Demonstrators

RW5000

This was one of the first three covered top double deckers delivered to Coventry Corporation with fleet number 17.  It was briefly on hire as a demonstrator.  See the Maudslay pages.

VC 7519

This bus had previously been on hire as a demonstrator in Birmingham.  It was never purchased, but ran as a hired bus with fleet number 100 until it was burned out and subsequently returned to Daimler in 1938.  See the Daimler pages.

KV64

New 1931, it was on extended loan to CCT until it was purchased in 1936. It was fitted with an AEC engine in early 1934 and became the prototype COA6. It was sold in 1949, possibly just after running into a ditch alongside Tile Hill Wood.  See the Daimler pages.

JR1573

Daimler COG5 on hire in CCT colours throughout the Spring and Summer of 1937.  Returned to Daimler and sold to BSA Tools, Birmingham in 1938.  The registration number is unusual because, normally, all Daimler demonstrators were registered in Coventry.

Upper saloon: 24 seats		Lower saloon: 24 seats

AML272

AEC Regent on hire, dates unknown, probably in 1937.

Upper saloon: 27 seats		Lower saloon: 27 seats

AMV433

The AEC Q-type bus was a most unusual spectacle for the 1930s.  It was a double decker with a front entrance and front stairs, but even more unusual was the side engine.  It first appeared in 1937 and was still running in 1938.  It may have been given the fleet number 74 (or 174) although the photograph of it in Denton and Groves on the Inner Circle (Service 14) shows no fleet number and no Coventry Transport identification.  It was reputed that the engine could be removed in 7 minutes.

Upper saloon: 31 seats		Lower saloon: 29 seats

CMF843

The AEC Renown single decker was remarkable when it appeared in 1937, because it was a six wheel vehicle, not often seen on single deckers. It had the same engine as the double decker and was renowned (excuse the pun) for its speedy performance. Apparently London Transport drivers nicknamed it "The Scooter". It received the CCT fleet number 176.

AML667

All that is known about AML667 is that it was an AEC Regent.  No other details have come to light.  However, AML508 and AML604 were both AEC Regent demonstrators on hire to Hull Corporation as fleet numbers 128 and 147 respectively.  It therefore seems reasonable to assume that AML667 was similar to these and, therefore, their details have been used here.  They were new in 1933.

Upper saloon: 28 seats		Lower saloon: 26 seats

CP 8010, CP8011, CP9070, CP9077

These camel-roofed ex-Halifax AEC Regents were hired from AEC and, therefore, were not on demonstration prior to their purchase, although the hire period may have been a period of evaluation.  See the Other Makes pages.

GNE247

Arrived in Coventry in 1946 and worked the Walsgrave service to demonstrate the Brockhouse automatic, self-change gearbox.  This probably led to Coventry Corporation's order for the Crossley fleet number 100.

Upper saloon: 28 seats		Lower saloon: 26 seats

VKV99

This CVG6.30DD arrived in Coventry in 1957, on hire from Daimler.  For a rear entrance with platform, half cab bus, it had a massive seating capacity of 74 seats.  This may have been a precursor to the rear engine buses, which had a similar capacity.

Upper saloon: 41 seats		Lower saloon: 33 seats

7000HP

This Daimler Fleetline was on hire in Birmingham Corporation Transport colours with a Daimler engine from the 8^th to the 24^th of April 1962, when it ran on Service 21.  At a later date, it was inspected by the CCT Management and the Transport Committee.

Upper saloon: 44 seats		Lower saloon: 33 seats

4559VC

This Daimler Fleetline was inspected by the CCT Management and the Transport Committee outside the Council House, probably in September 1963.

Upper saloon: 44 seats		Lower saloon: 33 seats

SGD584

This Leyland Atlantean was on hire from Leyland from the 19^th to the 25^th of August 1962 running on Service 8 (Tile Hill).  It ran in Glasgow Corporation colours and was subsequently delivered to Glasgow in November 1962 (Glasgow Fleet number LA6).

Upper saloon: 44 seats		Lower saloon: 34 seats

CRH175C

Leyland Panther Single Decker on hire July 1965, running on Service 22 (Purcell Road).  This was a Hull Corporation Transport bus completed the same month (Hull Fleet Number 175).

HWU641C

Bristol Single Decker on hire January 1966, running on Service 22 (Purcell Road).  This was a West Yorkshire bus on hire from Bristol, built in September 1965 (West Yorkshire Fleet Number SRG15).

FGW498C

This AEC Swift was retained as a demonstrator by AEC. It did not enter service in Coventry but was inspected by CCT Management and the Transport Committee.  The swift was designed after AEC had been taken over by Leyland and was, to all intents and purposes, a Leyland Panther with AEC mechanical parts.

LAX104E

Bristol Single Decker on hire April 6^th to April 14^th 1967, seen running on Service 22 (Purcell Road).  This was a Red and White bus on hire from Bristol, built in March 1967 (Red and White Fleet Number RS467).

PNF941J

This Leyland Atlantean was on hire from from the June 26^th to July 23^rd 1971, running on Service 20 (Bedworth) and other routes.  It ran in SELNEC PTE colours and was built in March 1971 (SELNEC Fleet Number EX1).

Upper saloon: 43 seats		Lower saloon: 32 seats

VWD451H and VWD452H

Metro-Scania Single Deckers on loan April 1972. VWD452H was seen running on the Cannon Park Service and both were seen outside Harnall Lane Garage.  They were dedicated MCW demonstrators, built in 1969 and sold to Castleways of Winchcombe in 1972.