LDL720 [521] / LDL721 [522] / LDL722 [523] / LDL723 [524] / LDL727 [528] / LDL728 [529] / LDL729 [530] / LDL737 [538] & LDL738 [539] were fitted with the newer style of "short" radiator, as were all subsequent deliveries of Bristol Lodekka LD's.

Around 1956/1957 the original long front wings (which were like those to be found on the later FLF Lodekka's) were cut back to allow more air cooling of the front brakes.

Around 1959/1960 underseat saloon heaters were fitted to the batch.

In June 1961 LDL726 [527] was converted to H33/24R by replacing the longitudinal seat for two passengers on the nearside in the lower deck with a seat for three passengers.

During 1963/1964 the buses fitted with the offside two-tier luggage rack in the lower-deck were converted to H33/27R by replacing with a longitudinal seat for three passengers and by replacing the longitudinal seat for two passengers on the nearside in the lower deck with a seat for three passengers in:
April 1963: LDL726 [527]
May 1963: LDL723 [524] & LDL725 [526]
January 1964: LDL722 [523]
February 1964: LDL720 [521]
March 1964: LDL721 [522] & LDL724 [525].

During August 1972 LDL738 [539] was repainted into NBC Leaf Green & White livery, together with DDL50 [703] they were the first buses to be repainted into this livery. [per Buses magazine, April 1973]

From October 1973 LDL720 [521] / LDL721 [522] / LDL722 [523] & LDL723 [524] - or November 1973 LDL725 [526] - went on loan to Hants & Dorset Motor Services Limited and entered service as their numbers [3494] / [3495] / [3496] / [3497] & [3488] respectively returning back to the island in April 1974.

They were withdrawn from service in:
September 1975: LDL720 [521] / LDL721 [522] / LDL722 [523] / LDL723 [524] / LDL724 [525] & LDL734 [535]
September 1976: LDL725 [526] / LDL726 [527] / LDL727 [528] / LDL728 [529] / LDL729 [530] / LDL730 [531] / LDL731 [532] / LDL732 [533] / LDL733 [534] / LDL735 [536] / LDL738 [539] & LDL739 [540]
March 1977: LDL736 [537] & LDL737 [538]

LDL725 [526] / LDL726 [527] / LDL727 [528] & LDL728 [529] were the last double deckers to remain in Tilling Green & Cream livery, LDL727 [528] was the last to be used in service. [per Buses magazine, February 1977]

Subsequent History

LDL720 [521]:

• In October 1975 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• In April 1976 it was sold and exported to Heineken of Zoutewoude, Holland.

LDL721 [522]:

• In October 1975 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• In January 1976 it was exported to British Promotions of Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
  It was chartered to The Government of Virginia Bicentennial Committee during the summer of 1976 for Park & Ride service in Williamsburg, Virginia.
• In August 1982 it was sold to D. May and/or P. Jo of Canyon Country, California, USA.
• In March 1985 it was sold to J. Mancilla of La Habra, California, USA.
• In October 1987 it was sold to S. McQuilkin and/or G. Boyd of Arcadia, California, USA - still owned in October 2003.

LDL722 [523]:

• In October 1975 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• Also in October 1975 it was sold and exported (in London Transport livery) to Coca Cola gmbH, Essen, Germany whom operated it within the works complex.
  It was later fitted with an Iveco engine and Unimog gearbox.
  At some stage it was reregistered to K-B1717.
• In December 1996 it was sold to Klaus Braechter of Cologne, Germany.
  It was subsequently refurbished for use on promotional work by B&B Concept GMBH of Cologne, Germany.
  By 2000 it was being used as a mobile bar by Auto Becker of Cologne, Germany.
  By 2003 it was in use on promotional work by Rimmel.
  It was still owned by Klaus Braechter during March 2004.

LDL723 [524]:

• In October 1975 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• In January 1976 it was exported to British Promotions of Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
  It was chartered to The Government of Virginia Bicentennial Committee during the summer of 1976 for Park & Ride service in Williamsburg, Virginia.
  It was reported as being used by "Tavern on the Green" (restaurant) of New York, USA. [per Buses magazine, May 1977]
• By April 2000 it had passed to Wayne Hermansen of Willow Springs, Illinois, USA and was noted as undergoing restoration - it was noted advertised For Sale during January 2004.

LDL724 [525]:

• In October 1975 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• In January 1976 it was sold to City Express Druck GHBH of Munich, Germany.

LDL725 [526]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and scrapped.

LDL726 [527]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and scrapped.

LDL727 [528]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and scrapped.

LDL728 [529]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and scrapped.

LDL729 [530]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and scrapped.

LDL730 [531]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and scrapped.

LDL731 [532]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and scrapped.

LDL732 [533]:

• In July 1977 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In August 1977 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• In March 1978 it was exported to British Promotions of Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
• In July 1978 it was sold to Grayline of Galveston, Texas, USA.

LDL733 [534]:

• In July 1977 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In April 1978 it was sold to Euroscan travel of London
  In November 1980 it was transferred to Argas Persicus (Top Deck Travel) of London whom named it "Hannibal".
• In March 1990 it was sold to the Reading Loline Group.
• By May 2001 it was noted with an unknown owner in Kemble.

LDL734 [535]:

• In November 1976 it was sold to an unknown dealer.

LDL735 [536]:

• In July 1977 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In May 1978 it was sold to Argas Persicus (Top Deck Travel) of London whom named it "Crunch".
  In May 1985 it was involved in an accident in Yugoslavia and was withdrawn and subsequently scrapped.

LDL736 [537]:

• In July 1977 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In May 1978 it was sold to Argas Persicus (Top Deck Travel) of London whom named it "Befa".
  In 1990 the front axle was ripped out in an accident in Iran.
• In August 1990 it was sold to PVS of Carlton (dealer) and was scrapped.

LDL737 [538]:

• In July 1977 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In May 1978 it was sold to Argas Persicus (Top Deck Travel) of London whom named it "Plod".
  In 1993 it was withdrawn and was re-registered to RGT86V, the licence plate number (LDL737) was sold to the driver of LDL737.
• During 1993 it was was sold to a group, their intention was to drive the bus back to their home country, New Zealand. It reached Moscow during the winter of 1993/94 and was parked-up overnight, but the minus 30 degree temperature cracked the engine block and it was left abandoned in Moscow. [per Where in the World are the Southern Vectis Buses? by John Haines]
• It was believed to have been scrapped shortly after, in Moscow. However, an unidentified Lodekka was observed in Moscow in 2000 in use as a cafe - could this be LDL737?

LDL738 [539]:

• In July 1977 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In August 1977 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• In May 1978 it was exported to British Promotions of Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
• Around 1978/79 it passed to Liberty Unlimited of Ann Arbour, Michigan, USA.
• Around 1982 it passed to an unknown owner in Flint, Michigan, USA.

LDL739 [540]:

• In July 1977 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In August 1977 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• In May 1978 it was exported to British Promotions of Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
• Around 1978/79 it passed to Liberty Unlimited of Ann Arbour, Michigan, USA.
• Around 1982 it passed to an unknown owner in Flint, Michigan, USA.

An offside-front view of LDL722 [523] in NBC Leaf Green & White livery at Nettlestone on 25 May 1973.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

Colour prints may be available to buy - please e-mail Peter J. Relf for details

A nearside-front view of LDL722 [523] in NBC Leaf Green & White livery at Ryde Esplanade Coach Park on 23 August 1973.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

Colour prints may be available to buy - please e-mail Peter J. Relf for details

An offside-front view of LDL723 [524] in Tilling Green & Cream livery at Ryde Esplanade on 13 August 1972.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

Colour prints may be available to buy - please e-mail Peter J. Relf for details

An offside-front view of LDL726 [527] in NBC Leaf Green & White livery leaving Ryde Esplanade at Appley on 20 August 1976 one month before being withdrawn from service.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

Colour prints may be available to buy - please e-mail Peter J. Relf for details

A nearside-front view of LDL731 [532] in NBC Leaf Green & White livery passing through Binstead on 17 August 1976 one month before being withdrawn from service.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

Colour prints may be available to buy - please e-mail Peter J. Relf for details

As Top Deck Travel's [Crunch] LDL735 with Wolftam (to the rear) during an overland tour during the late 1970's/early 1980's.
[photo from the Lew Cody / Top Deck Reunion collection]

Visit the Top Deck Reunion website for information on all Top Deck Travel buses

As Top Deck Travel's [Crunch] LDL735 during 1982. By this time the "long" radiator cowl had been replaced with the later "short" type.
[photo from the Lew Cody / Top Deck Reunion collection]

Visit the Top Deck Reunion website for information on all Top Deck Travel buses