Birmingham City Transport AEC Regent OV 4486

1929-31 BIRMINGHAM DOUBLE-DECKER

Around 1930, designs developed so rapidly that these AEC Regents look very different to earlier and later buses. They were called 'piano fronts' for the obvious reason!

Petrol engines were still usual. The last 20 Regents had bodies by Metro-Cammell that were built to its new, robust steel frame design instead of using the timber frames of earlier bus bodies. 486 is thought to have the oldest steel-framed double-deck body in the world.

This bus, no 486, began service on 4th December 1931 from Harborne garage. It later ran from Barford Street, Perry Barr and Liverpool Street garages. It was one of 30 Birmingham Regents briefly hired to London in World War Two during the air raids and ran from Turnham Green garage. Wartime shortages meant buses deteriorated and ironically 486 was the first Metro-Cammell Regent to be taken out of service, in April 1944, following engine failure.

Preservation

486 was sold in 1946 for scrap but, 23 years later, it was discovered being used as the home of an elderly recluse in a field in Herefordshire! The Birmingham 1685 Group saved it from being scrapped but did not have suitable premises in which to restore it so 486 was sold to a London preservationist.

It returned to this area in November 1973, now owned by the Museum's predecessor society. Shortages of time and money meant that full restoration was not possible until sufficient finance allowed a professional restoration to commence.

After 40 years of fundraising, work to restore the vehicle commenced in 2013 with a combination of contracted partners and volunteers. The full story of the final and full restoration is available separately, but needless to say it accounted for thousands of man hours, the involvement of a host of individuals, company sponsorships, legacies and general donations amounting to c£500,000.

486 arrived back at Wythall on 30th December 2018 after a very long drive from Surrey. Final finishing recommenced with the application of gold lining, transfers and final varnishing. With the intervention of Covid-19, that final finishing of the details and some significant mechanical reworks on the engine was stalled.

Eventually, what you see today, a most magnificent example of 1930s engineering restored to perfection, made its first public appearance at the Classic Car Show at the NEC in 2021, receiving much acclaim from the public and media alike. 2022 sees 486 lead a new exhibition at Wythall on the history of Birmingham City Transport and will, at long last, provide an exciting ride for the public at selected open day events.