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Blackpool Transport Optare Excel T884RBR 221 seen near Blackpool North station on the 2, 29th May
All photos from this trip will appear on lukestransportphotos.smugmug.com/ over the next few days
Seen here is an example of the unloved Optare Excel integral vehicle R209 DKG, one of a number new to Cardiff in 1997. It had formerly been with Central Connect before being photographed here at a dealers in October 2009. It latterly operated with Edwards Coaches in Cardiff. Alongside it is seen Volvo B10B / Alexander M416 UNW that had been new to Yorkshire Woollen in 1994 and had latterly operated with Arriva North West. Unusually although a red band has been crudely applied to distingush it as a sold vehicle, the Arriva names have not been covered over.
The exterior of 2646 this time, despite appearances it's not at a bus rally! Funnily enough, many years ago it used to share a barn on an Edenbridge farm with my own buses, then in a very dishevelled state. Credit to my old mate Eddie Knorn for having to foresight to save it.
Now there's something different to do with a badly exposed shot, invert the colours. Maybe not everyone's taste but I think it works here. Taken whilst on The Slip at Macduff.
Due to trademark issues with Peugeot the first generation Hyundai Accent was sold as Excel in the Netherlands. It was built from 1994 until 2000. This one is powered by a 1.3 litre engine wth 84 PS.
First West of England 33506 (LK08FKY) is seen at Portishead, Combe Road on "Excel" route X4.
Formerly First London DN33506 and First Leicester 33506.
Thought I'd go and investigate the special service between Canning Town and Excel today, this being provided due to the DLR strike. Ensigns turned out much of their fleet, old and new(ish). For my first trip from Canning Town I had the Trident in the centre (now numbered 159, ex Stagecoach 18229) to Excel for M1 back. The bus on the left is Regal Busways ex Metroline TP64, parked up between peak workings supplementing the 474. 3/11/15.
This Optare Excel was new to Ipswich Buses as P194 SGV. It is seen here in the yard of Xidias Coaches, Larnaca, Cyprus
Former TrentBarton Excel 234 has been used by Kinch recently but it looks like the end of the road parked up in Kinchs' yard, Loughborough with Kinch 618.
Tue 1st April 2014.
The Lotus Excel was made between 1982 and 1992. It is based on the 1975 Lotus Eclat and is powered by a 2.2-litre, four cylinder engine.
New and improved Excel drawing now available:
www.flickr.com/photos/108834608@N06/52678961915/in/datepo...
Joining the E400 City in the 'buses from the 36 club' is the Optare Excel, the initial vehicle type used to start off the service in 2001.
I don't really know much about the orange line Excels' fleet history with NCT, as there seemed to be two Y reg buses, then two for yellow line, then 51 plates numbered 549-556, with 557 coming in later off green line, and 557 being an 02 plate.
The bus which I traced this over is Andrew's Y546 DTO, the same Y546 DTO which was one of the two Y regs mentioned above.
The original Hyundai Excel (chassis code X1, 1985-1989) once was a very common sight in Los Angeles, but today it is very rare, and an example in as good a condition as this one is even rarer. The license plate and the red turn signals indicate that this is toward the tail end of the original Excel's production run.
The Excel became Hyundai's first US-market model in February 1986, and remained the sole model through the end of 1988. Thanks to its low price (as low as $4,995 in 1986) and attractive body designed by Giugiaro Italdesign, it set sales records right away, selling 100,000 units after just seven months on the market, and over 200,000 per year in 1987 and 1988. But due to its cut-rate quality and engineering, as well as aggressive sales to subprime customers who could afford neither the payments nor the proper maintenance, many Excels came back repossessed, and by then they were in too poor a shape to be resold.
Between the atrocious reputation of the Excel and the rising South Korean labor costs, Hyundai products could not compete, and US sales nosedived; by 1998, the entire 4-model lineup of Hyundai was lucky to sell just 30,000 units in the US for the year. But between the super-long powertrain warranty from 1999 on, and improving product reliability, Hyundai turned its fortunes around. Today, Hyundai's US lineup includes nearly a dozen models, including desirable luxury, sport, and utility models, and the Sonata cracked the 200,000-unit annual sales barrier in 2011.
I would have loved to park my own Genesis next to this Excel for a family portrait and a contrast, though I could not, as I was driving my backup Honda Accord on this particular day.
The 4-door sedan version of the original Excel was marketed within the South Korean domestic market under a different name, Presto. The larger bumpers and side reflectors, which were required for the Excel to comply with US safety requirements, were an option package on the Korean domestic Presto as well. European versions were sold under the old Pony name, and the US-spec bumpers and reflectors were not offered. The redesigned X2 Excel (1989-1994) dropped the Presto name for the Korean market, but kept its Pony name in Europe. The Accent/Verna has been the replacement for the Excel since 1995.
Well would you believe it. 2015 was almost certainly the year that the last Optare Excels within the Wellglade group would finally leave the fleet. But no! 2nd January 2016 sees Excel 257 still in action, along with Excel 261 over at Sutton depot. It really does surprise me that these, unlike so many other unfortunate vehicles, have survived the DDA deadlines which have been looming for years now.
Others were not so fortunate, however, with only two out of what must have been nearly one hundred excels purchased by the Wellglade Group still in operation. Lots were sold for further operation elsewhere, although many more were scrapped.
This particular Excel, 257, was new to Rainbow 4, (seen here at Showbus 2001, www.showbus.com/p1/y257drc.JPG (c)www.showbus.com)
257 then gained 'Pronto' livery (www.flickr.com/photos/116535434@N04/22133594182 (c)Mutly's Fots)
257 was then painted up into 'Amberline' livery (www.flickr.com/photos/60448072@N07/5540821413 (c)DoncasterDarts)
257 then wore advertising for Trent Barton Customer Service and gained an electronic destination board:(www.flickr.com/photos/99395428@N03/9580006808 (c)dbp DearingsBusPics)
before finally becoming the standard red bow spare livery it is today, (although it retained some rear advertising and the slogan on the front panel), returning to Sutton depot, also reverting back to roller blind destinations. Late 2015 saw 257 move yet again to Langley Mill depot (covering for withdrawn 266) re-gaining a digital destination board.
Trentbarton Optare Excel 263 Y263 DRC still looks good in Sutton in Ashfield working the 141 on 09-07-15.
EJ-PRLN Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel +
Latest biz jet addition to Irish register
Shannon 3rd December 2022
Optare Excel R208DKG had been new to Cardiff in 1997 but soon passed to Reading Buses and then on to Eastbourne Buses. It had also spent time with South Gloucestershire of Patchway, but it's final PSV owner before this shot at a dealer in October 2009 had been Red Arrow of Huddersfield. It was not to operate again and was scrapped before 2011.
Next to it is Dennis Dart / Alexander K109 XHG which had been new to United Counties before passing to GTL in Merseyside and then A2Z of Walsall.
Columbus - John Glenn Columbus International (Port Columbus International) (CMH / KCMH)
Columbus, OH
Cessna 560XL Citation Excel c/n 560-5326, N503UP, Wheels Up
-GAJ503 to KCMH from KJZI
The Lotus Excel was made between 1982 and 1992. It is based on the 1975 Lotus Eclat and is powered by a 2.2-litre, four cylinder engine.
Excel No 266 now based at Langley Mill, on the 'donkey' run shuttle to Heanor market leaving the garage. Mon 12th May 2014.