Created 10-May-19
Modified 8-Mar-24
Despite the war, AEC had maintained their sales efforts and in particular had been developing interest in their new chassis referred to at first as "the Post-war bus" in their advertising. This vehicle had been based very much on the original RT-type chassis supplied to London Transport with the key features of a large 9.6 litre engine, air brakes and an air-operated preselector gearbox.
Very early deliveries were based on the London Transport specification and this resulted in a lower bonnet line than found on the later Mark III Regents, one of the reasons being the incorporation of an oil bath air cleaner in the latter. The radiator shape was also different but was to remain familiar due to the number of RT-type vehicles produced for London.
Rhondda 216-220 (FTX 190-191, GNY 370-372) all were new in December 1946 and were amongst the first Regent III chassis to enter service. It is notable that the Regent II model, based very much on pre-war practice, was never bought by Rhondda.
These RT-type Regents were the first to be disposed of under what became Rhondda's standard policy in later years, which was to keep vehicles for twelve years. They were therefore withdrawn in 1958 and like many subsequent withdrawals, proved popular in the secondhand market due to their relative youth.
© David Beilby
