Following the success of Southdown Black+White photo sets, we are offering a selection of this charismatic operator in full colour, where its eye-catching light apple green livery or apple green/ivory colours shows to full advantage. This set of ten 6x4 COLOUR prints opens with a Southdown bus that has strayed far from home. Southdown buses found a ready sale on the second hand market, and 543, PUF643, a Guy Arab IV 6LW with Park Royal H59RD body of 1956 joined Priory Coaches of Leamington Spa, where a GWR inspired chocolate and cream replaced Southdown colours, but traces of the green can be seen through the cream paintwork on this 1969 view at Warwick University campus. 808, RUF208, is a Leyland Titan PD2/12, and is caught at Brighton in sunny weather in green and cream with traditional large shaded serif title lettering. 1134, XUF134, is a Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2 of 1959 with a Weymann C37F coach body with masses of chrome, and looks great in Eastbourne in cream and dark green in 1967. The exhaustion of the original CD registrations prompted a switch to reversed CD regs, and 892, 2892CD was a 1960 Leyland Titan PD3/4 with full fronted Northern Counties FH69F body, and is at the Gildredge at Eastbourne in 1967. Southdown 931, 6931CD, allows us to compare two successive batches of Northern Counties full fronted Titans, as she was a 1961 PD3/5. The SOUTHDOWN title is in small sans serif capitals. Southdown. 1156, 8156CD is seen in Winchester on 18 July 1972, in traditional livery, with script title, and is a Leyland Leopard PSU3/3RT of 1962 with Weymann C49F body. Once again the twin tone green is set off with masses of chrome, and how good it all looks. If only it was like that today ! Southdown No 64,64AUF, a rare and fascinating Commer Avenger IV 94A of 1962, with a Harrington C35F body with a very unusual arrangement to the saloon windows. An outstanding vehicle in light green with a dark green trim. 114, 114CUF, a Leyland Leopard PSU3/1R, with a Marshall B51F body, of 1962, shows how fast the four figure CD reversed registrations were used up. This smart vehicle in bus green and cream carries a script title. No 261, BUF261C, a Leyland Titan PD3/4 of 1965 with Northern Counties full front body is seen in Brighton in 1975 whilst in Southdown green and cream, but with NBC white corporate style SOUTHDOWN and white NBC N logo. Our final view is of 1209, EUF209D, a Leyland Leopard PSU3/3R of 1966 with Plaxton Panorama C49F body, taken at Maidstone in 1973. Livery is NBC coaching white. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright. Reproduction by any means is prohibited without prior written permission
This further set of ten 6x4 COLOUR prints of this charismatic operator shows its eye-catching light apple green livery or apple green/ivory colours to full advantage. We open with a classic portrait of No 772, OCD772, a Leyland Titan PD2/12 of 1955 with exposed radiator and a Park Royal H57RD body at Brighton. It is in green and cream with large serif capital SOUTHDOWN. No 912, 2912CD, seen at the Gildredge, Eastbourne, is the last of a batch of Leyland Titan PD3/4 chassis with full front NC bodies delivered in 1957-1960. No 410, 410DCD is a Leyland Titan PD3/4 of 1963 with a full fronted Northern Counties convertible open top 69-seat body, and is at Fareham bus station on 24-07-72. Both are in traditional livery. No 970,970CUF, seen near Hove in 1975, is a Titan PD3/4 of 1963 with full front body and carried NBC corporate lettering and white double N logo. No 418, 418DCD, another PD3/4 of 1963 with convertible body is in NBC green with double N logo. These views of normal and convertible open toppers reveal how prominent the beading strip is on the convertible design. No 356, HCD356E, is a 1967 Titan PD3/4 with a Northern Counties panorama window full front body, and wrap round upper deck front windows, and is seen at Brighton in 1975. Nearside and offside views of Leyland Leopard L2 coaches 1704 (2704CD) and 1728 (2728CD) provide a good portrait of these attractive vehicles with Harrington C28F bodywork. No 1704 is at Maidstone in 1973 and 1728 is rolling through Broadway in the Cotswolds on a Lakes and Scotland tour in May 1970. Both carry the script title. No 1822, UUF322J is a Leyland Leopard PSU3B/4R with a Plaxton panorama Elite 32 seat luxury body, most of this batch being 44 seaters. The location is Bowness in the Lake District on 9 July 1972. Our final view is of No 1818, RUF818H, a Leyland Leopard PSU3A/4R with Duple Commander IV C44F body of 1970. It is passing the Old Gaol in Buckingham in June 1976 and is in spotless NBC coaching white. This view permits a comparison with Southdown and NBC coach liveries, and between the rival Duple and Plaxton bodywork. Southdown fans may also be interested in Southdown Set A in colour and our three black and white sets, Southdown BW1, 2 and 3. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright. Reproduction by any means is prohibited without prior written permission.
Southdown Motor Services was set up as early as 1915, and with its eye-catching light apple green livery or apple green/ivory colours, has always justly been a favourite with bus enthusiasts. This set of ten 6x4 Black+White prints recalls the glory days of Southdown, before the uniformity of the NBC colours or the nationwide uniformity of today’s bus scene. What a stylish operator it was. This is what the set contains :-
148 EUF148D Leyland Leopard PSU3/1R, Weymann B45F built 1966, dramatic turning angle.
168 HUF768D Leyland Leopard PSU3 with Marshall B49F body built 1967, classic 1960s service bus
175 KCD175F Leyland Leopard PSU3 with Marshall B49F body built 1967
539 PUF639 Guy Arab IV 6LW, PR H59RD body, built 1955/56 lovely three quarter angle Eastbourne
900 2900CD Leyland Titan PD3/4 with Northern Counties full front FH69F body, built 1960
1128 DCD128 Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2, Beadle C32F (30 seat in winter) body built 1957
1146 8146CD Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2 Weymann C41F body built 1961, plus lots of advert boards
1179 179DCD Leyland Leopard PSU3/3RT, Plaxton C49F built 1963; being hand washed
1661 NCD661 Leyland Royal Tiger PSU1/16, Duple C41C body, built 1953/54, also Guy DD open top part visible
1692/1647/1645 A superb depot line-up of three different front ends. From L to R, 1692, NUF75, a Royal Tiger PSU1/16 with Duple body, 1647 MCD47, and 1645, MCD45, a pair of 1952 Royal Tiger PSU1/15s with quite different Duple bodies, 1647 being a riot of chrome.
A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright. Reproduction by any means is prohibited without prior written permission
Following the success of Southdown buses Set BW-1 we are offering a further selection of this charismatic operator that was founded in 1915, and with its eye-catching light apple green livery or apple green/ivory colours, has always been a favourite with bus enthusiasts. This set of ten 6x4 Black+White prints recalls the glory days of Southdown, before the uniformity of the NBC colours, or the nationwide uniformity of today’s bus scene. What a stylish operator it was. This is what the set contains :-
1308 HUF308 Leyland Tiger PS1 half cab of 1948 with Park Royal C32R body, from a batch of 13 coaches, of which 8 were sold to Wimpey contractors in 1960/61 as they were seen as old fashioned. 1308 in Wimpey use but looking every bit a thoroughbred.
176 KCD176F Leyland Leopard PSU3 with Marshall B49F body built 1967
402 402DCD Leyland Titan PD3/4 with full-front open-top Northern Counties FCO69F body, nice nearside shot
428 BUF428C Leyland Titan PD3/4 as above on route 97 to top of Beachy Head, an offside view of 1965 delivery. It is worth comparing the two batches for the slight differences between them.
543 PUF643 Guy Arab IV 6LW, PR H59RD body, built 1955/56 after sale to Priory coaches of Leamington Spa.
682 282AUF Leyland Leopard PSU3/1R, Marshall B51F, built 1962
907 2907CD Leyland Titan PD3/4 with Northern Counties full front FH69F body, built 1960
1140 XUF140 Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2, Weymann C37F body built 1959
1700 2700CD The first Leyland Leopard L2 of 1961 with Harrington C28F body (later Leopards were mostly PSU3s
0198 – Southdown became famous for its conversion of pre-war Leyland TD5 double-deckers into breakdown tenders. Working with trade plates, they were given 01xx numbers, 0198 being portrayed at Eastbourne on 25-6-68.
A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright. Reproduction by any means is prohibited without prior written permission
Following the success of Southdown buses Set BW-1 we are offering a further selection of this charismatic operator that was founded in 1915, and with its eye-catching light apple green livery or apple green/ivory colours, has always been a favourite with bus enthusiasts. This set of ten 6x4 Black+White prints recalls the glory days of Southdown, before the uniformity of the NBC colours, or the nationwide uniformity of today’s bus scene. What a stylish operator it was. This is what the set contains :-
1247 HCD447 Leyland Tiger PS1 half cab No 1247 of 1947 with ECW C31R body, re-seated as 32 seat bus, and numbered 676 in 1955, and sold to Eastbourne Welfare Dept as POLLY; maintained by Eastbourne Corp Transport. Nice Classic half cab.
1340 HUF940 Leyland PS1 half-cab Tiger of June 1949 with Duple C32R body, REBUILT by BEADLE to more modern looking full fronted FC32R style in 1954/55. Sold to Farmery, South Elmsall at the start of the 1960s. Wonderful vehicle.
Southdown Motor Services were renowned for their elegant 1930s style depots, as at Eastbourne.
115 115CUF Leopard PSU3/1R, Marshall B51F, built 1963 popular Southdown design for many years
768 OCD768 Leyland Titan PD2/12 with traditional half cab Park Royal H57RD body at Brighton in 1968
266 BUF266C Leyland Titan PD3/4 of 1965 with Northern Counties FH69F body
409 409DCD Leyland Titan PD3/4 of 1963 with full-front open-top Northern Counties FCO69F body, Eastbourne 18-07-1967
428 BUF428C Leyland Titan PD3/4 of 1965 Full-front open-top body passing imposing Oban/Alexandra hotels in Eastbourne.
1151 8151CD Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2 Weymann C37F body built 1961. A classic Southdown coach.
1832 OUF832 Leyland Royal Tiger PSU1/1, Harrington C26C body built 1955 for UTA with 7ft 6ins body; came to Southdown 1963 as a replacement for Bedford OBs acquired with Bucks Coaches of Worthing in 1963. A rare vehicle at a Horse Race meeting carrying Bucks lettering. A nice way to finish our third Southdown set.
A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright. Reproduction by any means is prohibited without prior written permission