This vehicle has had one of the most interesting careers of all the exhibits.  It was a new 41 seat single deck bus delivered to the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board in Victoria in October 1950. Following the introduction of electric trams on Bourke Street routes in 1954 the 30 buses of this type were placed in store. During the 1956 Olympic Games the buses were brought back into use. After the “Games” the buses were treated as redundant and made available for diposal. Seven of the buses were sold to The Eastern Suburbs Bus Service in Melbourne and the other 23 including this vehicle were sold to the Metropolitan Transport Trust of Perth, Western Australia.

The vehicle operated until 1974 when it was withdrawn for disposal. It was decided to convert four withdrawn Leylands of the same type into tow trucks. No. 3 was one of them. The bodies were cut down, the wheelbases shortened by 1824 mm, air brakes installed and air and electrical connections fitted for towing disabled vehicles. Concrete blocks weighing 1.2 tonnes were placed in the bodies at the front of the rear axle and at the rear for essential traction purposes. These modifications resulted in the weight of the vehicles being increased to over 9 tonnes.

No 3 was assigned to the Fremantle bus depot where it was used until new tow trucks were purchased to replace the four units.The vehicle was then used for a period as a driver training vehicle.

Our tow vehicle was purchased and shipped to Sydney on board the roll on, roll off ship "Akedemik Gorbunov I". Polish Ocean Lines sponsored its transportation and it arrived in Sydney on 13 December 1986.

While the vehicle is a worthy exhibit in its own right, it was also acquired for practical purposes. Permission was obtained early in 1987 from the Department of Motor Transport (now the Roads and Traffic Authority) or (RTA) for the vehicle to be allowed to tow Association and members vehicles when required.

SPECIFICATIONS
Engine:
Six cylinder Leyland 0.600 diesel engine of 9.8 litres displacement, bore 4.8", stroke 5.5", 125 B.H.P. @ 1800 R.P.M.

Transmission:
Four speed synchromesh gearbox

Rear Axle:
Worm drive differential of 6.5 to 1 ratio.

Brakes:
Air operated foot brake and mechanical hand brake.

Maximum Speed:
32 mph (52 kph)