Lot Ended
Description
Ex-Newport City Council; unique school bus converted from a Bradford
van 45 years ago and barely used since; super condition
throughout; runs and drives; find another!
Now here’s
something you don’t see every day – a Jowett Bradford bus. Hardly surprising as
there is only one and this is it!
It started out
in life as a Bradford van, a model produced by Jowett from 1946 – 1953. The
chassis had half-elliptic leaf springs front and rear supporting beam axles with
10in drum brakes operated mechanically using a Girling system. Power came from
Jowett’s 1,005cc front-mounted side valve flat-twin engine delivering 19bhp and
driving the rear wheels through a three-speed non-synchromesh
gearbox.
A 1948 model, the van belonged to
Newport City Council and was donated to Caerleon Comprehensive School in 1978 as
a restoration project. They had the bright idea of turning it into a school bus,
the job being undertaken by four teachers and seven pupils from the Department
of Craft and Technology.
The restoration
commenced in 1979 and took over a year to complete, the whole process being
recorded on eight display boards that accompany the vehicle. The teachers and
pupils did most of the work themselves, although the engine was professionally
rebuilt by Bearings of Cardiff. As you can see, the work was carried out to a
very high standard and the finished article looks fantastic, especially the
timber-clad rear seating area.
Unfortunately,
issues over insurance and health and safety meant that the bus was never used to
carry pupils and, after going to a couple of local shows, it was mothballed and
put into storage where it was to remain for the next four
decades.
Now surplus to requirements, the bus has
recently received a light mechanical recommissioning to get it back into running
order including a fuel pump rebuild, new fan belt, new battery and a general
tune-up.
While it will never see service as a
school bus, it does have loads of potential as a promotional vehicle and could
be used to ferry passengers around at any manner of events – the Goodwood
Revival springs immediately to mind. The slatted rear seats can be easily lifted
out to turn it into a covered pickup and it would make a great mobile café, ice
cream van, organic veg or flower stall, whatever. Just fill the rear with your
wares at any farmer’s market or country show and watch the crowds gather around
you!
Starting promptly and running well as we
have moved it around on site, it comes with the aforementioned display boards;
old style V5 recording the current keeper as Newport City Council; notes on
starting and running; original Bradford instruction book and parts catalogue
plus a Pitman’s maintenance book.
On offer
here at a very modest guide price, this unique and beautifully-built bus has
endless potential and will prove a real talking point wherever it goes.
For more information contact James on 07970
309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com