Topic: TEI #24 - Solved. 1950 AEC Regal III Observation Coach by James Whitson of West Drayton

[Tom_I]

Probably an easy one for bus/coach aficionados.

Here's a handsome vehicle. For a point can you identify the chassis, the approximate year, and the coachbuilder responsible for the bodywork?

[Tom_I]

Experts?

[D-type]

1950 AEC chassis, bodied by Duple as an "airport coach" - baggage went in a compartment below the raised rear section.

[Tom_I]

It is an AEC chassis, and the year is right too, but it's not a Duple body, and not specifically an airport coach.

[D-type]

Harrison body?

[Tom_I]

Not Harrison.

[Tom_I]

Onwards and upwards to the professionals.

[Otto Puzzell]

Is it a Foden body?

[Carnut]

Believe it's a Whitson RC35C body?

[Otto Puzzell]

Upon further searching, I'm almost sure it's a Whitson body.

[Otto Puzzell]

Drat! Carnut beat me to it. 

[Carnut]

Drat! Carnut beat me to it. 

Sorry!
I've been sitting on that answer for a couple of weeks hoping this one would reach the Pro's..

I wasn't going to log on yet but thought I could just squeeze 10 minutes in before watching Grand Prix qualifying in 15 minutes time!

[Tom_I]

With the architect of the "Big Bus Puzzles" in the room, this was never going to last long!

Yes, this "observation coach" body style seems to have been something of a speciality of James Whitson Ltd of West Drayton.

But to just tidy things up, it's been established that it's a 1950 AEC chassis, but can I press you for the model?

Locked for Carnut.

[Carnut]

Thanks!
It's probably an AEC Regal, most likely a Regal 3, although to be honest the only picture I've found that uses that front was actually a Foden, although it could still have had an AEC engine!

[Tom_I]

I know what you mean. Only today I found a picture of a Foden with a front so similar that I began to doubt the identity of the puzzle photo. But I've examined it with a magnifying glass, and there is definitely an AEC badge on it.

Yes, it's a Regal III, so the point is yours.

But as I'm feeling generous, I'll also award Otto a point for finding the coachbuilder, but being beaten to it by 34 seconds!

Unaltered photo below. Ivanhoe Coaches were part of Cunningham's Bus Service of Paisley, Scotland. You'll be fascinated to know that the driver is Jimmy Craig, who went on to be manager of the company.

[Carnut]

Thanks Tom.
For good measure here's the picture we're tallking about.  I did actually find a different picture of it where you could see the whole grille, and it was pretty much identical to your puzzle photo.  And it had the AEC-like triangle but whether it said AEC in it or Foden I couldn't tell.  Foden didn't make their own engines of course, so they would be fitted with proprietary engines like Perkins or, indeed, AEC....    So perhaps it's a Foden chassis with an AEC engine?
Of coure, like an idiot I didn't keep a copy of it and now I can't find it again...!

[woodinsight]

The photo you are trying to find Carnut is, I think the one shown below.

Similar Whitson bodies, some with the traditional radiator, were also to be found on other chassis such as the Maudslay Marathon III.
Foden had long since given up using traditional radiators and used their own style of streamlined fronts (not all the same) after WW II.

[Otto Puzzell]

But as I'm feeling generous, I'll also award Otto a point for finding the coachbuilder, but being beaten to it by 34 seconds!

Wow - thank you!