In the days before privatisation, many bus companies adapted old buses for a variety of specialist uses as service vehicles. Using the skills and ingenuity of their workshops, buses might become, among other things, stores vans, tree loppers or uniform stores. Trolleybuses may have been converted to tower wagons to maintain the overhead wires. Some bus operators converted old buses to towing lorries to rescue broken down vehicles. Others preferred ex-military trucks such as the AEC Matador. These came with somewhat austere cabs, but here again the body shop would often come up with a custom-built body using various bus parts. Buses would also be adapted to serve as information offices or publicity buses, promoting such things as holiday tours or special ticket offers. Since privatisation, such practices have died out for a variety of reasons. Expensive, in-house workshops have largely been closed. Construction and Use Regulations have been tightened up. Emissions zone restrictions may limit the use of older less clean engines in city centres. Furthermore the modern low-floor rear-engine buses are probably less suited to such conversions. Companies will use the services of specialist commercial bus and truck rescue services rather than retaining their own towing vehicles. This book looks at a variety of service vehicles from around the country over the last fifty years, including examples that have survived into preservation.

Until production ceased in 1986, Bedford buses and coaches were a familiar sight on roads across the world. From the ubiquitous Bedford OB and the distinctive six-wheeled Bedford VAL right up to the final model, the air-suspended turbocharged Venturer, the advertising slogan 'You see them everywhere' was perfectly suited to the company. Covering the period from 1960 until the end of production, this book gives an overview of the majority of models produced during this period including the VAM, VAL and Y types. Containing a brief description of each chassis type and 180 photographs, most in colour and all with informative captions, it showcases the products of the Dunstable factory in their operating heyday.

To mark the 60th anniversary season of the Castle Combe circuit this book has been published telling the story of the Wiltshire race track from 1950 right through to the end of the 2009 season. The title completely updates the story first told in the book "The First 50 years", which was published in 2000 and sold out several years ago. All the photographs are new and the story of the last 10 years covers the circuit's rise to hosting British Formula 3 and British GT racing. It also cover the subsequent noise issues that brought massive change to this incredibly popular venue, as well as the creation of the Castle Combe Racing Club. The two-wheel action, including non-championship British Superbike events, is also detailed. This new edition also takes in personal views on the circuit from drivers like Ian Flux, Mike Jordan, Ilsa Cox, Brian Fisher and Bob Higgins. The updated story of the last decade takes in the development of the hugely popular local championships.

The 56th volume in this growing series taking a nostalgic look at Britain's transport heritage...The aim of this series is to appeal to readers of all ages, perhaps for different reasons...In this volume: We travel back to the year 1971, as ever an eventful year, that included: * BBC Open University broadcasts begin * End of Morris Minor production * Daily Sketch ceases publication * Spaghetti Junction opens * Terms of British membership of the EEC agreed For the younger reader there are wonderful pictures of buses and coaches that they will never have seen. There will, for example, be half-cab single and double deckers the like of which are no longerin production. Some will be recognised from models and books, while others will be seen for the first time. For the older reader the books are designed to build into a collection placing road transport in the context of key events, thus providing an historical perspective of travel in times past. For those old enough to remember the years depicted, the series will, we hope, provide reminders for many of school days, time perhaps spent bus-spotting, depot visiting and generally visiting interesting locations!The books also make ideal theme gifts for the year of birth, marriage, retirement, starting work and other such events in life.

The Daimler Company was one of the oldest established builders of PSV chassis in the United Kingdom and enjoyed a reputation for quality and innovation, particularly with the fluid flywheel. From the earliest charabancs on solid tires, through the half-cab front-engined CVD6 and underfloor-engined Freelines to the rear-engined Roadliner, Daimler continued to prove their reputation was well earned. Ownership of the company changed several times over the years, until they were finally absorbed into the British Leyland empire, sealing their fate and eventual demise. With over 100 color images, this title provides insight into the history of Daimler throughout the years.

1959 was the year Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba, Cypress gained independence from Britain and trunk telephone calls were made available in Britain. These and many more fascinating facts are interspersed with photographs of Midland Red buses and coaches from the Midlands and further afield combine to provide evocative and nostalgic memories of the year in review. This is not just for enthusiasts - memories are made of these pictures, the street scenes, fashions, old cars, trucks, buildings, advertising, etc. will evoke memories of days past.

With well over 25 years of experience, Sven Beiker is widely regarded as the mobility expert in Silicon Valley specializing in future trends for the automotive and mobility industries including autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification, and shared mobility. In The Mobility Diaries: Connecting the Milestones of Innovation Leading to ACES, he opens up his personal diary regarding his take on 50 years of mobility innovation and history interwoven with his experiences from 1978 to 2018. From the Foreword by Reilly P. Brennan: "Understanding how transportation itself evolved requires a unique prism. The core components of vehicles today have stories and engineering journeys worth their own telling, and that is what is so exciting about the way we can learn about them in this text. Dr. Beiker's curriculum vitae, from BMW to Stanford University to McKinsey, are a compendium of experiences that created this unique historical and biographical book. ""Sven and I are kindred spirits in the mobility world. His view on the evolution of mobility and technology illustrates why Detroit and Silicon Valley need one another." Carla Bailo, Former President and CEO, Center for Automotive Research

Introduced in 1989 the Dennis Dart became one of the most successful midibuses in the UK. Bodywork was supplied by Carlyle, Wrightbus, Reeve Burgess, Plaxton, Alexander and Wadham Stringer. A large number were taken into stock by London operators, replacing many of the smaller midibuses. A low-floor version, the Dart SLF, was introduced in 1995, and like the step-entrance Dart this model also became popular with operators around the United Kingdom, as well as Hong Kong. In 2001 Transbus took over production, only to revert to the Alexander Dennis name in 2005. The last Darts entered service in London during 2007, after which time the Enviro 200 took over. London Dart and Dart SLF provides a history of this popular London single-decker, from its introduction to its demise.