White Semi-Trailer 932

This vehicle is one of 123 semi-trailer type buses built and operated in Australia between 1939 and 1984. Most were constructed as specialised or one-off units. Only Motor Body Assemblers (M.B.A.) of Camperdown, NSW was successful in obtaining sufficient orders to warrant a standardised approach to the manufacture of the bodies.

Semi-trailer buses were a superb alternative, high capacity people mover, which became popular during the second world war when double deck chassis could not be obtained from Britain. While semi-trailers trucks went on to become highly developed for freight transport, it was the walk-through ‘bendy’ articulated bus that subsequently became the passenger carrying alternative.

This prime mover body was built by M.B.A. around 1949 for a bookmaker and his family from the Riverina area in south-west NSW. The cab was assembled on a White Scout Car M3A1 left hand drive chassis and was extended to accommodate four seats, a toilet and a wardrobe area. The vehicle was to be used as a private caravan. The chassis of the ‘Scout Car’ was formerly left hand drive but was converted to right hand drive prior to the construction of the body .

When the outfit was discovered derelict at Murrurundi, NSW in 1980, by a member, only the prime mover was salvageable. The member then located a semi trailer bus body equipped with 53 seats and coupled it to the prime mover in 1984.

The Semi-Trailer bus body is of timber frame construction and was built by Parramatta Bus Co., Northmead, NSW. in December 1947. An AEC Matador was the original prime mover used to pull the trailer body. The complete semi-trailer bus was used on the firm's services from Parramatta to 'The Hills' district. The combination was registered m/o 352. It was deregistered in December 1952 and sold to George Clements, proprietor of Nambucca Heads Bus Service in 1954. It was soon resold to Mr Sinclair a Dundas operator. After extensive overhaul, it was reregistered m/o 002 in 1956. Mr Clements bought the unit again in 1957 and it became MO 4466, fleet No.1. In January 1962 it was sold with the company to Pell's Nambucca Bus Service. A Leyland Comet prime mover was substituted in 1972. When withdrawn in 1977, it was the last semi-trailer bus in service in NSW.

The present combination was restored and donated by a member.

Specifications:

Engine: JXD Hercules, six cylinder side valve petrol. bore 4”, stroke 4.250", 320 C.I.D. 110 B.H.P. @ 2800 R.P.M.

Transmission: Four speed constant mesh gearbox with a two speed transfer case and permanent four wheel drive. The differential is crown wheel and pinion on front and rear axles.

Brakes: Vacuum assisted hydraulic foot brake and a transmission park brake.

Body: Parramatta Bus Co, timber frame.

Status:

Preserved, on display at Leichhardt