Bristol Lodekka LD/ECW (1957): ODL7-15 [547-555]

Technical & History Briefing
Chassis: Bristol Lodekka LD6G				Body: ECW Series 2
Registration Mark	Fleet No.	Type	Chassis Number	Body Number	Date New	Date Withdrawn
Registration Mark	Other Owners
ODL7	[547]	H33/27R	130144	9511	03/1957	09/1976
ODL7	07/1977: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) 08/1977: Omnibus Promotions, London (dealer) 09/1978: British Promotions, Norfolk, Virginia, USA (dealer) 09/1978: Pioneer Theatres, Torrance, California, USA 1982-83: noted operating Park & Ride service, Gardena, California, USA 1984: noted operating Park & Ride service, Los Angeles, California, USA 1997: noted operating in Anaheim, California, USA 1998: noted operating in Santa Monica, California, USA
ODL8 Scrapped	[548]	H33/27R	130145	9512	03/1957	09/1976
ODL8 Scrapped	07/1977: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) 08/1977: Omnibus Promotions, London (dealer) 03/1978: British Promotions, Norfolk, Virginia, USA (dealer) 10/1978: Savannah College, Savannah, Georgia, USA - scrapped by 12/2002
ODL9	[549]	H33/27R	130146	9513	03/1957	09/1976
ODL9	07/1977: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) 08/1977: Omnibus Promotions, London (dealer) 03/1978: British Promotions, Norfolk, Virginia, USA (dealer) around 1979: The Bicycle Club, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA around mid/late 1980's: private owner, USA 06/2009: Brian Howell, Emerson, New Jersey, USA
ODL10	[550]	H33/27R	130147	9514	03/1957	04/1977
ODL10	06/1978: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) 09/1978: Kleyn Trucks, Vuren, Holland by 02/2003: Kelly Family, Munich, Germany
APB712A previously ODL11	[551]	H33/27R	134001	9515	05/1957	04/1977
APB712A previously ODL11	06/1978: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) 03/1979: Argas Persicus, London [Boogie] 07/1983: Top Deck Travel, London [Boogie] aby 02/1993: Serious Road Trip Theatre Company
APB713A previously ODL12 Scrapped	[552]	H33/27R	134002	9516	05/1957	06/1977
APB713A previously ODL12 Scrapped	06/1978: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) 03/1979: Argas Persicus, London [Slippers] 07/1983: Top Deck Travel, London [Slippers] around 1990: PVS of Carlton (dealer)
BH-25-GJ previously ODL13	[553]	H33/27R	134006	9517	05/1957	06/1977
BH-25-GJ previously ODL13	06/1978: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) 09/1978: Kleyn Trucks, Vuren, Holland ?after 1993?: Delta 3 Business Promotions, Den Haag, Holland by 2002: Bristol Business Promotions, Den Haag, Holland
ODL14	[554]	H33/27R	134237	9518	02/1958	06/1977
ODL14	06/1978: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) 09/1978: Kleyn Trucks, Vuren, Holland
BE-27-64 previously ODL15	[555]	H33/27R	138054	9519	03/1958	06/1977
BE-27-64 previously ODL15	06/1978: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) 09/1978: Kleyn Trucks, Vuren, Holland after 1993: Roda Promotions, Doeticham, Holland by 04/1999: Freetime Promotions, Den Haag, Holland

Detailed History

Nine Bristol Lodekka LD6G's, with ECW bodywork and six-cylinder Gardner diesel engines, were bought new by Southern Vectis during 1957 (the last two being delivered in 1958) which entered service in Tilling Green & Cream livery. These, and subsequent Lodekka deliveries, differed from the previous batch supplied in 1956 in that they were fitted with a one-piece lower-saloon rear window (as featured on the 1954 batch of Lodekkas's).

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

They were withdrawn from service in:
September 1976: ODL7 [547] / ODL8 [548] & ODL9 [549]
April 1977: ODL10 [550] & ODL11 [551]
June 1977: ODL12 [552] / ODL13 [553] / ODL14 [554] & ODL15 [555]

Subsequent History

ODL7 [547]:

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 September 1978 it was exported to British Promotions of Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Following arrival in the USA it passed to Pioneer Theatres, Torrance, California, USA.
It has subsequently been noted operating in California, USA, in Gardena (1982/83), Los Angeles (1984), Anaheim (1997) and Santa Monica (1998).

ODL8 [548]:

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 October 1978 it was sold to Savannah College of Arts & Design of Savannah, Georgia, USA.
Around 1979 it was noted operating in Evansville, Ohio, USA.
(In 1987 it returned back to British Promotions of Norfolk, Virginia, USA. It was reported that it may have subsequently passed to Windjammer Cruises of Honolulo, Hawaii, USA, however it remained with Savannah College).
By December 2002 it was used for spares. [per BVRES]

ODL9 [549]:

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.
Around 1979 it was sold to The Bicycle Club of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA.
When ownership of the club changed hands, around the mid to late 1980's, the previous owner (unknown) took ODL9 with him.
In June 2009 it was sold to Brian Howell of Emerson, New Jersey, USA - Brian stated that it was undergoing minor restoration during July 2009.

ODL10 [550]:

In June 1978 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
In September 1978 it was sold to Kleyn Trucks of Vuren, Holland.
By February 2003 it had passed to the Kelly Family of Munich, Germany.

ODL11 [551]:

In June 1978 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
In March 1979 it was sold to Argas Persicus (Top Deck Travel) of London, whom named it "Boogie".
Around 1990 it was reregistered to APB712A.
By February 1993 it had passed to Serious Road Trip Theatre Company being used as a caravan.

ODL12 [552]:

In June 1978 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
In March 1979 it was sold to Argas Persicus (Top Deck Travel) of London, whom named it "Slippers".
Around 1990 it was reregistered to APB713A.
Also around 1990 it was sold to PVS of Carlton (dealer) and scrapped.

ODL13 [553]:

In June 1978 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
In September 1978 it was sold to Kleyn Trucks of Vuren, Holland.
It subsequently passed (probably post 1993) to Delta 3 Business Promotions of Den Haag, Holland.
By 2002 it was noted with Bristol Business Promotions of Den Haag, Holland.
Also it was noted with the Dutch registration of BH-25-GJ.

ODL14 [554]:

In June 1978 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
In September 1978 it was sold to Kleyn Trucks of Vuren, Holland. It is no longer with them, it may have disappeared around 1993.

ODL15 [555]:

In June 1978 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
In September 1978 it was sold to Kleyn Trucks of Vuren, Holland.
After 1993 it was sold to Roda Promotions of Doeticham, Holland.
By April 1999 it was sold to Freetime Promotions of Den Haag, Holland. It now carries the Dutch registration of BE-27-64.

Photo Selection

A nearside-front view of ODL7 during 1982 or 1983 at Gardena, California, USA. It was in use as Park and Ride transport between a swapmeet and a college parking lot.
[photo copyright of David Hills]

An offside-front view of ODL11 (or "Boogie") whilst with Top Deck Travel, and after having been re-registered APB712A. This picture was taken during June 1992. Top Deck Travel were a keen purchaser of second-hand Bristol Lodekkas', whom converted them to mobile touring homes for travel holidays abroad.
[photo copyright of Stuart Macrae]

A nearside-front view of ODL9 on the day it passed ownership to Brian Howell in New Jersey, USA, on 30 June 2009 with Brian's son and two freinds. ODL9 was formely notified as "For Sale" during 2004, but this information was incorrect - ODL9 was formely owned by the proprietor of The Bicycle Club since 1979.
[photo copyright of Brian Howell]

ODL12 (or "Slippers") whilst with Top Deck Travel during 1987.
[photo from the Lew Cody / Top Deck Reunion collection]

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

Two ex. Top Deck Travel buses, to the left is ODL12 (or "Slippers") and to the right is "Edna" LAH448E. Being scrapped by PVS of Barnsley (dealer) during 1991.
[photo copyright of Paul Harrison]

An offside-front view of ODL14 [554] in NBC Leaf Green & White livery at Havenstreet on 27 June 1976.
[photo copyright of Chris Stewart]

A nearside-front view of ODL15 [555] in NBC Leaf Green & White livery departing Newport Bus Station on 15 August 1977.
[photo copyright of Stephen Dowle]

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

Information on all surviving Bristol Lodekka's is available from The Bristol VR Enthusiasts' Society

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