Rare Beasts: Guy underfloors in Australia

[panther998]

A most interesting thread, alas long dead (as evidenced by the now 'non-functioning' image links).
But, worth resurrecting (briefly?) I hope, to update interested enthusiasts regarding present 'status' of some of the rare ex WAGR Road Services Guy Victorys.

As most BPSWA members / readers of 'The Rattler' already know, former G63 http://www.perthbus.info/report.php?vid=WAGR63 was purchased by the Society in August 2011 from a Welshpool based 'dealer' named B Symes. It's ultimate fate remains undetermined, but the most likely outcome seems to be that it will be stripped of useable parts to assist in restoring another ex WAGR Guy Victory.

To slightly mimic / unashamedly mangle a certain well known (but much reviled?) advertising catch-phrase -
Yes, there are more of these which have survived !!!

An eagle-eyed BPSWA member spotted a pair of the high-floor 'Scenicruiser' versions. ex G58 Pride of the West http://www.perthbus.info/report.php?vid=WAGR58 and G60 Wheatlander http://www.perthbus.info/report.php?vid=WAGR60, on a farm more than 300km east of Perth during 2011 (I will not be any more precise than that at this stage !!). BPSWA has contacted the owner of these two quite amazing coaches and is hoping to obtain both units and bring them to Whiteman Park within the next few months. The objective will be to select the better one of the pair for restoration using components from its sibling and G63. Just don't expect to see the final result within the next 5 years, probably much longer !!

In addition, G62 http://www.perthbus.info/report.php?vid=WAGR62 is extanct in Northampton, a shade under 500km north of Perth, albeit converted to a 'mobile home' and with its original Wilson 5-speed semi-automatic gearbox (and fluid flywheel) believed to have been replaced by a 6-speed manual box (and clutch assembly) of uncertain make / provenance.

[mrobsessed]

Soon after I came to Perth I went up that way and had a long chat with the bloke at Northampton. I was intrigued when I saw the AEC wheels On different axles, then I hopped underneath and saw the independent front suspension. I left more confused than I started!

[panther998]

An eagle-eyed BPSWA member spotted a pair of the high-floor 'Scenicruiser' versions. ex G58 Pride of the West http://www.perthbus.info/report.php?vid=WAGR58 and G60 Wheatlander http://www.perthbus.info/report.php?vid=WAGR60, on a farm more than 300km east of Perth during 2011 (I will not be any more precise than that at this stage !!). BPSWA has contacted the owner of these two quite amazing coaches and is hoping to obtain both units and bring them to Whiteman Park within the next few months. The objective will be to select the better one of the pair for restoration using components from its sibling and G63. Just don't expect to see the final result within the next 5 years, probably much longer !!

UPDATE
Late yesterday (Wed 02 May 2012) afternoon, former WAGR Road Services G58 ''Pride Of The West'' was delivered by low-loader to BPSWA in Whiteman Park (NE Perth Metropolitan area). About an hour after dawn this morning, I took several photos of this amazing MBB bodied coach, which was beyond doubt a much copied trendsetter of its era (entered service in 1961). Several of my shots from this morning can now be viewed via the following links -
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 25crcd.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 26crcd.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 27crcd.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 29crcd.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 333rcd.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 334rcd.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 335rcd.jpg

Sibling G60 'Wheatlander' is expected to reach Whiteman Park late today (Thu 03/05/12) or some time tomorrow, bringing the 'stable' of these rare Guy Victory UF units owned by BPSWA to 3.

Retrieval of these two decidedly exquisite 'Scenicruser' Guy Victory coaches for preservation purposes has been made possible through the considerable efforts of a handful of BPSWA members and the enormous generosity of the Moorine Rock district farming family which has owned these coaches for the past 40 years and who opted to donate them both for preservation / restoration use by BPSWA rather than sell them to a scrap dealer. All of these good folk deserve the very deepest gratitude and respect of bus enthusiasts throughout WA, Australia, and I dare to say, the World.

[High Floor Bus]

Ah ha , spoted the second bus on the low loader on the Reid Hwy near the womans prison around 2 pm today.
Thinking to oneself " bet this is going to Whiteman park BPWA."

[tbc1983]

Thanks, panther998, I can't believe how original G58 is. Thank you very much for sharing!

Cheers!

[panther998]

Ah ha, spotted the second bus on the low loader on the Reid Hwy near the womens prison around 2 pm today.
Thinking to oneself "bet this is going to Whiteman Park BPSWA."

Thanks for that confirmation, HF Bus. 'Sighting reports' like that from fellow bus enthusiasts provide extremely valuable assistance to current and future bus historians.

You are 'spot on' HF Bus - ex WAGR Guy Victory UF G60 ''Wheatlander'', was indeed bound for Whiteman Park, where it has now joined the Bus Preservation Society's collection of heritage buses, alongside similar G58 and the slightly later G63, which has a more conventional appearance.

I took several shots at Whiteman Park during the last hour of daylight this afternoon - please click on the following links to view (and hopefully enjoy) just a few of them -
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 41crcd.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 342rcd.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 346rcd.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~seedee/bus ... 354rcd.jpg

My apologies for the relatively poor quality of some of these images - they were the best I could accomplish in the fading light conditions.
Plus I neglected to confirm that the front entry door on G58 is indeed riddled with 20 to 30 bullet holes ! Thankfully, thus far it looks like the rest of its paneling, and that on G60, escaped the infliction of similar damage.

[Doc68]

Any chance the original photo's on page 1 could be reattached please as I would love to see these amazing vehicles as they were ??? Way ahead of their time looks like a large rear boot as well as bins down the side. Also love to see some more interior shots Panther998 ? awsome to see old vehicles virtually untouched over time

[Herbert]

The original photos in this topic were of Guy Arab UF underfloor route buses, of which there were only two in Australia.

[Doc68]

Thank you Herbert I have heard of Guy vehicles before but did not know any came to Australia till I saw this thread, as I'm sure many weird & fascinating chassis made their way here as demonstrators or one off imports not catching on for one reason or another