BIRMINGHAM'S LONGEST RUNNING BUS

Guy Motors helped Birmingham City Transport to design a new style of bus with radiator concealed to modernise the appearance. It became known as the 'New Look', taking the name from the latest ladies fashions from Christian Dior.

Sliding ventilators were also introduced. There were 300 buses built in 1950-1 with this style of body on Crossley, Guy and Daimler chassis. Internally the traditional straight staircase, stainless brightwork, polished wood and, downstairs, moquette were all retained.

The Daimlers and Guys had easy change preselective gearboxes which appealed to Birmingham City Transport which suffered from traffic congestion around the city. 2533 entered service in August 1950 at Quinton garage where it worked routes via Five Ways for many years. It later ran from Cotteridge, Harborne, Hockley, Washwood Heath and Liverpool Street garages.

It passed with the BCT operations into the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive in 1969. Industrial problems led to a shortage of new buses in the 1970s and 2533 ran on and on. It was the longest running BCT bus by the time these traditional buses finished in October 1977; their last route being the 11 Outer Circle.

Preservation

Acocks Green garage maintained 2533 during its last years on the Outer Circle. When the bus retired, it was purchased by Acocks Green employees for preservation. The most thorough restoration was carried out, largely by Dick Lolley and Fred Withers who kept the bus at this museum. It formally became part of the museum collection in 2015.