1953 AEC REGENT III

Vehicle Background:
Soon after the end of World War II, a total of 845 double deck bus chassis were ordered by the Department of Road Transport and Tramways, from manufacturers in the United Kingdom. The chassis when bodied were to be used for several purposes as follows:
* replace the original buses purchased new in the 1930s
* replace those purchased as a stop gap measure during the war
* resume the gradual tramway replacement process in Sydney and Newcastle,
and
* expand the scope and operation of government bus services in both cities.

Chassis were ordered from A.E.C., Leyland and Albion. While the first batch of buses was 90 Leyland OPD1's an AEC Regent III chassis was bodied in advance of the rest of the type. This bus had fleet number 792 (m/o 1792) later fleet number 1792 and entered service on 15 May 1947. The bus had a revolutionary new semi-automatic pre-selector epicyclic type gearbox. Eventually, a total of 359 postwar AEC Regent III's entered service.

2643 commenced operation on 27 March 1953. The bus was one of 50 that had bodies built by Clyde Engineering of Granville, Sydney. Unlike the earlier group of 309 Regent III buses which had canvas concertina doors, all this group were equipped from new with air operated jack knife folding doors. These doors were retained all through their working lives, while the older vehicles had their canvas doors removed at overhaul and a seat for two persons installed. Safety reasons had dictated the removal of the canvas
doors as there had been accidents involving school children.

The vehicles were registered m/o 2509 to 2519, 2551 to 2560, 2581 to 2590, 2611 to 2620 and 2641 to 2649. These buses were the last A.E.C. Regent double deckers to be introduced to service and each worked most of its life on eastern suburbs routes. Apart from a very short period at Kingsgrove at the commencement of its career, 2643 career was almost entirely an eastern suburbs bus, being based at Pagewood, Randwick and Waverley for various periods. 2643 was one of only four old style double deckers to be painted in the Public Transport Commission of N.S.W., Bus Division livery of blue and white.

Withdrawn from Pagewood depot in April 1976, it was sold to Simes Bus Service of Lismore, in the far north of N.S.W. in the following month. As MO 7962 it had a rear door added to the open back platform. A member purchased the bus in October 1984 for preservation.

The bus was then converted back to its 1970s PTC appearance, which included a repaint into the Mandarin Blue and Riviera White colour scheme of the Public Transport Commission, and the restoration of the rear platform to original spec, including the removal of the rear door.

2643 is currently undergoing a major restoration at the museum. Work is progressing steadily and involves major restoration of the framework, replacement of several damaged body panels, repairs to the roof and a full overhaul of the interior. It will receive a full repaint in the PTC blue and white colour scheme.

SPECIFICATION

ENGINE: Six cylinder O.H.V. AEC diesel 9.6 litre displacement, bore 4.72", stroke 5.59", 125 BHP @ 1800 RPM.

TRANSMISSION: Four speed "Wilson" pre selector air operated gearbox with a worm drive differential.

BRAKES: Air operated foot brake and mechanical hand brake.