Yes, by later standards it was, but, back then the bus was up to date, with semi-auto box, 10 litre unit (Cummings) a decent brake system, and so easy to drive. I loved it, out of all the buses I had to drive, it was a wonderful piece of engineering.....Then, along came four Volvo Ailsa's from Oldbury garage, they were something else. turbo charged, 14 feet high ( D-9 was 12 feet high) and so comfortable. These came along AFTER the WMPTE take-over, so weren't really Midland ReD, but, we all still felt that we were, and always would be Midland ReD crews at Sutton. Here's me at the wheel of the Volvo....Corporation Street. .