Transport Museum Wythall AEC Regent 486 Returns to the Road After Major Restoration

Published: 08/07/2022

Iconic 1931 Birmingham Double Decker bus returns to the road after major restoration.

OV4486 is one of a collection of Birmingham buses spanning 100 years on show at Wythall Transport Museum. Its body is one of the first metal frames built by Metropolitan-Cammell in Birmingham.
  

The restoration of Birmingham Corporation Tramway and Omnibus Company AEC Regent number 486 is complete. The long story of its life in Birmingham from entry into service in 1931 to its scrapping (or not) in 1946 and then its miraculous appearance in a field in Herefordshire after being thought long gone is akin to a miracle. Even its reappearance and challenging recovery is a story of its own in a period when bus restoration was uncommon and facilities in which to carry out such work was virtually non-existent unless you enjoyed toiling in the open air or draughty farm buildings.

So what's so special about number 486? The petrol-engined AEC Regent chassis is an early example of the work of John Rackham, recognised as perhaps Britain's greatest bus chassis designer. The body is one of the first built by Metro-Cammell in Birmingham and is possibly the oldest metal-frame double-deck body in existence.

Only three of these early shorter-wheelbase Regent chassis are believed to remain with bodies in the UK. One is our OV 4486, the only provincial example with its characterful "piano-front" styling of the period. The other two are London ST-class vehicles, very different both externally and under the skin from OV 4486, although built around the same time.

Interestingly, OV 4486 has a London connection; it is believed to be the only survivor of the provincial buses loaned to the capital during the Second World War when London was suffering a major vehicle shortage following the blitz. It worked from Turnham Green Garage, but was returned one month later, the day after Birmingham's Hockley Garage was itself blitzed.

The Regent was originally saved by the 1685 Group, sold on for preservation in London and then brought back to the Midlands in 1973 by the newly created Birmingham Omnibus Preservation Society, the direct predecessor of Transport Museum Wythall. Its needs encouraged the creation and subsequent construction of the Museum, OV 4486 had to wait almost forty years before the determined start on its restoration really began.
486 is unique, one of the first examples of a metal framed body and proudly from local builder Metropolitan Cammell of Washwood Heath in Birmingham, displaying the detailed workmanship of local craftsmen, which has been carefully replicated in this restoration. Rich moquette fabric, authentic bull hide leather, beautifully machined and sometimes hand formed fittings, highly varnished wood, flamboyant real gold leaf lining and hand sign written lettering and fleet numbers are repeated in perfect facsimile of the original.
There are too many names of those involved to list here but one person can be singled out as project leader for this restoration since the new millennium – Rob Handford, owner of another beautiful BCT bus restoration and a passionate follower of all things BCT, Rob has remained focused on the job in hand and modestly helped deliver the end result in all its glory. However the whole team at Wythall and before are to be congratulated for their tenacity and sheer bloody mindedness in getting this job done, over 40 years starting not once or twice but four or five times is to be applauded. Thanks to thousands of man hours, hundreds of individual donations, corporate sponsorship, much appreciated personal legacies and specific fundraising projects amounting to around c£500,000, 486 is better than new and a tribute to all the men and women involved.

The wonderful collection of over 90 vehicles at Wythall, even though it already has an undoubtedly magnificent collection of West Midlands transport with a huge City of Birmingham bias, is much the richer with 486 finally on board. 

486 Specification
Registration number: OV 4486
Operator: Birmingham City Transport (formerly Birmingham Corporation Tramway and Omnibus Company)
Chassis: AEC Regent 661
Engine: AEC 6.1 litre 6-cylinder petrol
Gearbox: 4-speed no synchromesh
Body: Metropolitan-Cammell 51 seats (to operator’s design)