehicles. Here it is in the workshops in March 2009. Picture by Mac Head.
GVH 133 (ex SMS260) is operated by the Malta Education Department as a school bus and was seen at work in September 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	Another of the Education Department Swifts is former SMS259 (GVH 140), which was seen in the newer livery for this fleet. Picture by Mac Head.	Three of the Education Department Swifts in Pembroke depot. GVH 130 nearest the camers is being cannabalised for spares but GVH 140 and GVH 141 are both still active. Picture by Mac Head.

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Other AEC route buses on Malta and Gozo

AEC Reliance DBY 300, seen in Valletta in February 2011, was new to Aberdare DC as TNY 495G. Its still has its original Willowbrook body, although somewhat rebuilt.	DBY 302, an AEC Reliance rebodied locally by Ciantar, seen at work in October 2009. It was new to Global Coahces as YXD 11. Picture by Mac Head.	DBY 327 was assembled locally at the Malta Docks in 1971 out of AEC parts and a body built by Aquilina. It was seen still at work in March 2009. Picture by Mac Head.
AEC Reliance DBY 331, new to Knowles of Bolton in 1955 with a Burlingham coach body as HWH 450. It was rebodied by Debono in 2006 and photographed in October 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	AEC Reliance DBY 333 received the Malta treatment before it even got there! New in 1968 with a Duple Commander body, it was rebodied with a Plaxton Supreme IV body in 1979 and reregistered HPG 650V while with Thomas of West Ewell. It arrived in Malta around the end of 1987 and has subsequently received a Paramount front. Picture by Mac Head.	Sister to DBY 300, DBY 345 has retained the Willowbrook body it had new as TNY 494G. Picture by Mac Head.
DBY 346, a Regal III new as HYP 309 to a South London independent, and locally rebodied by Zammit, seen at Valletta in March 2009. Picture by Mac Head.	DBY 346 seen again in February 2011, passing along Bugibba seafront on its return journey back to Valletta. Picture by Stephen Gow.	DBY 349 is a 1939 Regal 0662 which arrived on the island in 1960 and received a locally built Barbara body. It was pictured at Valletta in October 2008. It was new to City of Oxford as HFC 413 with a Weymann body. Picture by Mac Head.
Another picture of DBY 349 in Mosta in February 2011. A photo of sister HFC 410 with original body is on The Classic Buses Website. Picture by Stephen Gow.	DBY 350 has a locally built Farrugia body on a 1960 AEC Mercury truck chassis, and was still at work in October 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	Locally rebodied Reliance DBY 369 started life as North Western 860 in 1961 with a Willowbrook body. It was also seen in October 2008. Picture by Mac Head.
AEC Mercury DBY 374 with locally built Barbara body in March 2009. Picture by Mac Head.	DBY 381 was built new by Brincat using imported AEC Mercury running units and entered service in 1967. It was seen at Cirkewwa ferry terminal in February 2011.	AEC Mercury DBY 408 with locally built Farrugia body in March 2009. Picture by Mac Head.
AEC DBY 435 with locally built Barbara body in June 2009. Picture by Mac Head.	AEC DBY 438 with locally built Farrugia body in November 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	Another locally bodied AEC Mercury, this time by Aquilina, DBY 450 entered service in 1967 on a 1958 built chassis. It was seen in Bugibba in April 2008. Like many, it has been refitted with a Leyland 400 series engine - and its AEC origins are well disguised. Picture by Mac Head.
EBY 484 is a 1948 Regal III, new as GNY 764, rebodied by Debono. Picture by Mac Head.	EBY 498, a 1956 AEC Reliance new as VWE 258 to Sheffield United Tours with a Burlingham body, was rebodied by Aquilina in 1973. It was seen at Sliema in February 2011.	EBY 555 has a locally built Brincat body on a 1957 AEC Mercury truck chassis, and was still at work in October 2008. Like many of the highly-customised buses on the island, it has badgework proclaiming it to be from another manufacturer. Picture by Mac Head.
EBY 559, another Farrugia bodied AEC Mercury, seen in March 2009. Picture by Mac Head.	Another locally rebodied Reliance, EBY 567 was new to Wallace Arnold as Plaxton bodied coach 9191 NW. It was seen at work in September 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	EBY 567 is seen again heading out of Valletta on its way to St. Julians in the gloom of a wet February 2011 evening, closely pursued by AEC Swift EBY 534 heading for San Gwann. Picture by Stephen Gow.
EBY 603, a 1951 AEC Matador more commonly used as towing vehicles in the UK, has bodywork built by Gauci in 1969. It was seen at the fishing port of Marsaxlokk, renowned for its Sunday market, in February 2011.	EBY 612 derives from a 1958 AEC chassis that arrived on the island in 1970. It was rebuilt as a forward control single decker by Debono, and was pictured in March 2009. Picture by Mac Head.	EBY 628 has a chassis built by the Malta Docks company using AEC components from an imported bus, despite its claim to be a Leyland, and locally built Barbara body. Picture by Mac Head.
FBY 659, seen in March 2009, has a body by Aquilina on an AEC Mustang truck chassis. Picture by Mac Head.	FBY 674, an AEC Reliance new to North Western as RDB 847, with new body built in 1989 by local builder Ciantar. It was seen at Bugibba bus station in February 2011.	Another Aquilina body, this time on the 1957 chassis of ex Maidstone & District Reliance YKR 234, and very clearly styled on the Duple Commander. It was still active in February 2011. A picture of preserved sister YKR 224 with its original Beadle body can be found on the Preserved AECs page.
FBY 725 is another example of AEC Mercury / Barbara combination. It was seen at Valletta in October 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	Another picture of FBY 725, this time at Bugibba in February 2011. Its bodywork was built in 1967 on running units supplied in 1964.	FBY 726, new to Wallace Arnold as Burlingham coach TUA 17, now with an Aquilina body clearly styled on the Duple commander. Picture by Mac Head.
Not a Reliance as claimed, but another AEC Mercury with Barbara body. The forward position of the front axle and set back passenger door give away its truck origins. FBY 730 was seen in April 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	Another AEC Mercury conversion, FBY 739 has bodywork by Daina built in 1967 and was seen in March 2010. Picture by Mac Head.	AEC Reliance FBY 748 has a 1989 Brincat body in place of the Duple coach body it had when new to Bostock of Congleton in 1962. It was seen turning from Bugibba seafront towards the bus station in February 2011.
Another of the locally bodied AEC Mercury truck chassis, this time by Debono. FBY 749 was pictured in October 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	Another former Burlingham coach, FBY 767 now has a body by Debono that is also styled on the Duple Commander. Picture by Mac Head.	FBY 774, another Mercury truck chassis with Aquilina body, seen in March 2009. Picture by Mac Head.
1958 AEC Mercury FBY 777, with body by Farrugia, pictured at Bugibba bus station in April 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	. Sometimes it does rain in Malta (in fact it completely pours). FBY 777 gets a good dousing in Valletta in February 2011.	FBY 798 has a Barbara body that was built on an AEC Reliance chassis shipped new to Malta in 1964. Picture by Mac Head.
The bus fleet on neighbouring Gozo consists of vehicles transferred across from the larger island. FBY 019 has a body built locally by Aquilina on an AEC Mercury truck chassis. Picture by Mac Head.	Relatively young by Maltese standards, FBY 020 is a Duple Dominant bodied Reliance, new as dealer stock in 1979, and pictured on Gozo in March 2009. Picture by Mac Head.	FBY 043 is another of the locally built buses on truck chassis. Named Rambo, it was photographed on Gozo in February 2008. Picture by Paul Mingard.

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AEC non route buses

Ex Northern General Routemaster "RMF588" ran sightseeing tours in London with a number of operators including Big Bus Company, who sold it to Malta sightseeing operator Cancu Supreme Tours in 2008. Picture by Mac Head.	This picture taken later in the year shows COY 004 at the Mdina stopping point of the Malta tour, still in Big Bus livery. Cancu Supreme also operate a number of Leyland Titans from Big Bus on the tour. Picture by Jules Christian.	COY 004 in the Malta Sightseeing livery it received in 2009 for sightseeing services on the island. It was pictured at the same location on one of the two competing sightseeing tours in February 2011. Despite the repaint it still carries pseudo-London fleetnumber RMF588. Picture by Stephen Gow.
Christopher Cassar emailed in September 2009 to say that his Routemaster RM432 is now resident in the town of San Gwann in Malta, where he lives. It is now registered SVS 167.	Originally London Transport RT1377 (KXW 476), this AEC Regent III operated for many years as an open-topper on the island of Guernsey, first with Guernseybus and then with Island FM as a publicity vehicle. It arrived on Malta in 2008 and is pictured in March 2009 in as acquired condition. The intention was to use it on sightseeing tours, but new government rules now make it much less likely that this bus will enter service on the island and it remained unused in March 2011. Picture by Mac Head.
ACY 903 is an AEC Reliance coach in the private hire / touring fleet of Cancu Supreme. The Duple Dominant body is still recognisable although the simple refurbishments actually make it look more modern. It was new to a Northampton independent as LBD 929V. Picture by Mac Head.	JCY 883 started life as Duple bodied HOD 39E and was rebodied in 1979 with this Plaxton Supreme body, becoming CPM 520T. It went to Malta in 1987 and is now in the fleet of Zarb Coaches. Picture by Mac Head.	KCY 879 was new to National Travel London and still retains the Plaxton Supreme body it had as BGY 583T. It is a touring coach with Koptaco Coaches. Picture by Mac Head.

 

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