|
This page is an attempt to redress the serious lack of up-to-date information regarding extant Swift-family vehicles.
For this task I must acknowledge particularly the assistance of Keith Wright, who has a very keen nose for a Swift and
has surprised me a number of times with his revelations.
FRIENDS (Swifts)
SM 1
Single-door, fully-seated, Marshall-bodied SM1 (yes, the very first) is owned by Blue Triangle, along with SMD88
and SMA8 (both stored). She is currently in their workshop, receiving attention and hoped to be back on the road
later in 2007.
Photo: © A. Lennox-Kay 2007
|
|
|
SM 30
Single-door, fully-seated SM30 is from the first Marshall-bodied batch of buses which entered service in April 1970.
SM 30 is owned by Emsworth & District and has not been seen about for some while, although some work has taken
place recently, and it is intended to return her to service (4/07).
Emsworth also own SM32, which has suffered
conversion to a caravan, but I was not able to obtain a picture of that.
Photo: © J. Wilkins 2007
|
SMD 88
I am indebted to Mick Overton for this photo of another astonishing survivor, which Mick owned with two others in years
past. From London SMD88 was sold in August 1977 to A1 Service in west Scotland, legendary operators of many ex-London
buses. Here you can see the pleasing livery and substantial bumper that was added by this conservative owner. I am sure
that the new towing eye was never necessary. This vehicle is currently stored in driveable condition and owned by Blue
Triangle.
Photo: © Mick Overton 2007
|
|
|
SMD 91
From the first batch of Park Royal, dual-doored vehicles SMS91 was converted to SMD specification in 1976 and soldiered
on in the fleet until the end of 1978. Conversion to a mobile classroom followed and she became known as the video bus
as she was equipped with projection equipment and several panelled-over windows. Owned previously by the enthusiastic
Hugh Harland as a
mobile museum, she is now in the collection of the Walthamstow Pump House Museum. Curiously, she seems to have been
fitted with a DMS-type front dash panel!
Photo: © Keith Wright 2005
|
SMD 97
And now a scoop! The first picture published of long-hidden SMD97. Another survivor from that first batch of Park Royal
vehicles, this one went on to Transport Ferry Services, Felixtowe early in 1978 working mostly around the Dover Docks
with other Swift and Merlin survivors. Ending up with the famous fleet of the redoubtable Basil Williams, she was
ultimately purchased and stored by Paul Brophy as an act of faith. Now based in Sussex with Steve Parr and the Country
bus and Coach Group, it had been hoped that this one would be back on the road in the Spring of 2008, 30 years after
disposal by London Transport. In the event, howver, the queue was jumped by DMS 1868. Watch this space......
Photo: © C. Green 2007
Click here for more on Hants & Sussex.
|
|
|
SM114
The only other country Swift in existence (go on, prove me wrong please) is 114, which was part of the Hants and Sussex
fleet of Basil Williams. Purchased by an artist for conversion to a mobile studio, which never happened, she was
rescued by Paul Brophy and stored for a number of years before moving to Country Bus Rallies for restoration. Note the
single-door conversion in this (rather poor) photo.
Photo: © Jonathan Wilkins 2004
Click here for more on Hants & Sussex.
|
SMS 369
From the second batch of Park Royal, dual-doored vehicles this vehicle was the first Swift to come out of restoration
at the end of the 1990's. Restored by Kevin McGowan, she has since been donated to the Cobham Bus Museum where she is
a regular performer. The interior boasts a full set of coin-acceptor and turnstile. Thanks are due to Kevin and the
Museum for inspiration, assistance and advice on restoring my own machine.
Photo: © Jonathan Wilkins 2005
|
|
|
SMS753
Paul Brophy owns this nice example of the last London production run, a rare MCW-bodied vehicle. Note the wide
spacing of the headlights which was a variation introduced for the last hundred bodies. 753 was the vehicle chosen for
conversion to shop and mobile publicity office in November 1978. Its blue and red livery is starting to show through
again in this view of the bus stored in Mike Nash's yard in 2005. Although largely unrestored, Paul has sourced and fitted
a full set of seats.
Photo: © Keith Wright 2005
|
|
SMS753 Make-over
I simply have to share this one with you.........SMS753 in the guise of a hippy bus. Mike Nash, ever-resourceful,
succeeded in finding a role as a film-star for this survivor. ITV were filming a drama for television and needed a
period bus. Spot-on I'd say! Watch out for "He Kills Coppers", from the novel by Jake Arnott, which is scheduled to
air in December 2007. The rainbow wheel-arch makes it for me.
Photo: © Mike Nash 2007
|
SMA13
Looking very much the worse for wear, but far from a basket-case is this distinctive Alexander bodied Swift. These
differed from the 'standard' specification as they were 11m long with the AH505 engine, and spent their life on Green
Line route 725 and associated bus routes. SMA1 was the last Swift in LCBS service, and this example spent several
years as transport for Bullers Wood School in Kent, where it was restored to original livery. This vehicle is now
under restoration in the North East.
Photo: © Keith Wright 2005
|
|
FAMILY (Merlins)
MB 90
This is a unique survivor in at least two ways. She is the ONLY surviving vehicle with the low driving position that
was the original standard. All other survivors are type 4P2R with the raised cab floor. She is also the ONLY green
example. It is a tribute to the determination of Chris Sullivan who purchased her at the point of scrapping that she
has survived, and only with considerable effort was she recovered from a location dining facility to a recognisable
bus with reinstated centre doors. Chris might be biased in one way or another as an ex-SA driver who would be
familiar with these buses. MB 90 now resides with Ensign in their historic collection, and has been involved
in minor spares swapping with my own SM106.
Photo: © Keith Wright 2005
|
|
|
MBA 444
The longevity of many Merlins is essentially down to the robust AH691 engine and the fact that the RED ARROW service
was a duty that they settled down to (perhaps it was also less hard work). The other point is that they were the last
operational vehicles of the type (outlasting later Swifts) and were being overhauled until 1980. As with others,
MBA 444 was a conversion from MBS. Upon disposal, she was purchased by Bedfordshire Education Department for use as a
mobile technology unit. Partly restored, 444 now lives in Hertfordshire with Keith Wright, and is seen here in daylight
for the first time in several years.
Photo: © Keith Wright 2007
|
MBA 539
This one, owned as one of a pair with MBA 581 is in very reasonable condition after long dry-storage. Still owned and
cared-for in Essex, but now also deteriorating in the open.
Photo: © Keith Wright 2005
|
|
|
MBA 581
It came as a shock to discover that such vehicles were still about......This appalling conversion to dining facility
was once a RED ARROW, and was probably best described as a good source of spares. However, I am sorry to relate that this
vehicle has now been scrapped under very difficult circumstances, instead of being dismantled for spares.
Photo: © Keith Wright 2005
|
MBA 582
The London Transport Museum realised belatedly that they did not own one of their most infamous machines, so
earmarked this one after disposal by LT. I am indebted to Mick Overton for the story that a number of vehicles
awaiting sale from London Bus Sales and stored at AEC's disused Southall works became donors of parts before the bus
was completely repanelled and repainted to a very high standard. It is thus in almost mint condition, and only
occasionally seen outside of Acton Depot.
Photo: © London Transport Museum
|
|
|
MBS 588
This example lives at the BAMMOT Museum site, Wythall and is in active restoration by Tim Clayton. Tim has been
instrumental in obtaining some interior trim parts for my own SM106, for which I am very grateful. This is one
of the few 'other' vehicles illustrated here which is under restoration
Photo: © Tim Clayton 2006
|
MBA 641
Another unique machine, this is a fully-seated example of the last batch of Merlins. These were used to implement
conventional one-man conversion of routes in the central area. Another quirk of this batch was the use of the blue
'Celestra' moquette and grey trim that was standard for the subsequent Swift deliveries. Beautifully cared for
and occasionally active in Hertfordshire.
Photo: © Keith Wright 2004
|
|
|
|
