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Coventry Corporation Transport Society

Midland Red Buses of the 1920s


SOS S was originally "Standard SOS"

Model SOS S
Details Single deck with driver's seat within the saloon
4-cylinder petrol engine
32 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
8 1923 Brush bodywork with front entrance on Tilling chassis
10 1923 Davidson charabanc bodywork on Tilling chassis
113 1923 Brush, Carlyle or Ransomes bodywork with front entrance
7 1923 Davidson charabanc bodywork
 

SOS FS probably stood for "Forward Steering" because they were the first half cab buses although "Future Standard" also has some merit. All the subsequent models had half cabs although, after the war, the half cab was built into the main superstructure.

Model SOS FS
Details Single deck with half cab
4-cylinder petrol engine
34 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
2 1925 Carlyle bodywork with front entrance
18 1926 Davidson charabanc bodywork
63 1926 Brush bodywork with front entrance
 

SOS Q originally stood for "Queen", although two were used as demonstrators and named "Quality" and "Quantity".  The SOS QL was the first Midland Red model with a low chassis. All subsequent models were built on a low chassis.

Model SOS Q & QL
Details Single deck with front entrance
4-cylinder petrol engine
37 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
109 1926 Brush bodywork
1 1928 Carlyle bodywork
173 1928 Brush or Ransomes bodywork and low chassis (QL)
 

SOS QC stood for "Queen Charabanc".

Model SOS QC
Details Single deck with Carlyle charabanc bodywork and high chassis
4-cylinder petrol engine
30 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
14 1927
 

SOS QLC was the low chassis version of the SOS QC.

Model SOS QLC
Details Single deck with Short Bros charabanc bodywork and low chassis
29 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
15 1928 4-cylinder petrol engine
48 1929 6-cylinder petrol engine
 

SOS M stood for SOS "Madam".

Model SOS M
Details Single deck with front entrance and Brush, Carlyle or Ransomes bodywork
34 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
49 1929
 

SOS XL probably stood for SOS "Excel" or "Excelsior". The class was not a success and all were converted to MM 6-cylinder buses in 1930.

Model SOS XL
Details Coach with Brush or Carlyle bodywork
30 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
50 1929
 

SOS MM probably stood for "Modified Madam", but could have also been "Modernised Madam".

Model SOS MM
Details Single deck with front entrance and Ramsomes bodywork
34 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
20 1929 4-cylinder petrol engine
1930: reclassified as SOS IM4 with new Short Bros bodies and revised registration numbers
60 1929 6-cylinder petrol engine, some with Carlyle bodywork