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Purchased by Woottens in August 2006, JWV 272W has been restored to original condition.  This bus is not used in daily service but often returns from retirement to attend various events and shows.

Registration Number - JWV 272W

Year Of Registration - 1981

Chassis - Bristol

Type - VRT/SL3

Chassis Number - VRT/SL3/2886

Engine - Gardner 6LXB (180bhp)

Gearbox - 5 Speed Semi-Automatic (Type RV90)

Body - Eastern Coach Works

Body Number - 24674

Seating Capacity - 74 (H43/31F)

Former Owners 

April 1981- 1986 Southdown (National Bus Company)

1986 - April 2000 Brighton & Hove (Go Ahead Group).

April 2000 - August 2006 Taylors Coaches, Aylesbury

MORE ABOUT THE BRISTOL VRT ......

The advent of the Leyland Atlantean, in production from 1958, changed the shape of the British double-decker bus.  Its transverse-mounted rear engine layout became the norm and since 1969, when the last of the front-engined chassis went out of production, has only been challenged by a small number of models.

Successor to the popular Bristol Lodekka, the VRT was the first double-deck chassis from Bristol Commercial Vehicles to feature a transverse-mounted rear engine.  The VRT, complete with its rather complex transmission design, was not greeted with great initial enthusiasm by all in the bus industry.

Series 2 and 3 Bristol VRTs were a considerable improvement on the original version and became the standard National Bus Company double decker.  Following many years of service, there exists a silent majority of bus companies for whom the Bristol VRT has proved a successful machine.  A number are still in regular service throughout Great Britain.

JWV 272W was new to Southdown Motor Services in April 1981. The vehicle was originally fitted with a Leyland 0.680 engine, one of just 29 examples built to this specification as a direct result of a Gardner engine shortage.

At the time of deregulation the vehicle passed to Brighton & Hove and was subsequently converted to Gardner 6LXB power in June 1993. JWV 272W remained in service with Brighton & Hove until the end of Bristol VRT operation when it joined Taylors Coaches of Aylesbury.

This bus was acquired by Woottens in August 2006 and has since been restored to original condition. It joins sister vehicle JWV 273W, which has been in the fleet since 2000.

In 16 years of production 4,531 VRT chassis were produced. The Bristol VRT was finally replaced in 1981 by the Leyland Olympian, which was designed by Bristol Commercial Vehicles.