1952 AEC Regent III RLH London Bus

• Rare 'Regent Low Height' model
• First used by London Transport on route 230
• Placed in storage in 1970
• Museum-displayed in the USA for many years
• Professionally restored between 2016 and 2023 at a cost of circa £120,000

AEC's Weymann-bodied RLH (Regent Low Height) buses were used by London Transport to serve on busy routes that passed beneath railway bridges too low to accommodate the standard RT and RM (Routemaster) double-deckers. Mechanically the RLH was based on the much more numerous RT but differed in the layout of its passenger accommodation, there being a sunken gangway on the upper deck's offside and four-across seating. The gangway protruded into the lower deck space, and passengers had to remember to duck when entering or leaving their seats. This arrangement made the RLH 0.39 metres (15.35") lower than an RT. There was accommodation for 53 passengers: 26 on the lower deck and 27 on the upper. The RLH was built on AEC's Regent III chassis and was powered by a 9.6-litre diesel engine driving via a four-speed pre-selector gearbox.

Built in 1950, the first batch of 30 RLHs was ordered by the Midland General Omnibus Co of Alfreton, Derbyshire, which retained 10. The remainder were purchased by London Transport, which deployed them on country routes, finished in green livery. London Transport ordered a further batch of 56, which included RLH53, the first to be finished in red. In November 1952 these first red RLHs were allocated to route 230, which passed beneath a low bridge in Headstone Lane, close to Harrow & Wealdstone railway station. In 1959 RLH53 was transferred to Dalston, operating on route 178. With changes in legislation permitting the use of longer single-deck buses, the RLHs were gradually withdrawn from service and in 1970 RLH53 was placed in storage.

In January 1972, RLH53 was sold, together with RLH69 and RLH71, and exported to California, USA where it was displayed for many years in the Hill Country Wagons to Wings Collection. Having changed hands twice more, RLH53 returned to the UK in 2012 and was acquired by the London Bus Museum at Brooklands where it was displayed in dilapidated 'as found' condition. In 2016 the Museum sold RLH53 to our vendor, who had it restored by Martin James at Ward Jones Commercial Vehicles (formerly Metropolis Bus and Coach) in High Wycombe, Bucks to the wonderful condition in which it is presented today (see file). The rebuild cost circa £120,000 and in 2023 the completed RLH53 returned to the London Bus Museum on loan. Powerfully evocative of its era, there can be few better means of transporting a large party of friends to the Goodwood Revival and other historic motoring events than this beautiful London bus. Just remember to mind your head!