On the Buses
430 Routemaster Double Deckers up for Sale
430 of London's 1957 Routemasters are being sold off to make room for modern "Bendy" buses.
The double deckers should not be scoffed at as a private buy according to Used Car Buyer magazine.
"Routemasters cost from as little as £2,000, although it would need a spot of TLC to bring it back to its former glory. Spend £12,000 and you’ll bag a fully restored bus ," explained Used Car Buyer Magazine resident expert, Guy Baker. "Insurance costs are amazingly low, averaging just £350 for annual cover, or £8 a day. And, as a vehicle over 25 years old, it is exempt from road tax ."
According to the magazine, providing there are no more than 8 passengers, a Routemaster can be driven on a regular driving license.
Reliability shouldn’t be a problem either. Routemasters will have undergone regular servicing and maintenance and most have been fitted with new, reliable Scania, Cummins or Iveco engines.
"Due to the nature of their work, don’t expect to find a low mileage bus – the majority have been round the clock several times. But, with a top speed of just 43mph and fuel efficiency of 12mpg, it’s best to plan your journey before setting off on a long distance trek ," quipped Baker. "And then there is the challenge of where to store it? "
Despite the logistical issues of ownership, Used Car Buyer magazine is urging Londoners with imagination to buy into a Great British transport institution.
"Financially, the Routemaster is unlikely to lose you money. If its predecessor, the RT, is anything to go by, while selling for a couple of hundred pounds back in 1979, one would now set you back £15,000 ," added Baker.
If you want further information on buying a Routemaster, call the Routemaster Association.
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article said:
According to the magazine, providing there are no more than 8 passengers, a Routemaster can be driven on a regular driving license.
Really? I thought it was down to how many passengers could be carried, not how many actually were? Perhaps you have to take most of the seats out....and sell them on ebay to finance the bus!
It was RM 751 in London Transport livery.
It had the original AEC 10litre engine running on around 1500 rpm going around.
I really miss the watered eyes of people seeing us passing by while waiting for a delayed bus.
Not once on a London holiday that I whished to have brought my own Routy with while waiting for another Routy which was never turning up when needed.
It needed its time going on a bus trip or picnic but was always big fun for driver and friends and family.
On the road and having a tractor in front was a nightmare though.
Finally I gave up, because evertime I wanted to drive bus (usually not that often), the batteries have given up and these huge and very very heavy
pair of batteries are really expensive.
The funniest expierence I had, while parked one day when coming back to the bus a very old Lady was sitting inside and she wanted to go to London.
I told her this bus is not going the 1000 miles to London she better should take a plane, but told me that she was afraid of flying. Eventually it needed me nearly an hour to get her out.
Whoever has the space and the passion -
get one !!!!!
Note for people who like to wash and polish:
100 squaremeters of finest aluminium and glass !!!!!!!
Special thanks go to the guy in the Noble who stopped for photos when we were stuck in traffic and then gave it a bootful and the guys from Prodrive who pulled alongside in their truck for a chat.
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