Bus enthusiasts especially welcome - come and have a look around our VR

Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts

This website is for anyone interested in the products of Bristol Commercial Vehicles, a manufacturer swallowed up by British Leyland and a victim of the politics of the 1970s and early 1980s. The specific model we deal with in most detail is the Vertical Rear-engined (VR) double decker which continues to be operated, albeit in ever-dwindling numbers. 2009 saw a large number of VRs exported as very few newer lowheight double deckers are available on the secondhand market. The only large fleet of VRs used in regular service in the UK remains with Johson of Hodthorpe, but on the other hand there are now 212 VRs recorded in various states of preservation in the UK. The youngest VRs will celebrate their twenty-ninth birthday this year (2010), testament to the quality of design and build which was a hallmark of the Brislington factory where they were built.

Last Updated : August 18th 2010 (JOG711W, XDV608S, NDP275G and YFM283L for sale. SNV934W for sale in Spain, GOG653N, KRU848W, RLN230W and JHW107P on eBay)

Mission Statement
The aim of this website is to be the up-to-date reference point for all surviving Bristol VR, Lodekka, RE and LH vehicles. Ultimately it is the intention to have a profile page for every one of these vehicles that were built including photos with every owner in every livery. Obviously this is a lifetime's work and will not be achieved without the help of a great many contributors - these kind folk have already helped to swell the number of photos held for publication to over 18,000, many of which are already in use on the site. With the dramatically reduced activity in the Bristol vehicle world in recent years I now record all major vehicle changes and items of interest on the Recently Recorded Changes Log.

This week's interesting non-Bristols on eBay:
UPDATED *** Leyland Leopard ex-Bristol Omnibus A205SAE *** UPDATED
UPDATED *** Leyland Olympian/Alexander C609LFT *** UPDATED
UPDATED *** Unknown Leyland Lynx 2 *** UPDATED
Leyland Atlantean A693HNB
Unidentified Edinburgh Atlantean
Leyland Leopard/Alexander YRC185
Lowheight MCW Metrobus D714NKY
Unknown Optare limo
Ex-London Transport Volvo Ailsa A102SUU
Leyland Leopard Towing Wagon WHE349J
MCW-Scania Metropolitan KJD214P
Quest 80/Plaxton Paramount A813LEL
Leyland Atlantean/Alexander GSC622X
Leyland Olympian open-top
Volvo B58/Plaxton NIL7057
Dennis Lance SLF/Wright M471FJR
Leyland Tiger/Alexander F52ENF
Leyland Tiger/Duple Dominant YPD101Y
Leyland National NPK250R
Bedford YMQS/Plaxton XBJ860
Leyland Atlantean/ECW LDX75G
Leyland Tiger/Duple Caribbean G802RNC
Leyland Olympian/ECW D204FYM
Optare Solo T321BUS
Leyland Lynx G611CEF
Dennis Dart K859PCN
London Transport RF636
Dennis Lancet D631BPL
London Transport RML2633
Bedford/Duple Vega CDL551C
Volvo B10M/Duple Dominant HTT225Y
Leyland Leopard/Plaxton DBH452X
Dennis Dominator C221WAJ
Leyland Atlantean/East Lancs rebody RAU804M
Bedford YMT/Duple Dominant RGV699W
Dennis Lance N419MPN
Dennis Arrow N806TPK
Leyland Titan Pizzeria EYE244V

Bristols For Sale
I do not charge any fees for listing Bristol vehicles for sale on this page, but I regret I cannot advertise events due to lack of available time. I do however list Bristols advertised on eBay in the hope of alerting buyers who may otherwise miss the opportunity and have added a few additional links to interesting eBay categories such as those for Photos and Models at various points on the website.

Parts Wanted and Parts for Sale
PartsMart - bowing to popular demand I also now advertise parts for sale and also parts required for specific vehicles. The same principles apply as for the vehicles for sale page - there is no charge for this service but I would be grateful for a small donation towards the upkeep of the website if you make a sale, and do please let me know when I can remove your entry from the page.

Please help to support this website by using this link. Anything you buy (not just bus-related items) on eBay, having clicked through from here, results in a commission payment of a few pennies which I put toward the cost of having this website professionally hosted.

Operator Focus (August 5th 2010) Construction now complete

Hartlepool Borough Transport

Hartlepool Borough Transport was by far the most loyal municipal customer for the Bristol RE, buying 58 examples new between 1967 and 1975 in regular small batches. Seen above is an early flat screen example, 58 (JEF658G) which is carrying an overall livery celebrating the centenary of the Borough Council.

Operator Focus - Archive

The Operator Focus Archive contains a log of previously featured operators. If you can contribute to fill any gaps or correct any mistakes I'd be delighted to hear from you.

Photo of the Month (July 29th 2010)

I came across a very relevant photo collection on Flickr called The Bristol VR Bus recently which sees a great many interesting VR photos gathered together in one large album. In there was this view of City of Oxford/South Midland 603 (NUD103L) taken in September 1986 having just been outshopped in this experimental fleet livery. Perhaps not surprisingly it remained a one-off, although I personally find it not unattractive. I am grateful to Steve Vallance for permission to use his photo. This batch of VRs was of particular interest being both ultra low height (13'5'') and coach seated, often being seen on the London service where no doubt their capacity was appreciated. I have received several updates from Dave Clements recently as his painstaking restoration of NUD105L continues.

Photo of the Month - Archive

This is the latest photo in a regular feature intended to showcase the work of some of the very kind contributors to this website to whom we are very much indebted.

Operator Focus

For a couple of years now I have been adding Illustrated Fleet Histories for operators who have run VRs, REs, LHs and/or Lodekkas at some point, ranging from large groups to tiny one-vehicle operations. Those added so far are listed by county on the Operator Cross Reference page (including an indication as to whether or not the list yet contains all the details and photos in my possession), but I now plan to showcase operators as I work on them. The purpose of highlighting them on here is both as a means of promoting the pages but also as a request for viewers to send in any photos that fill in the gaps in the Photo Archive sections on each page. The aim is to illustrate every vehicle in every livery with every operator and I want to thank all the very many kind individuals who have already made such contributions to this website.

The Illustrated Histories Log page details those vehicles that have already been processed. More are added each week. If you can help to complete any with either additional information or photos I would be delighted to hear from you, either through the submission of photos or slides for scanning, or through the email of digital images. You will find my Contact Information at the foot of this page.

ILLUSTRATED CURRENT SURVIVORS LISTS

VRs in Service ***New format***

All current VRs operated around the UK.

Non-PCV VRs

Playbuses, exhibition units, caravans, etc. They're all here.

Preserved VRs

Over one hundred and eighty VRs are already in preservation. Keep up with their progress here.

All RE Survivors

Lists by original owner of all RE survivors from around the World

All Lodekka Survivors

Lists by original owner of all Lodekka survivors from around the World

All LH Survivors

Lists by original owner of all LH survivors from around the World

COMPLETE TYPE LISTS

BRISTOL VR

Here you will find all VRs that were manufactured, listed by original owner. The lists show the current location of all survivors, all others being marked as scrapped.

BRISTOL SU

Although we do not cover the Bristol SU, you will find very comprehensive comprehensive coverage on Gerry Tormey's website using the above link

BRISTOL MW

Gerry Tormey has also now completed a superb site devoted to the Bristol MW. Follow the link above.

BRISTOL SC

Further offerings from Gerry Tormey now include this site for the Bristol SC....

BRISTOL LS

...and this one for the integral Bristol LS model.

BRISTOL J and Bristol L

Here are Gerry's two latest websites, dedicated to these grand old Bristol single deck models.

This is a work in progress, but take a look - Frapper link - for the time being I have added my own VR and its sister with Stagecoach - do please feel free to add your own Bristol bus and photo.

eBay items index

Contact Information

Your webmaster would be delighted to hear from you about anything Bristol/ECW-related. His email address is rob@robsly.com.

This site is best viewed at a resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher

Bristols on Video
Following the use of JOU161P on free services in and around Cheltenham on Saturday 12th September a video of it has appeared on YouTube, thanks to the prolific camera of Simon "Video47". This has prompted me to add a new page to this website where I will add links to videos of Bristol VRs, REs, LHs and Lodekkas across the Internet. If you find any more do please drop me a line at rob@robsly.com and I will build up this library of material.

Facebook Page
I thought it might be nice to have a forum whereby readers could easily comment on and raise issues about the website, chat with me and with each other and help with information and photos for use on the website. I have therefore added a page on Facebook where I will periodically post photos and information that might not normally make it onto this website. I have started off with four photos of Bristol Lodekkas which I hope we might be able to identify and thereby add to the historical record on here. Do please become a fan of this website - you can even receive updates on Twitter - I look forward to seeing you there!

The Doctor Who story has been moved here

Special Feature - a Bristol VR at the 2010 World Cup

Morocco Special Bulletin

Fantastic news is that after 22 years "missing in action" Series 1 flat-front VR BYG851H, former West Yorkshire VR44, has been spotted in good condition in Morocco. It was parked just off the main road heading back into Tangier from Cap Spartel and the "Caves of Hercules". Unfortunately Clive Williams (whose quick thinking provided enough of the registration to check its identity on this website) was on a tour coach at the time so it was impossible to get a photo. My request to readers is for anyone who finds themselves heading out to Morocco to keep their eyes peeled for this one (and to carry a camera with them!!).