AEC Regent I 1688

The New South Wales Government placed several orders spread over a five or six year period for Regent double deck chassis. The number eventually totalled 161. The chassis were supplied in the period 1936 to 1940. The last chassis were bodied in the second half of the year 1940. The purchase of this type of bus was no doubt due to the success of the Regent in London, England and other provincial cities in the United Kingdom. In London alone, Regents were numbered in the thousands.

The Department of Road Transport & Tramways (D.R.T. & T) had by 1936 designed a standard light weight steel framed body. m/o.1688 was one of a later batch of pre World War II buses introduced into service. When new it and all others of the group were fitted with 8.8 litre displacement AEC diesel engines with bore 115mm (4.5"), stroke 142mm (5.5625") delivering 110 B.H.P. The body was built by Waddingtons of Granville, Sydney and it carried 74 passengers (61 seated and 13 standing). The tare weight of the vehicle was 7 Tons, 2 cwt (old measurements).

It entered service on 17 September 1940. For a period in 1943 and 1944, the bus operated out of Burwood depot. 1688 was transferred back to Randwick Depot sometime in 1944. The vehicle was withdrawn and sold to Linsley Brothers Motor Service of Wallsend in Newcastle by 2 June 1960 and reregistered as m/o. 4298. In 1964 it was sold to Allomes' Motor Service, Garden Suburb who used it on the BHP Steelworks services in Newcastle. In 1978 this Company retired the bus after it had attained a total service life of 38 years as a public passenger carrying vehicle.

Acquired by the Association in 1988, the vehicle was restored to original condition and painted in the pre-war D.R.T.& T. red and cream livery. The vehicle remains as a static exhibit.

Specifications:

Engine: AEC 6 cylinder direct injection diesel 7.7 litre capacity. Bore 105mm (4.125") Stroke 166mm (5.750") 90 B.H.P. Maximum R.P.M. 1750.

Transmission: Four speed "crash" gearbox and a worm drive differential

Brakes: Vacuum assisted Lockheed Hydraulic foot brake and mechanical park brake.

Body: Waddingtons

Status:

Preserved, on display at Leichhardt