tangofoxtrotcharlie

Thanks, Horsefan, I hadn't picked that up, probably because it didn't affect me because my car was already in the 25 year bracket. What does worry me, though, is that older vehicles don't need an MOT. Best wishes, tfc

There is a bit of history to that! There was a proposal put out many years ago that every car should be taxed, whether in use or not. It was another of the DVLA's scatty ideas like not transferring road fund when you transfer a car but I won't go into that! The preservation lobby raised an appeal and in the long run, it was agreed that cars over 25 years old had to be registered but at zero rate, or SORNED, otherwise there would have been a wholesale slaughter of classic, veteran and vintage cars. After a couple of budgets, the rules changed and the 25 years was dropped although vehicles already over 25 continue to have the privilege. That's why you don't see many Austin Allegros on the preservation circuit! Undoubtedly, there are some people who use their classic to commute daily but most of us use them for high days and holidays. All the best tfc

AJN866A definitely Austin A60 Cambridge! Next picture is an Austin A40. Both styled by Farina in the late 50's and certainly the A60 has a very active Owners' Club, of which I am a member. Cheers TFC

Greetings,Pete, not, I think VNO 859 which was I think was allocated to Braintree for the ex-Hicks route from there in to London The 251 was the 'flagship route' and usually got the best and newest machines. I was brought up at Gants Hill so saw them regularly. The 251 Southend to Wood Green was originally a 'City' route and was operated by them using lowbridge Leyland or Roberts bodied PD1s & PD2s, some of which finished up open top on Southend and Clacton seafronts. They were originally in City brown and cream, then in Tilling green with City fleetnames, then finally in Tilling Green with Eastern National fleetnames. They didn't carry route numbers though. City was taken over in 1952. Their replacements would have been the early LD Lodekkas, front engine, rear entrance and a central gangway upstairs introduced from 1953. In the heyday of public transport, they carried full 3-piece destination displays. Size limits grew and buses got longer and the ones I remember most were the front entrance 30ft Bristol FLF's with a T display at the front. Apparently it took 20 buses to maintain the 15 minute headway at peak times. I don't remember ever seeing a K-type on the 251. Can't help with the other route, though, I'm afraid. Cheers tangofoxtrotcharlie