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Restoration of KDZ 5805

Astoness

Astoness

TRUE BRUMMIE MODERATOR
Staff member
hi folks..my son who is a mad keen bus enthusiast has bought himself a rare single decker bus to restore..i think he said it was the last one used by wmpt something like that:rolleyes:...anyway he has nowhere to store it as it has to be moved asap from its present location...would anyone have any suggestions as to where he could store it safely providing it would not cost too much...

many thanks folks for any help on this one...:)

lyn
 
Re: help wanted please..

Hi Lyn, I'll ask Richard, the "bus nut" at work, tomorrow if he knows of anywhere.
 
Re: help wanted please..

hi lynn..thanks eveso for that..,,its a dire emergency to our tom is this:cry:

will wait for you to get back to me..

cheers..

lyn:)
 
Re: help wanted please..

Lyn, hubby says the bus museum in Cobham Surrey used to store buses for members to work on, was a while ago, but if all else fails may be worth a shot. He also suggests contacting the Birmingham Transport people based at Wythall, they may offer advice.
Hope he finds somewhere for it, Sue
 
Re: help wanted please..

Just hang on a bit there will be a number of Bus aficionados along soon - they travel in convoy you know. Seriously as there are a number on the Forum who are keen or involved in conservation someone will know.
 
Re: help wanted please..

thanks for that sue..i will pass this onto our tom...:)

lyn
 
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Lynn contact Lloyd Penfold (Usernsme: Lloyd) by I.M if he does not see your request , I'm sure he could help...
 
Re: help wanted please..

Ding! Ding! Bus aficionado here! ;)

Sorry, Lyn, I'm a bit far away to be of any practical help, but I heartily endorse Chris's recommendation to contact Lloyd. He is actively involved (up to his elbows in oil and grease!) in the preservation and restoration (and driving) of classic buses at the Transport Museum (Wythall, Worcestershire).

I'd be very interested to hear more about your son's bus. A thread here on the Buses sub-forum might be an idea one day. Then we "anoraks" will be able follow the work-in-progress and cheer along.

OK, move right down the centre of the bus please! Plenty of room on top. There'll be another one (or three) along in a minute. Ding! Ding! ...

Peter. :)
 
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Re: help wanted please..

hi peter and thank you..i will contact Lloyd to see what advise he can offer...i wouldnt say toms bus is a classic just yet but i will find out the info on it and post it ..wouldnt mind but he only turned 18 on monday and is not even old enough to drive a bus yet so much help is needed...:cry: oh and toms been thinking of joining the forum for some time now..bout time he did i think:)

just been informed by tom that he is old enough to drive a bus but at the mo he only has a bike licence...just goes to show how much i know...:D

lyn
 
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Re: help wanted please..

Just so you all know, Lyn & I have messaged about this, I'm doing what I can but I've said I can't work miracles. This is the bus, on display at Wythall when new - modern perhaps but all history starts somewhere.
The Irish registration is because the bodywork was built in Ireland, and registered at the factory.

The London museum mentioned above is about to move to new premises near the former Brooklands motor racing track, and are downsizing themselves.

Meantime, if anyone has a yard with 30 ft by 9 ft spare, please let Lyn know.
Lloyd.
 
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hi Lloyd and thanks very much for all the help and advise give...no luck yet but i will keep you informed if anything comes up:)


lyn
 
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That's a lovely bus (admittedly a bit modern)! But as Lloyd rightly says: "All history starts somewhere". And young people are very welcome into the bus preservation movement. Lyn, please pass on my encouragement and best wishes to Tom (and may he soon join us here on the BHF :)).

Anorak Supplement (details courtesy of Bus Lists on the Web):
KDZ5805: Dennis "Dart" chassis (no 3011/534) with Wright "Handybus" B39F body (no N106) new in July 1991 as West Midlands Travel fleet no 805.​
So it's getting on for twenty years old (older than its new owner!), and a very worthy candidate for preservation and restoration.
 
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Re: help wanted please..

Good luck Lynn and Tom... Shame really we would help and have the space, but living in NZ we are a little too far away me thinks... sorry.
 
Re: help wanted please..

hi peter..i think it only 19 years old and in good conditiion... but as you say history has to start somewhere...thank for your encouragement and i will certainly pass it onto tom...hoping he joins up soon.

thanks chris and yes you are tad to far away lol

lyn
 
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thanks for the pic peter..the you tube is one of toms and he is going to join the forum tomorrow...will have to watch what im saying now lol...

lyn
 
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Wouldn't it be great if we could go on a summer holiday in it!

Lyn I hope Tom finds a good home and the help needed to keep it restored
 
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oh great idea wend..i shall put that to him lol..will let you know how things go...still working on it...

lyn
 
Re: help wanted please..

hi all..well we have now sorted out yard space for toms bus:) its only a about 7 miles from where its parked up now...just one hurdle to get over now:rolleyes: the bus will have to be towed to its new home so if anyone out there has a tow truck or can suggest somewhere that wont charge the earth to tow it we would be most grateful as toms only on part time work at the moment and money is not in abundance..

thanks eveso folks...

lyn:).
 
Re: help wanted please..

Thank you all for your help and advice. We have now sorted out a Tow Truck and I will keep you updated on the restoration progress,

Tom.
 
Re: help wanted please..

Good news, Tom, and welcome to the Forum. You're amongst friends here. I'm looking forward to following the KDZ5805 project from the wilds of Tasmania. :)
 
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That's great news Tom good luck with your project:).
 
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Glad you've got a new home sorted for it, and can start the restoration work in earnest. The Dennis Dart chassis is not all that complicated by modern standards, although it does have a few 'quirks' you have to learn and get used to. I used to work on them at North Birmingham Busways until they sold out, and grew a bit fond of them once I'd learned their ways. Wish I'd kept one of the workshop manuals we had for them now!
Best wishes, Lloyd.
 
Re: help wanted please..

Thanks again all, Lloyd, KDZ 5805 is in good working order apart from the Alternator. I plan to replace all of the lower panels, front bumper and rear Bonnet. I inspected the Chassis last month and it only appears to have surface rust :shocked: No corrosion to the Wooden floor so that's a relief. I can't wait to drive it, must replace the Gear selector and throttle pedal for smooth operation! :D

Tom
 
Re: help wanted please..

Just like to say, glad it's all worked out for Tom. And again what a great bunch of people hang out here on the forum.
 
Re: help wanted please..

Here's a splendid picture of KDZ 5805 at West Bromwich Bus Station on 8 October 2009, in service with Midland Rider (fleet number 1017).

Tom, do you have a full ownership history?

[By courtesy of DublinbusStuff (more great Brum bus pictures there).]
 
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Re: help wanted please..

Hi Thylacine, all I know is that KDZ 5805 has had 9 previous owners. I can only remember it being owned by WMT, University Buses, a Preservationist and Midland Rider. It's going nowhere now I own it :)
 
Re: help wanted please..

Thanks, Tom: your bus has "been around a bit"!

Here are two more pictures to help with the "previous owner" jigsaw puzzle:

[1] KDZ 5805 seen in service with Universal Buses Ltd in Wellington Road (not Street), Ashton-under-Lyne (Greater Manchester) on 1 January 2000.

[2] At Stourbridge on 14 February 1998 while with Travel Merry Hill (I notice from the comments that you've already seen this one, Tom):


805 KDZ 5805 with TMH by onthebeast, on Flickr
 
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