Vic Priest sent this picture of his preserved AEC Regent V that was used for staff transport by the the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell. It was running at the Wroughton rally (Thamesdown centenary) in 2004.

Sister vehicle 240 AJB is in the heritage fleet of ACE Travel of Aintree, and RFO 361 (ex 241 AJB) is now preserved by Roselyn Coaches of Par, Cornwall, having worked in the Falmouth area for a number of years.
Pictures of sister vehicles in service with AERE can be found at Steve Annell's Fotopic site, http://www.busstation.fotopic.net/c13158.html

CYA 181J, a former Brutonian and Knotty Bus Plaxton bus bodied AEC Reliance, has passed in preservation ownership back to Martin Hearson, former owner of Knotty Bus, during 2009.

Reliance/Plaxton coach NUB 93V also passed to Martin Hearson for preservation in 2010.

New to Devon General as DRD765 in 1956, ROD 756 is a 1956 AEC Regent V with Metro-Cammell Orion bodywork. It is preserved by a private owner in Devon, and was seen arriving at the Torquay Vintage Bus Running Day site in September 2011.

EOD 524D is an AEC Regent V, chassis number 2D3RA 1805, Metro-Cammell Orion. This 27' long, 8' wide model entered service in 1966, being one of five Regents built for Devon General near the end of production of the AV590 engine (the 150 brake horse power from the AV590 was required to ensure adequate performance on the hilly Torquay inner circle routes for which the five Regents were purchased). Using one of the last sets of 59-seat body frames supplied by Weymann's of Addlestone in Surrey, the bus was constructed at Metro-Cammell in Birmingham. 524 was withdrawn in 1978 and sold to a language school for student travel. It subsequently passed to Ironside Travel in Kent for use on the Dungeness nuclear power station construction project.
In 1985, as the only survivor of this batch, it was purchased by a group of enthusiasts and restored to its original 1966 condition, making its first rally appearance in 1989. In support of Devon General Society activities, it has made numerous visits to its original Devonshire hunting grounds and run on its former routes. The vehicle is privately owned by AEC enthusiasts Royston Morgan and Denis Chick, and resides at the Nottingham Transport heritage centre at Ruddington, where the picture was taken. Their support and help with maintenance of the vehicle is very much appreciated. More information at www.devongeneral.info.

Devon General Society member and AEC author Phil Platt owns the following former Devon General AECs.
DR661 (NTT 661), 1952 Weymann bodied Regent III
DR817 (VDV 817), 1957 Metro Cammell bodied Regent V
513 (CTT 513C), 1965 Park Royal bodied Regent V, which was the last AEC Regent in service with Devon General
VDV 798, 1957 Weymann bodied Reliance
1 RDV, 1963 Harrington bodied Reliance coach, which was in the Grey Cars subsidiary fleet
9 RDV, 1964 Reliance 590 (with 4-speed AEC gearbox) and Marshall 49-seat bus body

DGS member Terry Bennett owns 518 (CTT 518C), 1965 Willowbrook bodied Regent V

VDV 798 is currently under restoration, while the others are active and participate at rallies.

The Ron Greet collection includes two former Devon General AECs.
OD 7497, one of the first batch of AEC Regents purchased by the Devon General Omnibus & Touring Company Limited in 1934, with bodywork by Short and latterly converted to open-top.
4 RDV, 1963 Harrington bodied Reliance coach, which was in the Grey Cars subsidiary fleet

Falmouth Coaches (King Harry) own sister YCV 365B (new as 5 RDV).

East Kent Weymann bodied Reliance 470, KFN 220, has been preserved for a number of years and has benefitted from a smart repaint in this view at Showbus 2006.

Plaxton bodied AEC Reliance WJG 470J is preserved in pre-National Bus Company East Kent coach livery, and was looking smart at Showbus 2006.

East Kent Reliance coach

One of the East Kent Reliance coaches which had its Park Royal body replaced by a Plaxton one, 521 FN ran for various independent operators in East Anglia after sale by East Kent. Now registered DSK 856, it passed into preservation with Richards of Guist, a coach operator in Norfolk, in 2008.
The picture shows it at its original owner's Ashford depot in 1980.

East Kent Reliances, Swift and Bridgemaster

The East Kent Road Car Heritage Trust and its members have the following ex East Kent AECs. The three buses appear regularly at running days in the area and were all pictured at the FoTEK Deal/Sandwich running day in August 2009.

AFN 488B AEC Reliance with Duple Commander C32F body.
OFN 721F AEC Reliance with Marshall bus body, still configured as a mobile office in which form it last served Maidstone & District / East Kent, but repainted back into traditional EK livery,
VJG 187J AEC Swift with Marshall bus body, formerly operated by FoTEK.
YJG 807 AEC Bridgemaster, formerly operated by FoTEK.

Friends of the East Kent (FotEK) are a group dedicated to preserving former East Kent vehicles and support the East Kent Road Car Heritage Trust (above). FoTEK and its members also own the following ex East Kent AECs. The Regents appear regularly at running days in the area.

KFN 239 AEC Reliance with Weymann body, currently under restoration
DJG 619C AEC Reliance with Park Royal coach body, currently under restoration
PFN 867 Park Royal bodied AEC Regent V with unusual full-front body style
6801 FN AEC Regent V with Park Royal H40/32F
AFN 780B AEC Regent V with Park Royal H40/32F

Another of the unusual fully fronted Regent Vs, PFN 874 is preserved by private owner Richard Chant and appears regularly at rallies and running days in the area.

Open-top version PFN 853, which ran as a London sightseeing bus with Big Bus Company for a number of years, is also now preserved again.

GJG742D is jointly owned by Jonathan and Adrian Baxter, and Tim Newins. Restoration is nearing completion and will be fully restored by Spring 2012. 7742 will be the first East Kent Regent V to appear in traditional NBC poppy red livery.

GJG 739D has passed into new ownership and is currently being restored by a private owner in the Dover area. It will be restored in traditional burgundy/cream livery during a long-term restoration, expected to complete in 2011/12.

Sister GJG 750D is preserved by a private owner in the Brighton area.

Another sister, GJG 737D, was last known of in county Durham and was for sale in June 2011.

East Kent Regents and Reliances.
Ayers Coaches AEC Reliance.

Members of Dover Transport Museum have the following AEC's:-
569 KKK AEC Reliance with Duple Britannia C41C body ex Ayers Coaches (photo link from Dave Strickland)
WFN 513 AEC Reliance with Park Royal DP41F body ex East Kent.
GJG 751D AEC Regent V with Park Royal O40/32F ex East Kent.

Also kept at the Dover Museum although a working vehicle rather than preserved is the following:
GJG 757D AEC Regent V with Park Royal H40/32F ex East Kent.
This is owned by Home Front Bus and tours the country as an exhibition of life during the second world war. It was painted into traditional East Kent livery in 2010 and looks very smart.

Eastbourne AEC Regal

Eastbourne AEC Regent

Eastbourne AEC Regents

Eastbourne Corporation AEC Regent Vs Eastbourne Regent Vs 67, 68 and 69 (KHC 367, KHC 345, KHC 369) are all privately preserved with different owners. 69 appears regularly at rallies and running days in the area, including the Eastbourne Classic Bus running days. In 2011 nos. 68 and 69 operated together at the Eastbourne running day - and the prospect of all three appearing together is quite likely.

Sister 66 (KHC 366) is also in preservation. It served as a towing bus with Eastbourne before its sale, and is retained in this configuration with an owner in Cornwall.

Ex Glenton Tours Reliance coach with Plaxton centre entrance body PYM 106F is preserved in the livery of Berresfords, with whom it subsequently operated (photo by Ken Jones).

Sister PYM 108F is preserved in the livery of its last operator, Byeways Coaches of Huntingdon, after being retired from active service in early 2008.

Currently at the museum are the following:
AEC Monarch tower wagon - restored 1950
AEC Regent 3 – ADX 1 – Park Royal bodied The first motorbus for Ipswich - operational
1953 AEC Regal 4 – BPV 9 – Park Royal Bodied single decker – restoration required
1964 AEC Regent 5 - ADX 63B - Massey bodied – currently operational
1966 AEC Regent 5 - DPV 68D – Neepsend built - last rear platform for Ipswich – unrestored
1971 AEC Swift – JRT 82K – Willowbrook – operational.
For more information and details of operating events, contact johnr.rawling@talk21.com or visit the website http://www.ipswichtransportmuseum.co.uk

Park Royal bodied AEC Bridgemaster 217 (217 AJF) has been with the Leicester Bridgemaster Group since 1999 and has emerged in pristine condition in 2011, following a comprehensive (and expensive) restoration.

DBC 190C, which was restored over a six year period to 2000, is now with the 190 Renown Trust for continued preservation. The bus is kept near Gloucester but returns to Leicester for 2-3 months each summer to provide interesting photo opportunities. Owner Russell Smith sent the picture of her taken in October 2000 at the terminus of the old 62 route (later renumbered 14), in Aberdale Road, (off Welford Road), Leicester. This was one of the routes that the Renowns were used on. The second picture, taken nearly eight years later by Stephen Gow, shows 190 at Toddington station in July 2008 during a running day at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

The East Anglia Transport Museum have two ex Lowestoft AEC buses. One of them is 1947 Lowestoft AEC Regent 21 (GBJ 192) with a ECW body, the other is Lowestoft AEC Swift 4 (YRT 898H) with ECW body. Both are in working order and attend rallies. Also owned is BUT (AEC) Trolleybus HCD 52, ex Maidstone Corporation (new to Brighton). Further information and photos can be found at the EATM web site, http://www.eatm.org.uk.

The Regent is pictured while working in service in July 2003 at the annual Worthing Seafront Rally (photo by Syd Eade).

Two of the three 1946 Beadle bodied AEC Regal O662s used as open top tour buses in Hastings are now in preservation following careers with subsequent owners. HKL 819 is with a private owner in Bedfordshire and appears at running days in Kent. HKL 826, latterly with Guide Friday, has been restored to 1958 condition (as first converted) by the North East Bus Preservation Group.

Meanwhile the third, HKL 836, is with London Bus Company for use as a wedding and special events vehicle. It was previously with Wests Coaches of Wood Green, who took it to Showbus in 2006.

Private owner Geoff Yarnell has YKR 224 (S0224, later 3224), a Reliance bus with Beadle body, which appears regularly at rallies in the South and the Kent County Show.

It was pictured at Holtye Common during the 2006 East Grinstead running day.

Members of the Potteries Omnibus Preservation Society own the following AECs Reliances:

Alexander DP bodied 169 (FEH 169J), preserved in national bus company dual-purpose livery,
Alexander bodied 167 (DVT 167J), in need of restoration following arson attack,
Plaxton coach 1043 (AEH 143C), complete and undergoing restoration, hopefully to appear in 2007.

Information from Paul Pearson.

Weymann bodied 805 (805 EVT), formerly with the Potteries Omnibus Preservation Society, is now in the preserved fleet of Quantock, Taunton. It is able to operate on special event days although not licensed as a PSV for fare-paying services.

Alexander bodied Reliance VER 262L, which operated on the Oxford-Cambridge service with both Premier Travel and Percivals of Oxford, is one of the AECs preserved at the Oxford Bus Museum.

Preserved at Quantock are a former Potteries Reliance 805 EVT (see above), a former Barton lowheight Regent V, 851 FNN, and a 1948 AEC coach, FJW 322, which was rebuilt from a pre-war AEC Regent chassis. Some other restored AECs in the Quantock fleet are licensed to operate as public service vehicles, and are shown in the Quantock entry on the AECs in Service page.

Rare ex Reading AEC Reliance/Neepsend CRD 152C is preserved by a private owner. It was new to Reading as 52 in July 1965, renumbered 252 in 1968 and withdrawn in August 1979. It can be seen occasionally at rallies and the picture was taken by Mac Head during a British Trolleybus Society tour in July 2008.

One of the oldest AECs still roadworthy is Reading 47 (RD 7127), a 1935 Regent. This vehicle is the property of the British Trolleybus Society at Sandtoft, and more details can be found at http://www.sandtoft.org/bts/Vehicles/Reading47.htm

Tim Wale has owned preserved ex Reading AEC Regent III MRD 146 since 2003. It appears regularly at rallies.

Reading AEC Regent IIIs MRD 147 (sister to MRD 146 above) and 98 (LDP 945) are in preservation with a private owner. 98 was pictured at the Alton Rally in 2007 and 147 at the same location in 2011.

Ex Rhondda AEC Regent V 495 (KNY 495D) moved to the Barry Bus Depot premises of the Cardiff Transport Preservation Group in 2009. It is in fully restored condition.

235 is now in the Museum's care and has been the recipient of its first full restoration programme. Mechanical restoration has been long and arduous: the engine is not the usual 7.7 but is the bigger (and louder) 8.8 - thanks to the LBPT for helping with some of the spares. The gearbox, radiator and virtually every seat had to be repaired or replaced, along with the staircase which was made entirely out of wood.

She made her premiere at the Salford celebration weekend at the Manchester Museum of Transport on 11/12 October 2003. There wasn't quite time to get an MOT before the event, but this will follow in Spring 2004. Look out for pictures in Bus & Coach Preservation magazine soon!

If you want to see her, she's on display at the Manchester Museum of Transport each weekend and Wednesday. The Museum's website has more information on how to get there, how much it is etc on www.manchester.bus.museum.

Ex Southampton AEC Regent V 402 (KOW 910F), which was Southampton's last AEC Regent and the last Neepsend body built, is preserved by the Southampton & District Transport Heritage Trust. Regent 367 (BTR 367B) moved to SDTHT in 2010 from the pb Bus Marketing heritage collection

Other ex Southampton AECs associated with the SDTHT are Regents 318 (318 AOW), 350 (370 FCR), 371 (BOW 507C), Strachans bodies AEC Swift 1 (JOW 499E) and a pair of Plaxton bodied Reliances new to Coliseum Coaches, PCW 888G and PCW 889G.

Ex Southampton AEC Regent 393 (KOW 901F) is in preservation and is having extensive restoration work done by owners Charnie Holden & Ian Kimber. We have completely removed and rebuilt the rear end, we are now putting our efforts into rebuilding the N/S. Any rot that is found is being removed and replaced, all parts are being sand blasted and new panels are being fitted. The picture shows how she is looking now after a lot of work has been done, it will be a few years yet before 393 is on the road.

Ian also owns former Southampton 361 (BTR 361B) and sent a picture of it.

Ex Surrey Motors' Harrington Grenadier HLP 10C is preserved by private owners Mike Pack and Mike Cullum, who have had it since June 2000. It is being actively rallied in 2007, and was at the Harrington gathering. HLP 10C can be seen at the AEC Society photopic site, http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/9158825CnjuPydmAS. Surrey Motors Harrington Cavalier 699 RPA is also in preservation and often appears at the annual Worthing Bus Rally and running day.

WYP 203G is one of a pair of Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied AEC Reliance delivered to Surrey Motors in 1969, and later worked for Edward Thomas. In 1974 it received a new Elite III body following an accident. It has been in preservation for many years and currently appears at rallies in the south west. The Prout's Tours "fleetname" is not authentic, and is a nod towards the name of the current owner!

Sister WYP 202G was reported as entering preservation with Cresta Coaches of Fareham in 2010.

Also preserved is a fine former Surrey Motors AEC Regal III with Harrington body. PPF 492 is seen resplendent in the sun at the 2010 Alton rally.

Delivered new to the Pontypridd Urban District Council, later becoming number 8 in the Taff-Ely fleet, Regent V UTG 313G is preserved by the Cardiff Transport Preservation Group

MXB 733, ex Tilling Regal rebuild (Queen Mary) was acquired in late 2008 by Johnathan Brenson, Little Waltham, Essex from The Berkeley Carriage Co., Chelmsford. It was rebult by Tilling in 1952 using an unspecified Regal chassis & new ECW 'Queen Mary' coach body. It had previously been owned and restored by John Brenson's (Johnathan's dad), and they have restored it again in 2010. It is back on the rally scene and is pictured here at the Lodges open day in August 2010. Picture by John Wakefield.

JTM 109V, the last bus bodied AEC Reliance built, was new to Tillingbourne and passed with the Orpington based operations to spin-off company Metrobus. Following later spells in service with Sussex Bus and London & County, it has passed into preservation and has been repainted back into Metrobus livery.

1937 ex Trent AEC Regal RC 4615 is preserved at the Wythall Transport Museum. See http://www.wythall.org.uk/vehicles/vrc4615.asp

Paul Hattersley's ex Valliant Harrington Grenadier bodied coach AMX 8A is now restored, and has attended a number of rallies since 2003, including the AEC Society rallies at Newark. Paul is always pleased to meet other owners of AEC Harrington's and looks forward to meeting more. p.hattersley@dlr.co.uk

Andy Gamblin of Durham has purchased 780 HUP, ex-Venture of Consett AEC Reliance/Park Royal B45F dating from 1960. The vehicle is currently stored (summer 2005) awaiting longer term restoration.

Wallace Arnold Regal

This 1947 Regal Mk I chassis, new as KUM 386, is being restored by the Malta Historic Vehicles Trust, and a replica Duple body will be fitted. More info at www.maltahistoricvehicles.com/proj_1947_AEC_regal_1_coach_chassis.htm

Plaxton Consort bodied Reliance 8332 U, new to Wallace Arnold, was seen presented at the 2006 Showbus rally in excellent condition. This vehicle is a regular visitor to rallies in Yorkshire and the north of England.

Ex Western Welsh 1961 Reliance/Willowbrook DP WKG 284 is owned by the Reliance Bus Preservation Group. It has been restored to its current condition for about 12 years and regularly attends rallies in the South Wales area along with the group's other two vehicles, Caerphilly Leyland Tiger LTX 311, fleet No.1 and Red & White Bristol RESL LAX 101 E. Photo provided by Brian J. Law of the Reliance Bus Preservation Group.

Sister vehicle WKG 287, which also ran for Henleys of Abertillery for a number of years, has had a chequered preservation career but is now in the ownership of John Evans and the Rhymney Valley Preservation Group and returned to South Wales in November 2007. She has since moved from Bargoed, where the photo was taken, to Pontypool, for renovation works - and was in action at Wythall in 2011. A fine picture of it in service with Henleys, taken by Martyn Hearosn can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22455491@N02/2258541567

ABO 145B, a 1964 Reliance 2MU3RA new to Western Welsh, and subsequently with Greenslades of Exeter from 1971 to 1973, is owned by Phil Willson (the Routemaster Association webmaster) who is keeping up the good work done by its previous owner, Brian Catchpole, to bring it up to A1 condition. It is appearing at rallies and running days whenever possible. It is now fitted with a AH505 engine plus AEC 6-speed constant mesh gearbox. The body is a 31ft 10in Harrington Grenadier currently fitted with 36 seats, which was the original number when new (it has had 38 and 40 at various times over the years, but "Bus Lists on the Web" confirms it originally had 36 seats).

Ex Western Welsh Northern Counties bodied AEC Renown 713 (BKG 713B), which was nicely restored by a Cwmbran based group, is currently residing near Newport and appears at rallies in the area.

Former Yelloway Motor Services 1976 AEC Reliance Duple Dominant Reg.-NNC 855P has been fully restored into Yelloway livery and converted into a mobile museum. The coach features a full history and artifacts of the Yelloway company and other associated coach companies. All enquiries to Dave Haddock, Tel. 0161-286-1547 or Email Dave.haddock8@ntlworld.com

The Yelloway Project acquired Plaxton bodied Reliance WEB 410T (ex Bowkers of Alsager) in February 2006, adding it to CDK 172L already in their care. The pair are dedicated to the memory of the joint Yelloway-Premier 77-78 service from Lancashire to East Anglia.

WEB 410T was new to Premier Travel of Cambridge. Sister WEB 411T (last registered IUI 6411), the last Reliance delivered new to Premier Travel, is still owned by Martyn Hearson following its stint with Knotty Bus, but is in need of restoration.

CFK 340, a 1948 AEC Regal Mk III with a late example of a Burlingham half-cab coach body, is privately preserved in the Corby area following a stint in the heritage fleet of Quantock Motor Services. It is presented in the livery of Burnhams of Worcester, its first owner. It was pictured by Ken Jones at the Stapleford Miniature Railway in 2011.

Privately owned 1953 AEC Regal NXL 847 with a late example of a Duple A type half-cab coach body, was present at the January 2009 FoKAB Winchester running day. It was new to Eastern Belle of Bow and restored in the 1990s.

Alexander B57F bodied long Reliance VMP 10G is preserved under the auspices of the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Site, although privately owned. It was new to the Road Transport Industry Training Board and never turned a wheel in PSV revenue earning service before being bought for preservation. Since then it has had spells of revenue earning service with WJC Buses of Chapelhall, and is currently in their livery.

HER 27 is another unusually preserved bus that never ran in PSV service. One of a pair new to Fisons Pest Control, Cambridge (presumably for staff transport), it wound up in preservation with Kent dealer Wealden Omnibuses. A picture of it at their Five Oak Green site in 1996 can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/45726467@N02/4197662250/ and it is still there as far as anybody knows.

Plaxton Derwent bodied Reliance OAX 500M, which was new to Welsh independent Henleys of Abertillery, is preserved in the livery of Cottrells of Mitcheldean, and appears regularly at rallies in the south-west. A photo of it on the AEC Society fotopic page can be seen by clicking here.

RM316, which last ran in servive with Reading Mainline, is with a preservation owner in Ireland.

Another preserved ex Reading Mainline is RM244 (which is currently registered VLT 250, the plate from RM250) in Wales.

RM378 is with Dave Green, Travelgreen, Doncaster, currently registered WFO 410, and is being immaculately restored.

RM349 at Alton in August 2009

RM835 is preserved by the Clydeside Preservation Society in the attractive livery of Clydeside Scottish, with whom it ran after initial withdrawal by London Transport. It made the long trip south for the 2008 Slough/Windsor event.

RM859, which last ran in service with Reading Mainline / Reading Buses, is preserved in Mainline livery and appears at rallies

RM999 (WVS 423), another that ran with Reading Mainline, is preserved by Reading Heritage Transport and is also used for heritage operations.

RM887, which latterly ran in the London Central/London General special events fleet as 215 UXJ, was sold in 2011 to a private owner in Eastbourne ans has orginal registration WLT 887 back. It has been lonaed to Classic Bus North West for summer 2011.

RM910 is preserved in Kelvin Scottish livery, representing the period in the 1980s when it operated for Kelvin as their 1929. It is owned by Gary Conn and Martin Guerr and kept at the GVVT Bridgetown depot.

Preserved RM1955 in a later variation of London Transport livery.

RM2037 is preserved by Keith Rose and appears regularly at rallies. It last ran in service with Reading Mainline / Reading Buses.

Another of the RCLs in preservation is RCL2233, seen at the 2007 Alton Rally in Greenline livery.

Sister RCL2260 is in the operational fleet of London Bus Company Ltd and also appears regularly at running days.

Graham's Training of Wimbledon have RMLs 2290, 2331 and 2734 among their collection of preserved vehicles. RML2331 was restored in 2011.

Another preserved in route 12 livery is RML2454, seen at a rally in Kent in 2009.

RML2518 is privately owned in the Manchester area and appears at events in the north-west..

RML2633 is privately owned but is kept at Arriva's Cannock garage in Arriva livery.

Sister RML2526 was spotted in June 2007 in the Norfolk broads also in Arriva livery. Does anyone know anything about this bus?

RML2547 is under preservation and based in the Hereford/Powys area.

RML2291 is with a private owner in Suffolk in February 2010, following use as a mobile snack bar.

RML2660 and RML2742 are preserved with a private owner in West Sussex.

Other Routemasters that are preserved and can be seen at rallies and running days are RM737, RM1403 (open-top), RML2364, RML2463, RML2676, RML2731.

RM1966 is privately preserved and stored at the premises on London Truck and Bus

Many more pictures of preserved (and working) Routemasters can be found at Mick Liddle's Perthpanther Routemaster Collection site