New Ford R-Series coaches were bought in the 1970s – one was a fairly rare Willowbrook 002 model, after which a Plaxton Panorama Elite example and two with Duple Dominant body's were added.
After the Fords, a Bedford with Van Hool bodywork which was destined not to operate in the fleet after type approval issues caused too much of a delay to its entry into service.
[1] In 1978 the first new heavy weight coach was added to the fleet, OSM 588S, being the first of three 12 metre Leyland Leopards with Plaxton Supreme Bodywork.
An ex-Edinburgh PD2/20 was operated in the early 1970s while the tenth and last double decker, a Northern Counties-bodied Leyland PS1 was bought in 1975 and retired in August 1978.
A Volvo B10M coach was ordered with Van Hool Alizee bodywork in 1982 and remained in the fleet right up until the end, some 25 years later.
The move to rear engined coaches started with the purchase of a new Van Hool Alicron which had an MAN drive train.