Many enthusiasts refer to the Birmingham Standard Bus but, in truth, they were far from standardised and subject to constant evolution. Operators had to accept different types of bus in the years of shortage after World War Two. Birmingham renewed its fleet with around 1750 buses and the most numerous type, with 438 received, was the Daimler CVD6 with Daimler's own engine - renowned for being smooth but thirsty for fuel and water in comparison to the Gardner engines often fitted.

This bus belongs to a contract for 150 buses that introduced the second generation of Birmingham's 'New Look' body with concealed radiators. The upper and lower decks were now built together instead of separately. Deeper windows were introduced and the interiors were reduced in quality - bus operators were coming under financial pressure, not least due to increases in fuel tax.

This bus, number 2707, spent most of its working life from Liverpool Street garage and passed with the rest of the fleet to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive in 1969.

Preservation

2707 was sold for preservation to Maurice Newman in 1971, later changing hands and eventually passing to the late Colin Hawketts who looked after it for many years. It was purchased by the museum in 2017.