Crick Festival – Sunday 12th July 2026
No. 267 – JVV 267G
Daimler CVG6 with Roe H33/26R body.
The last traditional Northampton Transport bus and last in a batch of 5 buses (Nos 263-7) delivered in 1968. No. 267 has the distinction of being the last Daimler half cab bus, the last rear entrance bus without doors, the last pre-selector gearbox bus and the last Roe teak framed body to be supplied for the home market. For the years between 1964 and 1972 the Northampton Transport fleet of 88 buses was wholly comprised of this type of bus. This bus survived with the corporation long after the rest of the marque had been withdrawn from service and was even given a full repaint in 1985 when the seats were also re-upholstered. No.267 continued to be retained for ‘special duties’. It was eventually withdrawn and entered preservation in October 1993 when First took over Northampton Transport. Since then over £25,000 has been spent on restoration and maintenance of the bus.
Photograph David Bell ©
No. 778 – CBD 778K
Bristol VRT with ECW H39/31F body.
One of nine similar vehicles – Nos. 777-785, CBD 777-785K – delivered to United Counties between January and August 1972 as a Series 2 specification (flat front) and was the last of fifteen vehicles to be rebuilt to Series 3 specification. This upgrade took three years to complete between June 1983 and June 1986 and the bus eventually re-entered service repainted in United Counties privatised livery. It was withdrawn in November 1988 and passed via PVS, dealers, to Kinch of Barrow on Soar and saw service in the Loughborough and Leicester area. In October 1989 Kinch was taken over by Midland Fox and the bus moved to that operator and became a source for spares. In the early part of 1990, the bus passed to Wigleys, dealers, and by the end of that year had entered preservation. The bus changed hands in November 2022 for continued preservation. Substantial restoration work has been carried out to bring the bus to the standard you now see it in. It now carries National Bus Company livery. 778 was purchased by the current owners in June 2024 and is now part of the NTH fleet.
Photograph Jim Munro ©
No. 301 – N301 XRP
Stagecoach United Counties Mercedes Benz 709D with Alexander AM (Sprint) DP23F body.
The first of a batch of 26 buses (301-26 N301-26 XRP later renumbered to 40301-26) that were delivered to Stagecoach United Counties during May and June 1996 for their Street Shuttle branded services. The bus was allocated to Northampton and spent much of its service life operating out of Daventry sub-depot on town and local routes. Following withdrawal in Northampton the bus saw further service with Rambler Coaches at Hastings where it gained their green and cream livery. The bus then passed into preservation and after ownership passed through a couple of preservationists it is now in the care of Northampton Transport Heritage.
Photograph Daniel Bennett /Northampton Transport Heritage ©
No. 278 – TBD 278G –United Counties
Bristol RELH6G with ECW DP45F body
New in 1969 for the 203 service taken over from Birch Bros between Rushden and London. During its life with UCOC it moved around other depots being withdrawn and sold to Express Motors in Penygroes North Wales along with sister 284 around 1985. Express operated it for approx. 8 years withdrawing it around 1993. 278 and 284 were stored pending restoration. 284 was broken up to provide spares for 278. The restoration was slow and was nearly complete when the company faced closure in January 2018. It was purchased by the previous owner who carried out further and more extensive restoration work including seats, replacement engine and a total rewire. The vehicle was completed with the United Counties coach livery and an initial outing saw the bus take part in the Royal Blue run covering some 1100 miles over five days. The vehicle has been used on many longer runs including a trip to Germany. Although delivered as a 49 seater the bus is currently down seated to 45 seats. In September 2025 the bus was acquired by The 654 Group.
Photograph Steven Graham /Northampton Transport Heritage ©
