SCOTTISH VINTAGE BUS MUSEUM

DETAILS

Chassis: Daimler CVD6, built 1950, No 16519.

Body: Double-deck. Massey O32/28RD, built 1957. (Originally H33/28RD)

Engine: Daimler CD6 6 cylinder diesel, 8.601 litres.

First Licensed: 30/l0/50 (as double-decker 20/3/58).

Lathalmond 2002 (Ross Scoular)

Towards the end of the Second World War Daimler had begun to manufacture their own diesel engine of 8.6 litres and had fitted this to some wartime production chassis. This engine was subsequently made available in Daimler’s post-war production in the CV (‘V’ for ‘Victory’) range, the type thus becoming the CVD6 range.

The CVD6 was available both in single-decker and double-decker chassis type and was supplied to a wide range of operators, the single-decker chassis being particularly popular for coach chassis on account of the smoothness and refinement of the Daimler engine.

Normal production of this Daimler engine ceased in 1953 by which time 1,869 of the engine type had been produced.

If anyone has a photo of the bus with its single-deck body, I'd be very grateful to receive it

This vehicle was originally supplied in 1950 to Andrew Hunter of Dreghorn, Ayrshire, a member of the ‘A1’ consortium of bus operators running vehicles in and around Ayrshire. As originally built this vehicle was a singIe-decker fitted with a 35 seat ‘Sun Saloon’ body built by Irvine of Salsburgh, a Scottish bus operator. It operated in this form until 1956.

In the course of 1957 the vehicle was re-bodied with a 61-seat double-deck body by Massey of Wigan.

Right: South Beach Ardrossan, June 1961 (Iain MacGregor)

It operated in this form until finally withdrawn from service in 1976. In December of that year it was acquired for storage and eventual preservation.

Left: South Beach Ardrossan, April 1974 (Iain MacGregor)

RESTORATION DETAILS

After ten years in storage, during which time the vehicle was subject of some malicious attention it was taken in hand by the Kilmarnock workshops of SBG Engineering Ltd. There it was converted to open top configuration and was overhauled to PSV standard for operation in and around Stirling in public service by Midland Scottish Omnibuses Ltd, on behalf of Stirling District Council.

Photo: Stirling, August 1988 (Iain MacGregor)

In the photo on the left - taken in April 1990, the bus is seen in Larbert depot with a new livery (Iain MacGregor). As I recall, this is the livery in which I first saw DCS 616 at Whitburn - but I don't remember the massive 'BLUEBIRD' fleetnames. (Iain advises that the massive 'BLUEBIRD' was a detachable board)

The current owner, who purchased the vehicle in December 1976, carried out major work on the engine and repainted the vehicle. He has recently fitted a replacement gearbox and the vehicle is fully roadworthy although it hasn't been put through an MoT Test.