Scotland’s largest independent operator, McGill’s, has expanded its heritage fleet by restoring a 1977 Western SMT Alexander Y-type Leyland Leopard and acquiring another vehicle. [wlm_nonmember][…]
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McGill’s Managing Director, Ralph Roberts, said: “The bus operated from Johnstone depot in the 1990s so is part of the history of the company. There are still drivers here that drove it back in the day. If it hadn’t been saved, it would have been broken up for scrap – I couldn’t face that.”
Restoration was carried out in McGill’s workshops. “There were quite a few challenges, but nothing major and the staff overcame them,” said Ralph. “The Leopard was solid enough structurally so it was mainly a case of stripping it back, cleaning and painting. Certain items such as the wiper motors were overhauled and the running gear was fully serviced.”
He added: “The body and paint was a challenge. It was painted twice. Modern coach paint reacts differently from original coach enamel and our coach painter hadn’t used it before, so the first time was the training run.”
There was, however, another massive obstacle. “The biggest challenge was the spiders, he said. “I couldn’t even go on it at first it was so full of them!”
Ralph said that he encountered similar Leyland Leopards while working with the Scottish Bus Group. “I also worked with the Freight Transport Association and it’s possible I audited this bus when it was at Johnstone depot.
“All the thanks must go to the staff at Johnstone. They were fabulous and obviously care as much as I do about the heritage of the business and the industry.”
As well as Duple-bodied Guy Arab III GVD47, which entered service in 1952, and of course the Leopard, McGill’s heritage fleet also has a 1995 Marshall-bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D next up for restoration, and a 2003 Hispano-bodied Volvo B7L – the only one built for the UK. The fleet is used for gala days and other events.
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