File:1979 Bristol VRT-SL3-6LXB - ECW - 53909321567.jpg

English: The upper deck (photographed from the rear staircase looking forward) of 1979 Bristol VRT/SL3 chassis with Eastern Coach Works Srs.2 2-door body and Gardner 6LXB 10.45 litre 6-cylinder diesel engine (hence 6LXB in the designation) at the Bristol Bus Show, Brislington, 28 July 2024. Registration No.TWS910T, Bristol Omnibus Co. Fleet No.5129. She was withdrawn in 1994.

With the introduction of the ground-breaking Leyland Atlantean and Daimler Fleetline rear-engined buses, Bristol had to respond despite the transmission problems, overheating engines and poor reliability experienced by these buses but they had one huge advantage which traditional front-engined buses did not have – the ability to have One Man Operation (OMO).

In 1966 Bristol built two prototype VR (originally to be designated N) double deckers with ECW bodies, later designated VRL, Vertical Rear engine Longitudinal - in contrast to the transverse mounting of the Atlantean and Fleetline. The VR was intended for either single decker of double decker bodywork but only the former were produced. Two lengths were to be offered – short 32’9” and long 36’. The prototypes suffered the same problems as the Atlantean and Fleetline but the VRL entered production nonetheless. All were of the VRL/LH type, LH being the code for Long, Highbridge.

However, Bristol soon decided to redesign the VR with the conventional transverse rear engine layout. Consequently, in 1967 a new version of the VR entered production – the VRT (T = Transverse). The VRT was more reliable but still went through three series (SL1, SL2 and SL3) of development. Both highbridge and lowbridge versions were built in short (31’2”) and long (34’9”) lengths with one or two doors.

Whilst most bodies were produced by Bristol’s associate company, ECW, some were built by bodies from Alexander, East Lancs, Metro Cammell Weymann, Northern Counties and Willowbrook. Three types of Gardner engines (6LX, 6LXB, 6LXC) and three types of Leyland engines (510, 501, 680) were fitted. The chassis types and series codes were as follows:

Series 1 LH – Long, High LL – Long, Low SL – Short, Low

Series 2 LH2 – Long, High LL2 – Long, Low SL2 – Short, Low

Series 3 LL3 - Long, Low SL3 – Short, Low

The VRT was in production until 1981 and was a very successful design. The last closed to VRT was withdrawn in 2009 and the last open top in 2010.