Coventry Buses - past and present

Can you tell me about this bus please... GKV 92

Hi Foxcote, I will try. This GKV92 was part of a batch of 95 buses, which were delivered from 1948 onwards. They were for me the ultimate in comfort for a town bus. They were modern for their time fitted with pre-selector gears & semi-fluid flywheel arrangements that made them very hard wearing. The engines were almost a 'Gardner Daimler**', the body from Metro Cam. ** The power units on these were bi-supplied owing to post war shortages, so a bit of subcontracting was going on between Gardner & Daimler. Gardner & Daimler had been involved with cooperation with each other throughout the war with tanks & armoured cars. What is also nice is the Midland Red 159 service in the next bay which has arrived from B'ham. I wonder if mum or Dreamtime was on that? The No.6 was a Walsgrave route which was extended to Bell Green but I am not sure when. Will guess 1958. Just a thought. Was this going to Lentons Lane, but did not have that name on the blind? Look at the sign on the shelter.

Buses 1 to 96 were fitted with AEC 7.7 ltr. engines, 97 and 98 had Daimler engines.

Service 6

Is this the route it would have taken? Bell Green

Yes, and here's the same spot in 1937

Thanks Midland Red, I have a lot to learn for sure. It's a treat to have every 'Bussy' question answered by the experts on here in minutes

Hi Colcov, I never knew that. I knew that CC had wanted AEC after the war, but were told by AEC that they were so busy re supplying both London Transport & Oxford that they could not undertake the request until much later. I am amazed. I also knew that Nos 96, 97, 98, 99 & 100 were classed as development buses, all of which had the same basic Metro body with minor mods, but with experimental engines. They were often assigned as floaters as standbys for any route. I also understand that the engines fitted to 97 & 98 were also fitted to a following batch Nos 126 to 165, but they had Gardner parts. Nos 117 to 125 had a modified AEC engine built under licence by Maudslay. I need help with this. According to Denton & Groves, the power units supplied with No 1 to 95 were "Daimler CVA6s". Coventry was not the only operation to have its AEC order suspended & terminated. B'ham had ordered two hundred, which were also switched to Daimler (Gardner) at the same time. Thank you also to you Foxcote for the question & Midland Red for the pic info. I hope that I will never be too old to learn. I once watched a power unit being lifted out of No 66. The owner of No 94 which was preserved might be able to add to this. Courtaulds hired No 94 bus to take us to a Christmas dinner one year. GKV94 Daimler CV6 A pic of No 94, same as 1 to 95, with its distinctive Daimler radiator cover which could only be fitted to a Daimler power unit. It was Daimler's own emblem, which could not be used by any other manufacturer. For comparison these pics show the similarity between The Coventry & B'ham fleets. Comparison Similar body work too.

Hi Philip.. No's 117 to 125 were actually AECs with a Maudslay badge on the radiator and hubcaps. The engine was a 9.6 ltr. There was a political reason for this order but I forget now what it was. I rebuilt two of these engines during my time at Watery Lane works. Regarding the AEC 7.7 engines, most of the wartime Daimlers had these installed they were classed as CWA 6's. I think there was seven with Gardner 5lW engines classed as CWG5. No 66 was my wedding guest bus, it looked great with the white ribbon waiting outside Parkgate Church.

Hi again Colcov, I loved them. I was on a tour of CC operations in 1960ish when I saw 66 in bits. I was with a former school friend John Pilgrim. He was my newsagent until he died a few years ago. He was as hooked as me on our transport operation. I have a pic of a wedding with a CC bus at Parkgate as well somewhere. Was I playing the organ for your wedding? I often did at Parkgate Rd, as I lived very close. They had a Hammond electronic organ which I was not very fond of in their new building. A walker pipe in the old building, that sadly was destroyed by fire.

Hi Philip again, the date was 29 June 1958. Rev. Ivor Owen was the Minister. I'm still hooked on Coventry buses at the age of 79. At the present time on occasional Saturdays I work on GKV105, a Daimler single decker which came into service the same time that I started my apprenticeship at Watery Lane.

Hi again, Colcov No, it was not me playing then. I knew Ivor very well as I did his daughter, who was sadly killed by a bus hitting her in the Pool Meadow. A lovely girl.

Here's a shot on route on the Ansty Road.. Great shot, is that a Police-box on the corner? Ansty Road

No, it's a public call box from the days before the GPO offered a public service. Some were located inside buildings such as pubs. The 'National Telephone Company' which ran them had an office in Smithford Street.