Wolverhampton Guy Arab SUK 3

1950s WOLVERHAMPTON CORPORATION DOUBLE-DECKER


The reliable Guy Arab chassis were built at Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, so it was not surprising the local Corporation chose to buy them.

Most Arabs had Gardner engines but, for a time, Meadows engines were also offered. These larger engines competed with the powerful units in the AEC Regent and Leyland Titan PD2. The Meadows factory was next door to Guy. 12 Guys bought by Wolverhampton Corporation in 1957 had Meadows engines with preselector gearboxes, a rare combination.

The Corporation restarted its fleet numbers at 1 in 1957. This bus was no. 3, entering service in March. Its Metro-Cammell body was typical of many sold around the UK, apart from its straight staircase which was similar to Birmingham buses. Wolverhampton's buses passed to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive in 1969.

Preservation

No. 3 retired in 1972 but, despite its unusual Meadows engine, was chosen to be a play bus, without its seats. With restoration in mind, a set of seats was obtained in 1979 from a later Wolverhampton bus. As hoped, no. 3 was saved in September 1981.

Many years out in the open meant that the body was in poor condition. Only after a lot of work in 2002-3 and 2006-7 has no.3 become suitable for public display but now a new sponsor means SUK 3 is currently undergoing a full restoration! Click here to read all about it