After 10 years of partial restoration work by Jason and his father Doug Allen, with the chassis, engine and fuel tank fully restored. L1749 still required much restoration work to restore it to a road worthy condition when purchased by former Red & White driver Andy Mayo in September 2002

New rear panels being fitted you can certainly see the 30 years of neglect in this shot

This shot shows the rebuilding of the rear entry door frame and platform, you can also see that the upper corner and over wheel panels also need replacing. This and the previous shot were taken early 2003

Here we have bus restorer Harry Fox refitting the windscreen wiper motor during restoration work in the Forest of Dean during 2003.
Note that one of the front windows has had the original opening window refitted which was preferred by Red & White. All of the mudguards were removed at this point for restoration work to be carried out.
It was also at this stage that Andy Mayo invited me to assist Harry Fox with the remaining restoration work.

When I was invited to assist with the restoration I found that many parts and components had been removed and stored inside the upper and lower saloons on top of the seats, here is a shot looking forward in the lower saloon.

June 2003 and as you can see both upper deck windows are restored to the original correct opening type. The tell tale Duple aluminum decorative strip panels above the lower deck windows have been replaced.

July 3003 and L1749 now goes in doors and up in the air for chassis inspection you can also see that one of the head lights as been refitted. By the way the HWO 342 registration plates front and rear are the original plates fitted when delivered in 1949/50.

After a successful MOT test L1749 makes its debut at a vintage rally in Newport, Wales. Back on her own territory where she operated the long country service route between Cardiff and Gloucester via Newport 35 years previous. Even in her drab unpainted condition hundreds of people recognised her as one of the old Red & White double deckers they had traveled to school or to work on as teenagers and wanted to sit in their favorite seats again.

L1749 in a barn with windows, lights and flashing all masked up for her first respray in April 2004.

Two years later in 2006 and the lower panels get a second respray.

Here is the result of many hours of hard work L1749 looking good in its fresh original Red & White livery but still missing the Red & White name decals and fleet numbers which were added later.
This side view shows off the pleasing design of the Duple bodywork and the folding doors enclosing the rear platform. Manually operated by the conductors/conductresses and passengers in winter on the 60 mile Cardiff/Gloucester route.