AEC, Bristol, Crossley, Daimler, Dennis, Leyland and others were all manufacturers of passenger vehicle chassis which could be seen throughout the country in the years following the end of World War Two. They produced a wide range of double deck and single deck buses and coaches, bodied by a considerable number of body builders. With the exception of Dennis, all those chassis makers have now disappeared, along with nearly all the body builders. In addition, most operators of this variety of vehicles are no longer in existence, being primarily absorbed into larger operations. This book can only give a small indication of the major role Steve and his Quantock Heritage fleet have played in preserving not only part of the engineering history of this country, but its effect also on social history. In practical terms he has displayed this by enabling the general public to see, enjoy, and also use vehicles of a bygone era.

Crosville is the story of the Crosville Motor Company and the Leyland Tiger buses they operated during the post-world war II period. As with many other operators nationwide, Crosville Motor Services based in Chester faced difficulties in re-establishing both stage carriage and private hire bus and coach services in the early years following the second world war. The need to support a weakened economy by exporting goods meant the supply of new vehicles was limited while existing fleets had suffered through the war years because of a lack of spares, skilled personnel to fit them, and general maintenance. At the same time, the general public needed to see not only local but long-distance travel re-established. The latter, in terms of holiday travel, was particularly important to Crosville, who in pre-war times had built up a network of services in the Merseyside and North Wales areas, with a special need to provide transport along the North Wales coast. The many resorts there were now beginning to re-establish their status as holiday centers required holidaymakers to be transported to them. In order to fulfil that need Crosville took delivery in 1949/50 of 35 single deck buses, classed as dual-purpose (bus/coach) vehicles. Government intervention had redirected these 35 Leyland Tiger PS1/1 vehicles (originally ordered by Midland General) to Crosville to assist with their vehicle shortage. They were Leyland's first post-war design, but because of nationalisation which occurred in the transport industry at the time of their delivery they would eventually become non-standard in the Crosville fleet. Crosville shows how political decisions enforced changes to the organisation of public transport and vehicle design and the book will appeal to anyone interested in vintage motor vehicles and the history of transport in the United Kingdom.