Coventry Corporation Buses

This page is no longer maintained. Please refer to the more comprehensive Peter Gould pages or there is a lively forum at cwk205.com

The lists exclude vehicles that were loaned or were acquired other than when new.

Coventry Corporation purchased the Coventry Electric Tramway Company in 1912 for 220,000 pounds. They acquired 42 trams, 13 miles of track and two depots, at Foleshill Road and at Priestley's Bridge on Stoney Stanton Road.

1914 to 1932

The first bus service commenced on 30th March 1914 running between Stoke Heath, the Council House and the Fire Station in Hales Street. 1932 saw the opening of Pool Meadow bus station. The first tram route was abandoned this same year.
Fleet numbersRegistration numbersEntered serviceChassisBodyworkNotes
1-6 DU 263-269? 1914 Maudslay 3-tonnerOH18/16Rcommandeered by War Department in September
1-7 HP 445,446,448-452 1919 AEC YCHora B28R 
8 HP 447 1921 Maudslay AHickman B36R 
9-11 HP 2182-2184 1921 Maudslay AHickman B36R An example is being rebuilt
12 HP 5744 1923 Maudslay CPHickman OH58R 
13-14HP 9001,9009 1924 Maudslay CPHickman OH58R 
15-16RW 1999,1998 1925 Maudslay CPHickman OH58R 
17-18RW 5000,5001 1925 Maudslay CPLHickman H54Rfirst covered-top double deckers in fleet
19 RW 5119 1925 Maudslay CPLHickman H54R 
20-22WK 500-502 1927 Maudslay ML4AHickman B26Dfirst pneumatic tyres in fleet
23-25WK 3101-3103 1927 Maudslay ML4AHickman B26D 
26-30WK 6601-6605 1928 Maudslay ML4AHickman B26D 
31-33WK 7501-7503 1928 Maudslay ML4AHickman B26D 
34-35VC 1784-1785 1929 Maudslay ML4CHickman B26D 
36-39WK 7686-7689 1928 Maudslay CPL2Vickers H24/24Rfirst enclosed staircase in fleet
40 WK 8765 1929 Maudslay ML7Brush H33/27Rfirst six-wheelers in fleet
41-42VC 2632-2633 1929 Maudslay ML7Brush H33/27R 
43-46VC 5217-5220 1930 Maudslay ML7Brush H33/27R 
48-53VC 6515-6520 1930 Maudslay ML7Brush H33/27R 
54 VC 6000 1928 Dennis EVBrush B32D 
55-58VC 9664-9667 1931 Maudslay ML7Brush H33/27R 
59-61KV 721-723 1932 Maudslay ML7Brush H26/24R 
62-63KV 724-725 1932 Dennis LanceBrush H26/24R 
64-65KV 726-727 1932 Dennis 30 cwtBrush B14F 

1933 to 1946

In 1933, Ronald A Fearnley succeeded T E Whitehead as general manager. In 1940, gold lining was discontinued as part of the livery. The effects of wartime bombing saw the abandonment of tram services in December 1940. During the years 1940 to 1944 the fleet was augmented by many hired buses from various parts of the country. These are not listed here.
Fleet numbersRegistration numbersEntered service ChassisBodyworkNotes
101-116KV 7101-71161934 Daimler CP6 Brush H26/24R 
117-119KV 9117-91191934 Daimler COA6 MCW H26/24R first diesel engines in fleet
120-122KV 9120-91221934 Daimler CP6 Brush H26/24Rlast petrol engines in fleet
123-142AVC 123-142 1935 Daimler COA6 MCW H26/24R  
143,144BDU 143,144 1935 Leyland KPZ2 Brush B20F  
145 BHP 145 1935 Leyland KPZ2 Brush B20F  
146 BHP 146 1935 Daimler COG5 MCW B34F  
147-161BHP 147-161 1935 Daimler COA6 Brush H29/26R 
162-173BKV 162-173 1937 Daimler COA6 Brush H29/26R 
174-178CWK 174-178 1937-38Daimler COG5/40Park Royal B38F174,5 in reversed livery
179-181CWK 179-181 1937 Daimler COA6 Park Royal H29/26R 
182-205CWK 182-205 1937-38Daimler COA6 Brush H29/26R 205 in reversed livery
206-208DHP 206-208 1938 Daimler COG5/40Park Royal B38F 
209-211DWK 209-211 1938 Daimler COG5/40Park Royal B38F 
212-222DKV 212-222 1939 Daimler COA6 MCW H29/26R  
223 DKV 223 1939 Daimler COA6 Massey H30/26R  
224-229DKV 224-229 1939 Daimler COA6 Brush H29/26R  
230-233EHP 230-233 1939 Daimler COG5/60Brush H31/29R  
234-237EHP 234-237 1939 Daimler COA6 MCW H31/29R  
238-241EWK 238-241 1939 Daimler COG5/60Brush H31/29R  
242-244EVC 242-244 1940 Daimler COG5/40Park Royal B38F244 now preserved
245 EVC 245 1939 Daimler COG5/60Brush H31/29R  
246 EVC 246 1940 Daimler COA6 MCW H31/29R  
247-258EVC 247-258 1940 Daimler COG5/60Brush H31/29R  
259-261EVC 259-261 1942 AEC Regent Brush H31/29R  
262-283EVC 262-283 AEC/Brush delivery cancelled due to war
284 EKV 284 1942 Bristol K5G Strachan H30/26Rfirst in fleet delivered in wartime grey livery
285-289EKV 285-289 1942 Guy Arab I 5LW Brush H29/27R  
290-298EKV 290-298 1942 Bedford OWB Roe B32F  
299 EKV 299 1942 Leyland TD7 NCME L27/26R sold 1943
300,301EKV 300,301 1942 Guy Arab I 5LW Massey H30/26R  
302-308EKV 302-308 1943 Guy Arab I 5LW Weymann H30/26R 
309 EKV 709 1943 Guy Arab I 5LW Weymann H30/26R 
310-315EKV 710-715 1943 Guy Arab I 5LW Park Royal H30/26R 
316-320EKV 816-820 1943 Daimler CWG5 Duple H30/26R  
321,322EKV 821,822 1943 Daimler CWG5 Massey H30/26R  
323-329EKV 823-829 1943 Guy Arab II 5LWWeymann H30/26R 
330 EKV 930 1943 Guy Arab I 6LW Brush L27/28R  
331-335EKV 931-935 1943 Guy Arab II 5LWPark Royal H30/26R 
336-338EKV 936-938 1944 Daimler CWA6 Duple H30/26R  
339-341EKV 939-941 1944 Daimler CWA6 NCME H30/26R  
342-345EKV 942-945 1944 Daimler CWA6 Weymann H30/26R 
346 EKV 946 1943 Guy Arab II Park Royal H30/26R 
347-356EKV 947-956 1944 Daimler CWA6 NCME H30/26R  
357-359EKV 957-959 1945 Guy Arab II 5LWStrachan H30/26R 
360 FDU 60 1945 Guy Arab II 5LWStrachan H30/26R 
361,362EKV 961,962 1945 Daimler CWA6 Brush H30/26R  
363-372EKV 963-972 1944 Daimler CWA6 Duple H30/26R 366 now preserved
373-386FDU 373-386 1945-46Daimler CWA6D Duple H30/26R  

1948 to 1965

The peak year for passengers carried was 1950, at over 110 million. Buses carried no advertising until 1951. In 1954 a new garage was opened at Sandy Lane and the Foleshill depot was closed. In 1962 R A Fearnley was succeeded as general manager by Noel McDonald.
Fleet numbersRegistration numbersEntered serviceChassisBodyworkNotes
1-30 FHP 1-30 1948 Daimler CVA6 MCW H31/29R  
31-95 GKV 31-95 1949-50Daimler CVA6 MCW H31/29R 94 now preserved
96 GKV 96 1952 Daimler CVA6 MCW H31/29R  
97,98 GKV 97,98 1950 Daimler CVD6 MCW H31/29R  
99 GKV 99 1950 AEC Regent IIIMCW H30/26R London RT type
100 GKV 100 1951 Crossley DD42/7MCW H31/27Rreversed livery
101-108GKV 101-108 1949 Daimler CVD6 Brush B34F 105 survives
109-116HKV 109-116 1949 Daimler CVD6 Brush B34F reversed livery
117-125JKV 117-125 1951 Maudslay Regent IIIMCW H31/27R 
126-165KVC 126-165 1951-52Daimler CVD6 MCW H31/27R first in fleet with concealed radiators
166-190RWK 166-190 1955-56Daimler CVG6 MCW H33/27R  
191-215SKV 191-215 1956-57Daimler CVG6 MCW H33/27R  
216-265VWK 216-265 1958 Daimler CVG6 MCW H33/27R 239 now preserved
266-280XVC 266-280 1959 Daimler CVG6 MCW H33/27R  
281 XVC 281 1960 Daimler CVD6 MCW H33/27R  
282-290XVC 282-290 1959 Daimler CVG6 MCW H33/27R 290 survives, now open-top
291-312291-312 RW 1961 Daimler CVG6 MCW H34/29R cream roofs
313-337313-337 CRW 1963 Daimler CVG6 MCW H34/29R 333 and 334 now preserved
338-359CDU 338-359B1964 Leyland Atlantean PDR1/2Willowbrook H44/32Fmainly cream livery, first double deckers in fleet with front doors and rear engines
360-381CRW 360-381C1965 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXWillowbrook H44/32Fmainly cream livery
401-403XRW 401-403 1959 Daimler Freeline 6HLW Willowbrook 'Viking' C41F reversed livery, first in fleet 30 feet long
404 404 CWK 1964 Bedford SB5 Duple 'Bella Vega' C41F light blue and cream livery
405,406CDU 405,406B1964 Bedford SB5 Duple 'Bella Vega' C41F light blue and cream livery
501 CDU 51B 1964 Ford Thames Trader Martin Walter 'Romney' C25Flight blue and cream livery
502-508CRW 502-508C1965 Bedford VAS1 Marshall 'Cambrette' B30F reversed livery
509-515CRW 509-515C1965 Commer BFD3023 Walker B12F reversed livery

1966 to 1974

The first one-man operated 'monobus' services started in 1968.
Fleet numbersRegistration numbersEntered serviceChassisBodyworkNotes
1-22 CKV 1-22D 1966 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXEast Lancs H45/31Fmainly cream livery
23-40 KWK 23-40F 1968 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXECW H45/27D mainly cream livery, first double deckers in fleet designed for one-man operation 23 now preserved
41-58 KKV 41-58G 1969 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXEast Lancs H45/27Dmainly cream livery
59-75 SWK 59-75J 1970 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXPark Royal H45/27D 
76 SWK 76J 1970 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXEast Lancs H44/30Ffire damaged 1971
77-94 YHP 477-494J1971 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXEast Lancs H45/27D 
95-122 YVC 95-122K 1972 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXEast Lancs H44/30F 
123-125PDU 123-125M1973Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXEast Lancs H44/30F125 now open-top sky-blue bus
135 now preserved
126-132GWK 126-132L
133,135,140PDU 133,135,140M
134,136-139GWK 134,136-139L
141,142GWK 141,142L
407 YVC 407L 1972 Ford R114 Plaxton 'Panorama' C49Fblue and cream livery, first in fleet 36 feet long
408 GWK 408L 1973 Ford Transit Deansgate C12F  
516-518KHP 516-518E1967 Bristol RESL6G ECW B44F first in fleet designed for one-man operation
519-521KHP 519-521E1967 Bristol RESL6G ECW B42D first in fleet with dual entry/exit doors
522,523KDU 522,523D1966 Commer BFD3023 Walker B12F reversed livery
524-531KRW 524-531F1967 Commer BFD3023 Walker B12F reversed livery
4447-62ROK 447-462M1974 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXEast Lancs H44/30FWMPTE blue and cream livery
4463-66TOE 463-466N1974 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXEast Lancs H44/30FWMPTE blue and cream livery

In the bodywork column, H44/30F indicates a double decker of high-bridge design with 44 seats on the upper deck, 30 on the lower, and a door at the front. L27/26R indicates a low-bridge design (sunken gangway on the upper deck) with 27 seats on top, 26 below, and entrance at the rear. OH34R indicates a double decker of open-top design with 34 seats (upper/lower split not known). B42D indicates a single deck bus with 42 seats and dual entrance/exit doors. C49F indicates a single decker with 49 coach seats and a front entrance.

John McSparron's Coventry News
Ken Crawley's Coventry Tramways site
For any corrections or additions, e-mail me at john@mcsparron·net

John W McSparron, Coventry, UK.