Nick Larkin reports on a unique bus which has returned to the road following a prolonged restoration by a Yorkshire bus company owner
The only example remaining from 120 Leeds City Transport AEC Swift single-deckers has returned to its former home following a 25 year restoration. AUB 170J, now owned by Connexions Buses Managing Director Craig Temple, recently participated in an event marking the 100th anniversary of legendary coachbuilder Chas H Roe beginning production at its Cross Gates factory.
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The bus is also celebrating its 50th birthday this year. New in July 1971, it was the last AEC to enter service in Leeds and by the time it was eventually withdrawn on 22 February 1985 the bus was the final example of the marque.
The vehicle passed to a couple of gliding clubs before Craig saved it from going for scrap. “I grew up in Leeds, where my dad was a bus enthusiast,” Craig explained.
Craig joined Blazefield as a management trainee, then becoming a driver and later Operations Manager at Wrays of Harrogate, before eventually acquiring four O-licences. He now employs 60 drivers and 40 buses on a network of stage carriage and school routes across North Yorkshire.
The Swift was the first member of Craig’s heritage fleet which now also has former Premier AEC Reliance WEB 411T and Millers of Foxton example XER 123T; West Yorkshire PTE Leyland Olympian B144 RWY, now back in original Metro Coach livery; South Yorkshire PTE Leyland National FWA 475V; and Alexander Strider-bodied Volvo B10B-58 M393 VWX, which Craig remembers collecting as a new vehicle for Harrogate & District.
After Craig bought AEC he had some work done on the brakes by Ebor Trucks and carried out some body work himself. The Swift ended up languishing in various sheds until five years ago: “I decided that if I was to see the work done, now was time for action, though I asked Martyn Hearson at Reliance Coachworks to take things slowly.”
The floor received attention and a full quota of original-specification high back seats was acquired. The leaking roof was sorted and some new ceiling panels fitted. A repaint was carried out, being finished off by Connexions, and AD Bell supplied new transfers. “Finally, after all this time, the Swift was finished. I was so pleased,” Craig concluded.
Leeds and the AEC Swift
Appearing in 1964, the Swift was a rear-engined chassis with some similarities to the Leyland Panther, following the reluctant marriage between the two manufacturers. Both, particularly the Swift, enjoyed some success but trailed behind the all-conquering Bristol RE.
The Swift, sold alongside AEC’s underfloor-engined Reliance for many years, was available in 33’ and 36’ lengths, the latter mysteriously labelled Merlins by biggest customer London Transport. LT never really took to the model despite Country Area successor London Country buying more than 1,500 between 1968 and 1972. Many examples were scrapped after seven years.
Leeds was the second biggest Swift customer, with 120 entering the fleet. The first of these, GUM 451D, was exhibited at the 1966 Commercial Motor Show. All of Leeds’ Swifts has Roe bodywork, in both dual and single door form.
Later examples had the 11.3 litre AEC AH691 engine rather than the less successful AH505 8.2 litre unit. Some buses had high back seats – definitely luxury for a municipal bus. The Swifts saw use across the city, including ‘Fastaway’ limited stop services.
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