Bus preservation in the United Kingdom

The first example of private individuals preserving a bus in the UK was by four friends, Prince Marshall, Ken Blacker, Ron Lunn and Michael Dryhurst in 1956[2] who successfully purchased a 1929 AEC Regal fleet number T31, registration UU 6646, for the sum of £40.

[3] This was the first of several buses purchased by these four pioneers of the British bus preservation movement, which included a 1935 Gilford 168SD coach, a Leyland PLSC3 Lion, and their first double-decker, a Northern Counties bodied AEC Renown 6-wheeler which cost the large sum (for the time) of £85.

In 1958 Ken Blacker, John Cook, Prince Marshall and Michael Dryhurst inaugurated the Vintage Passenger Vehicle Society.

In cases where large numbers of vehicles were produced, organisations may even concentrate on a single model, such as the Bristol VR or Leyland National.

Operational preserved buses are often exhibited at rallies and shows, or are run on 'running days', or in events that are a combination of the two.

A preserved bus running a specific shuttle route also often forms part of a larger event such as a cultural festival.

Candidates vehicles for preservation are often gifted or purchased from their final operator, or are bought from the scrap yard or specialist dealers.

Others may maintain one or two examples of preserved vehicles for special services, or to act as company representatives at rallies and events.

[6] With regard to the London low emission zone, an exemption is made for "Historic vehicles" (built before 1 January 1973).