File:1985 Volvo B10M-East Lancs E.jpg

English: 1985 Volvo B10M chassis with East Lancs E Type body and Volvo/GM ‘Detroit’ 11.1 litre 6-cylinder diesel engine at the Bristol Bus Show, Brislington, 28 July 2024. Registration No.B868XYR, Grey Green Fleet No168.

This vehicle has an interesting history. She was delivered to the Cowie Group’s Grey Green operation in London and the East of England as a single-decker coach! She had a Plaxton Paramount 3500 body. However, with Grey Green being awarded an additional route in London, it was decided to convert it to a double deck bus, which was done in late 1991 when an East Lanc E Type body was fitted, as it was to eight other Grey Green coaches at the same time.

The original coach chassis was slightly shorter than the standard East Lancs E Type body so the one fitted to B868XYR had to be shortened to match, resulting in a curious short rear overhang. The centre door of the coach was retained in the rebuild, making it a 2-door double decker.

Grey Green was rebranded Arriva London North in 1998. In 2004 she was sold to Thornes of Selby and re-registered SMV24, and later MUI1752. She was sold for preservation in 2017.

The Volvo B10M chassis was built in 1978-2003 both for coaches and single deck and double deck ‘Citybus’ bodies. They were built in Sweden and Brazil but also in the UK. A variety of bodies were fitted to those sold in the UK including the East Lancs E Type, Northern Counties Palatine and Alexander R Type. However, in the UK the Leyland/Volvo Olympian was the more popular bus in the Volvo stable.

The East Lancs E Type body was a one door bus, usually a double decker although some were single deckers, with a step entrance that was produced in 1984-1997. At first it looked very similar to Alexander’s R Type body but was gradually changed over the years. It was very popular and was fitted to the following chassis: Dennis Dominator, Dennis Arrow, Leyland Olympian, Volvo Olympian, Volvo B10M and Scania N113DRB.