Bedford Mulliner?

I found this at a garage on the Long Causeway about halfway between Burnley and Hebden Bridge.
The photo was taken in 2008 but I'm sure it was still there late last year.
The garage owner told me it was a Mulliner body do you know if he was correct.

John Lomas

22/07/14 - 06:51

The bus was still there on the 28th June but I can't help with identification...

Mark

23/07/14 - 06:47

This bus is SXT 169 Bedford SBO 1957 Mulliner B31F of McNeill, Todmorden new to Ministry of Defence. More info can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/thespian/

David Hick

23/07/14 - 10:04

I daresay that many of us suspected that the vehicle had an MoD background, but the flat front is certainly intriguing - some later SB models with Strachans bodies had a sort of flat front, but it looked nothing like this one and the tendency was to have the headlamps much wider apart. As it would have been a government spec. contract, they would probably have all looked similar and not like our mystery vehicle.

Chris Hebbron

23/07/14 - 14:50

Thanks to David Hick for providing the link and info on this one. The MOD origin is not surprising, as I remember the Royal Navy in Portsmouth using buses like this in that area in the fifties/sixties. Those were registered in a Navy series, though, not the civilian series. Looking at the photo in David's link, the rear axle appears to be set farther back ("one bay") than would be usual, but the bus doesn't appear to be shortened. Is this my imagination, or is there a reason for this?

Michael Hampton

24/07/14 - 06:08

Not all of these went to the various ministries which now come under the umbrella of the MoD and carried registrations belying the arm of the forces they were allocated to.. Some, however, went to government organisations such as the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell and the like, carrying civilian registrations. Michael H is right; the vehicle does appear to differ from others (see my Air Ministry posting for a standard example) but it is difficult to place a finger firmly on the difference, not helped by the fact that nearly all the panels are of different width! The fuel filler access is not quite in the same place, either. I do notice that it has winding windows and not sliding ones, which is unusual.

Chris Hebbron

25/07/14 - 05:43

One bit of trivia- the bus has trafficators (see flickr photo) which are a late feature for 1957: but this was the MoD. I recall that "official" telephone vans had them specially fitted to Austin vans until a late stage: some were fitted to "ordinary" buses in the first half of the fifties, but I suspect that by 1957 they had otherwise gone. The later owner appears to have popped some flashers on.

Joe

29/07/14 - 06:35

Michael, the rear axle does appear to be further back than would normally be expected. As you say, the bodywork does not look as if it has been modified to give a shorter rear overhang. It is always a possibility one supposes, but to serve what purpose? Also, the Bedford is described as being an 'SBO' model, the 'O' denoting oil engine (Perkins R6). Wasn't this unusual for a Ministry of Defence vehicle in the 1950's? I have always associated MoD Bedford vehicles of that era with the beautifully sweet 6-cylinder petrol engine. Does anyone know if the bus was indeed Diesel engined from new, or converted from petrol to Diesel later, on its demob to Civvy Street?

Brendan Smith

18/03/16 - 08:37

This is still on site (last seen Sat 12th March) and has been moved up nearer to the road. I wonder if there are preservation plans.
The new picture shows the off-side which may help to judge the overhang mentioned by Michael and Brendan.

John Lomas

18/03/16 - 15:48

SXT 169 is listed by PSVC as in preservation with McNeil, Todmordon. This is Brian McNeil who runs a garage business repairing automatic transmissions, also runs 'Rolling Past Action Vehicles' for film TV work www.rollingpast.com/Action%20vehicle%20page.htm These also include 3 OB's Duple Vista bodied PPC 275 & AYJ 666 plus rare Barnaby bodied LRB 750. No mention of the Mulliner SB though on his web site.

John Wakefield

08/10/16 - 09:18

Yes its still there but I am afraid that its time is limited as I intend the clear the site and I have had an offer for its engine/ No one seems to be interested in restoring it and I am afraid I do not have the time.
It has become a bit of a landmark and very few weeks go by without some one coming to photograph it. It is a shame but I think that its gone to far now. unfortunately its to big to go in my building so it has languished out side for many years. When I first bought it I used it in quite a few film and television productions including The Darling Buds of May in which it carried Catherine Zeter Jones on a short ride in Tadcaster

Brian Mcneill

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