Created 10-Jun-19
Modified 8-Mar-24
These formed the third and final batch of just five Northern Counties-bodied AEC Regents for Rhondda and were identical to the two previous batches. What was more significant is that they were to be the last new AEC Regents added to the fleet, Rhondda having purchased a grand total of 249 of the model. 491-495 (KNY 491-495D) were new in October and November 1966 and the only later Regent Vs for BET companies were one batch each for South Wales and East Kent.
Along with service reductions 491-495 were responsible for the demise of the last batch of AEC Regent IIIs, 288-297.
They were absorbed into Western Welsh stock in 1971 and renumbered H1-566 in August 1974, being again renumbered in October 1975 to H59-6366. They were withdrawn in 1978 apart from the last one which as H6366 saw out the end of Regent operation in June 1979. Whilst all the others went for scrap, H6366 was secured for preservation and has been very nicely restored as a reminder of these ubiquitous Rhondda vehicles.
© David Beilby
