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In the late 1950s Mr Orme-White the Provincial Managing director became interested in air-cooled engines after listening to an employee who had been stationed in Germany with the RAF. On the continent it was not unusual to see air-cooled lorries and some buses. After a number of enquiries with the manufacturers Deutz in Cologne, in 1959 the first Deutz F6L 514 engine arrived. This had several advantages over conventional water cooled engines, no radiator or complex hoses and water sealed joints to maintain, but it was not easy to heat the bus’s interior. This first engine was installed in the chassis of Guy Arab No 59 (EHO 965) in late 1957. The wartime body of this bus had been damaged in an accident. A new Reading fully fronted body was built, similar in aspect to those used previously on number 60 and 32, but the engine had to be fitted at a 10% angle due to its size Their followed much publicity and a sign inside proclaiming "This bus is driven by an air cooled engine". Also a private hire poster which stated "This smooth and silent running bus can be hired for your next private party". which perhaps was a bit of an exaggeration, however they were quite quiet in service. Over the next 10 years a number of other conversions followed, some on home-grown chassis others on purchased chassis. The conversions totalled 12 and all lasted in service until 1970-73. The early Guy conversions kept their original registrations, but the licencing authorities decided that the rebuild was so radical that they were in effect new vehicles and therefore had to be re-registered from 1962.

Click here to view article containing technical details of Deutz air-cooled engines

 

Fleet No.

Reg number

Chassis Type

Date of conversion

Orig Reg number

Source of chassis

Withdrawn

59

EHO 965

Arab II

1957

EHO 965

Provincial

1970

61

EHO 966

Arab II

1959

EHO 966

Provincial

1970

73

EOR 877

Arab II

1961

EOR 877

Provincial

1971

74

GHO 595

Arab III

1961

GHO 595

Provincial

1972

75

EHO 870

Arab II

1962

EHO 870

Provincial

1972

76

941 EOR

Arab II

1962

HD 7658

Yorkshire Woolen District 525

1972

1

883 HHO

Arab II

1963

HD 7651

Yorkshire Woolen District 518

1972

2

884 HHO

Arab II

1963

HD 7657

Yorkshire Woolen District 524

1972

72

HHA 84

Arab II

1964

HHA 84

Midland Red 2589

1971

33

CHO 449C

Arab II

1965

GYL 416

London Transport G276

1972

36

HAA 771E

Arab II

1967

DWN 378

United Welsh 676

1973

8

HOR 676E

Arab III

1967

HCY 296

United Welsh 1201

1972

1 - 883 HHO

Before :- The chassis for No's 1,2 and 76 came from a batch of 35 Guy Arab II, Yorkshire Woolen District purchased between 1942 and 1945. A further 10 were purchased in 1946. HD 7651 is seen here whilst with Lloyds of Nuneaton. Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection


After :- After rebuilding, No 1 is seen here at Gosport Ferry. In 1970 it was re-numbered 77.  Photo supplied by Mark Gentry


2 - 884 HHO  

Before :- HD 7657 with its original owner Yorkshire Woolen District.  Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection

Before :- HD 7657 also seen here whilst at Lloyds.  Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection

 

After :- No 2 has just arrived at Gosport Ferry on route 1 from Fareham West End.


8 - HOR 676E

No 8 was the last, and probably most unusual, conversion. Its role was to operate on the Fareham to Knowle hospital route which had a tortuous narrow bridge. It was unusual in having perimeter seating, and by all accounts was very noisy in operation. A Bristol SUL4A and an LH were used on this route after its withdrawal. 



Before :- Prior to Mr. Orme White purchasing the chassis from a Cardiff dealer in 1964, this BBW bodied-Guy Arab III spent 1951 to 1963 as United Welsh 1201 (HCY 296). Photo: Alistair Douglas

Also Before :- The same bus seen here in Swansea in 1959.  Photo: Anndrew Porter Collection

After :-  No 8 is seen here at Gosport Ferry being used on route 10. It was re-numbered 37 in 1970.


By no means a ‘pretty’ bus, the appearance of it was enhanced slightly after receiving the revised livery in 1970, although on the debit side was the loss of the traditional garter and lettering. This early 1970s view at Gosport ferry shows HOR 676E with its later fleet number of 37. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection

 33 - CHO 449C

Before :- The chassis used for No 33 came from a London Transport wartime utility Guy Arab with a NCME body. These had a short life with LT and were quickly sold on. This vehicle was passed to the Ministry of Supply in June 1952 and to a Gosport Building contractor (Hawkins) in 1959. Its chassis was purchased by Provincial in May 1963. Pictured below is G276 in 1951 whilst in service with London Transport. At this time it was allocated to Romford depot. The registration is obscured but the fleet number identifies it.  Photo:- Alan Cross


Also Before :-  This photo shows GYL 416 in Hawkins yard at Gosport, with whom it served for four years. Photo :- Stephen Didymus Collection 

After :- After rebuilding, No 33 is seen here at Gosport Ferry shortly after entering service. It was renumbered 61 in 1970.


After fleet renumbering in 1970, 33 became 61 in the new system. It seen here in the revised livery in Gosport High Street. Photo: Alistair Douglas

36 - HAA 771E 

Before :- The chassis used for No 36 came from a United Welsh Guy Arab No 676. It is seen here in Swansea in August 1959. Photo: Andrew Porter collection.

Also Before :- An interesting photo showing DWN 378 and HCY 296 (the chassis for No.8) next to each other. DWN 378 has been converted to a tree lopper by this stage. Photo: Andrew Porter collection.

After : Two views of HAA 771E. The first is in its original guise as number 36, the second is as No 62 and re-painted into the new livery in which it was withdrawn. The latter shows the awful (in my view) new grille which detracts from its looks.


59 - EHO 965 

Before :- No 59 in original form at Gosport Ferry. Photo : Stephen Didymus Collection

 

After :-   No 59 was the first Guy Arab so converted. It is seen here in West Street Fareham outside the Melgrade, which was the strating point of the 17 route to Wynton Way.  It seems to be surrounded by Austin A30s !  Photo : Stephen Didymus Collection


61 - EHO 966

Before :- 61 EHO 966 originated as a Park Royal utility bodied Guy Arab II delivered to Provincial in 1943. It is seen here at Gosport Ferry.


After :- After rebuilding, No 61 is seen here at an under re-construction Gosport Ferry terminus


72 - HHA 84

Before :- No 72 was purchased from BMMO (Midland Red) in 1957 after the disastrous Hoeford garage fire. It's body was not in the best of condition and the decision to re-body was taken in 1964. It is seen here at Gosport Ferry.  Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection


After :- After rebuilding, No 72 is seen on a school contract in June 1965. The bus behind is probably the Ruston and Hornsby engined AEC No 14 (270 MHO) judging by the upper deck window design. Photo: Fred York


73 - EOR 877  

Before:-  When delivered new, EOR 877 was numbered 31. It is seen here in its original form at Gosport Ferry. Photo: D Clark

After :-  No 73 seen here in Gosport on route 3 to the Ferry via Anns Hill. 
74 - GHO 595  

Before:- No8 (GHO 595) at Gosport Ferry.  Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection

After:- Seen here turning into Kings Road Fareham on route 10 to Thorni Avenue. Number 74 was built on one of Provincials own chassis.  Photo: F York.


75 - EHO 870  

Before :- Carrying its original fleet number 58 (EHO 870) parked up at Gosport Ferry.  Photo : Alan Lambert

After :- In this photo, 75 is parked out of service at Hoeford. This is a late shot as it has been repainted in the later livery with more cream.

 76 - 941 EOR  

Before:-  HD 7658 at Lloyds of Nuneaton in company with an ex Oxford AEC Regent.   Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection

After :-  76 941 EOR at Gosport Ferry in the days when cigarette advertising was politically correct. Note the hopper type windows fitted to these later rebuilds.


 

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