Southport Open Top Leyland PD2 FFY 402

This bus is an entirely Leyland product. It was one of 12 delivered in 1947 to Southport Corporation and is a very early example of the legendary PD2 model, indeed the batch was the first to 8 feet width. It carries Leyland's own coachwork, originally with orthodox covered top. Being a coastal operator, Southport maintained a small fleet of open-top buses. By 1962-3 these Leylands were getting on in years but quite capable of easier work. Six were therefore converted to open-top for town tours but, unlike most such conversions, they became convertible rather than permanent open-toppers. The roof and upper deck windows could be refitted so that the buses could be used in the winter. It was claimed the conversion from open to closed top could be achieved within half an hour.

This bus was sold in March 1974 to Banham International Motor Museum, Diss and resold in April 1983 to the London Toy & Model Museum, Craven Hill, London where the upper deck was used for children's parties. It was donated to us in November 1992 but set an interesting extraction job as a building had been erected in front of it! Body restoration has steadily continued since it arrived. Principal mechanical attention has included a replacement engine and full overhaul of the cooling system following major frost damage with a previous owner.