888DUK Guy Arab V / Strachans with Harper's of Heath Hayes
888DUK was a Guy Arab V demonstrator vehicle built by Guy Motors in 1963. Its unusual looking Strachan built body was a very angular affair (particularly at the backend), and not very aesthetic to the eye. Why Guy Motors (Europe) chose this austere body style remains a mystery, but the company was not in a very good financial position at the time?
Although the bus looked to be white, it was in fact painted into a very pale grey colour with dark green bands.
888DUK was demonstrated to a number of operators in the early 1960s, including Wolverhampton, Halifax and Southdown.
From peoples jottings, it would appear that the Guy Arab was unpopular with many bus crews during its life as a demonstration bus. The sliding platform door wasn’t liked by some, nor was the bus's apparent jerky semi-automatic transmission.
Wolverhampton Corporation who went on to order Guy Arab Vs in numbers, only used 888DUK on demonstration service for one day in December 1963, presumably before it was moved on elsewhere. By that time, Wolverhampton was receiving their first batch of 72-seater Weymann bodied Guy Arab Vs to displace trolleybuses.
888DUK returned to Wolverhampton again in February 1965 for about a week. Its visit was likely to have been the precursor to the Transport Department buying a batch of Strachan bodied Guy Arab Vs that same year. A poor decision in terms of an investment, as the bodies were of inferior quality, suffering structural failings after a few short years. In 1966/67, WCT went on to buy more Strachan bodied Guy Arabs, some of which only gave 5-years service.
Cut a long story short, 888DUK, eventually ended up being purchased by independent, Harper Brothers of Heath Hayes, Staffordshire in circa 1966.
The bus became known by Harper crews as the ‘Old Grey Mare’. 888DUK was eventually painted into Harper’s pale green and cream livery, but the nick name stuck. The vehicle lasted until October 1974, when Harper’s sold out their bus operations to the Midland Red, who immediately withdrew the bus from service and disposed of it.
The picture shows 888DUK in a very presentable condition on Cannock Bus station c1966. 888DUK may have been on loan to Harpers, or is seen just after it had been purchased by them.
888DUK Guy Arab V / Strachans with Harper's of Heath Hayes
888DUK was a Guy Arab V demonstrator vehicle built by Guy Motors in 1963. Its unusual looking Strachan built body was a very angular affair (particularly at the backend), and not very aesthetic to the eye. Why Guy Motors (Europe) chose this austere body style remains a mystery, but the company was not in a very good financial position at the time?
Although the bus looked to be white, it was in fact painted into a very pale grey colour with dark green bands.
888DUK was demonstrated to a number of operators in the early 1960s, including Wolverhampton, Halifax and Southdown.
From peoples jottings, it would appear that the Guy Arab was unpopular with many bus crews during its life as a demonstration bus. The sliding platform door wasn’t liked by some, nor was the bus's apparent jerky semi-automatic transmission.
Wolverhampton Corporation who went on to order Guy Arab Vs in numbers, only used 888DUK on demonstration service for one day in December 1963, presumably before it was moved on elsewhere. By that time, Wolverhampton was receiving their first batch of 72-seater Weymann bodied Guy Arab Vs to displace trolleybuses.
888DUK returned to Wolverhampton again in February 1965 for about a week. Its visit was likely to have been the precursor to the Transport Department buying a batch of Strachan bodied Guy Arab Vs that same year. A poor decision in terms of an investment, as the bodies were of inferior quality, suffering structural failings after a few short years. In 1966/67, WCT went on to buy more Strachan bodied Guy Arabs, some of which only gave 5-years service.
Cut a long story short, 888DUK, eventually ended up being purchased by independent, Harper Brothers of Heath Hayes, Staffordshire in circa 1966.
The bus became known by Harper crews as the ‘Old Grey Mare’. 888DUK was eventually painted into Harper’s pale green and cream livery, but the nick name stuck. The vehicle lasted until October 1974, when Harper’s sold out their bus operations to the Midland Red, who immediately withdrew the bus from service and disposed of it.
The picture shows 888DUK in a very presentable condition on Cannock Bus station c1966. 888DUK may have been on loan to Harpers, or is seen just after it had been purchased by them.