E40803
Fleet Number - 925
Reg Number - 925GTA
Route - 301 Westward Hoe
 
This model is now available to pre-order for £0. Once the item is in stock we will send you a payment link for £38.20 + our £5 flat postage rate. You will have 7 days to complete payment before we put the item back up for sale.
 
The price of £38.20 is a special price for those that pre-order. Once the model arrives into stock the price will increase.
 
EFE ROAD STATEMENT
 
The well-known bus operator, Devon General, began operating regular open top bus tours of the Torbay area in the summer of 1955 using vehicles converted from conventional double deckers. However, in 1961 these were replaced by a fleet of nine specially built Leyland Atlanteans with Metro-Cammell bodies, each seating 75 passengers.
 
The nine were named after historical naval and maritime figures such as Sir Francis Drake  and Sir John Hawkins, and soon earned the nickname ‘Sea Dogs’; a term Devon General even adopted for its marketing. In their distinctive cream and red livery, they became a familiar sight on the 12A-12D routes serving Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Babbacombe and Kingswear, and carried generations of holidaymakers for the next 20 years. They were built as convertibles, with detachable roofs, meaning that they could operate as normal double deckers during the low season.
 
In January 1971 Devon General became part of the Western National Omnibus Company (itself part of the National Bus Company), and during the next two years the Sea Dogs were repainted into NBC poppy red and white, and also converted to one-man operation. They initially carried Devon General branding under NBC ownership, but this was later superseded by Western National and other NBC liveries as their duties took them further afield into Cornwall and Dorset.
 
Withdrawal commenced in 1982, and the Sea Dogs went their separate ways, finding use in places including London, Lancashire, East Yorkshire and Glasgow.
Our model depicts registration 925GTA (formerly ‘Admiral Blake’) in its post-1983 condition after transfer from Western National to North Devon Limited, a National Bus Company operator trading as Red Bus. The model is finished in NBC poppy red and white livery with Red Bus branding and full Western Counties Building Society advertising all round. The lower position route blind carries a service 301 to Westward Ho! Destination, while the later style of replacement rear engine bustle completes the model.
 
Colours/details of final model may vary from illustration
Authentically detailed die-cast model from EFE Road
Complementary to OO scale model railways (1:76 scale)
This item is sold on behalf of Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity.