Mini Buses of The 1960's.

[Red and Cream]

Just a few photos i captured in the 1960's of mini buses used at that time in NSW so that todays enthusiasts can compare the very basic vehicles in service at that time to the ones of today.

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First up is m/o 4561 a Morris of Duffy's Bus Service of Grose Vale. A mini bus with a metropolitan registration was very rare at the time. Last registered as EDV812

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MO 4195 was a Ford Thames with A. Piper of Adelong with a service between Tumut Adelong and Mt.Horeb. It acquired from S. little of Tumut.

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MO 4220 a Commer was in Fearne of Wagga's fleet. I have a build date of 8/60 for it.This photo is from 1966 but in 1967 i photographed MO 4220 again but the plate was on a different Commer mini

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MO 576 a Mercedes Benz operated for J. Cann of Corowa between Corowa Howlong and Albury towing a trailer. A build date of 10/60

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MO 4127 a Holden station wagon was owned by Balmain Brothers of Bega, operating from there to Cooma. They also operated a new and used car business in Bega.

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MO 4055 an Austin mini with K. Smallwood of Lockhart going to Milbrulong.

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TV 467 was a Nissan mini owned by Jack of Broken Hill.

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MO 727 a VW with Goodwin of Morisset

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MO 4753 a Toyota Dyna owned by Long of Gloucester.

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This interesting little bus EKC850 is an Austin K8 and was in the fleet of Bowman of Forbes.

[tonyp]

Great collection of photos Red and Cream.

I used to get violently car sick in those early Holdens, the only cars I ever got car sick in! Must have been the marshmallow suspension.

[Merc1107]

Interesting selection, thanks for sharing!

I used to get violently car sick in those early Holdens, the only cars I ever got car sick in! Must have been the marshmallow suspension.

"Designed for Australian conditions"
Not sure what would be worse though, car sick in the Holden, or enduring the racket of an air-cooled engine in the VW Combi Van!

[tonyp]

That Morris/Austin J2 van was a nice, modern-looking vehicle at the time.

That Austin K8 is the shortest (and shortest wheelbase) conventional bus I've ever seen. It looks like it would roll over backwards if it went up a steep hill.

I worked on Austin and Morris heavy vehicle chassis in my first ever job as a vehicle builder.

[Red and Cream]

That Morris/Austin J2 van was a nice, modern-looking vehicle at the time.

That Austin K8 is the shortest (and shortest wheelbase) conventional bus I've ever seen. It looks like it would roll over backwards if it went up a steep hill.

I worked on Austin and Morris heavy vehicle chassis in my first ever job as a vehicle builder.

Interesting selection, thanks for sharing!

I used to get violently car sick in those early Holdens, the only cars I ever got car sick in! Must have been the marshmallow suspension.

"Designed for Australian conditions"
Not sure what would be worse though, car sick in the Holden, or enduring the racket of an air-cooled engine in the VW Combi Van!

Interesting selection, thanks for sharing!



Yes, i imagine it would have been very cosy in the Holden if more than one or two passengers had travelled together plus i think the main carrying in small runs like this would have been goods items and mail as well.
Any thoughts on the body maker on the Austin K8 tonyp. I originally thought it was a fully imported body but looking at it now its style definately looks Aussie.

[tonyp]

Yes, i imagine it would have been very cosy in the Holden if more than one or two passengers had travelled together plus i think the main carrying in small runs like this would have been goods items and mail as well.
Any thoughts on the body maker on the Austin K8 tonyp. I originally thought it was a fully imported body but looking at it now its style definately looks Aussie.

My best friend's parents had an FJ and I'd join them going to the beach, sitting in the back seat. I had no problem with the "don't eat before you swim" rule as I'd throw up when we got out of the car at the beach, so my stomach was nice and empty for the swim. In those days it wasn't considered polite to throw up in the car, as kids freely take for granted nowadays.

With the K8 they've obviously bought a bare cab chassis and sent it off to a local body builder. The back section looks very Syd Wood to me. The front was Austin including the first window.

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/K8DBNF/1954-a ... K8DBNF.jpg

Here is a UK example bodied as a bus.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/imagetaker1/37888587042/

[hugh45]

I have details of 4 more minibuses with metropolitan plates. m/o 4503-Volkswagen Microbus and m/o 4578 Commer- 9 seater both at Bundeena. m/o 4775 Commer with Clarkson, Windsor and m/o 4804 Volkswagen Microbus with White and Leary, Bulahdelah. I found pictures of these buses on Facebook.

[Red and Cream]

I have details of 4 more minibuses with metropolitan plates. m/o 4503-Volkswagen Microbus and m/o 4578 Commer- 9 seater both at Bundeena. m/o 4775 Commer with Clarkson, Windsor and m/o 4804 Volkswagen Microbus with White and Leary, Bulahdelah. I found pictures of these buses on Facebook.

I knew about the other mini buses hugh45, i was only thinking of the small number of them compared to the full sized metro reg's. In relation to Clarkson of Windsor, his m/o 4775 was a Ford Thames and his Commer mini was registered as m/o 5021.

[hugh45]

I have found a few more mini buses on m/o plates. m/o 4633 and m/o 4746 Commer with Gosper, Windsor. m/o 255 Tempo Matador with Clarkson, Windsor. Clarkson also had one other mini bus on m/o plates. It appears to be a Morris Van. I did note it had m/o -----as its registration. The number was obscured in the photo I have seen.

[Red and Cream]

I have found a few more mini buses on m/o plates. m/o 4633 and m/o 4746 Commer with Gosper, Windsor. m/o 255 Tempo Matador with Clarkson, Windsor. Clarkson also had one other mini bus on m/o plates. It appears to be a Morris Van. I did note it had m/o -----as its registration. The number was obscured in the photo I have seen.

m/o 4633 was a Borgward.

[VIKing]

Thank you once again a very interesting post. I think MO727 the VW was operated by (Bernie) Goodwin
cheers

[Red and Cream]

Thank you once again a very interesting post. I think MO727 the VW was operated by (Bernie) Goodwin
cheers

Thanks ViKing, changed post to correct name. Must have been thinking about the Flintstone's movie with John Goodman as Fred Flintstone which i had been watching with my grandchildren during the previous week, also noted that i need to stop posting in the early hours of the morning as i do, as i read my own records as Goodwin but still managed to transpose it to Goodman in my post.

[tonyp]

Nice to see the Austin/Morris J2 van again, probably the nicest looking van of its era.

[Red and Cream]

Nice to see the Austin/Morris J2 van again, probably the nicest looking van of its era.

Yes tonyp they were a great adaption of the J2 van into a bus version that suited the need for a small passenger capacity with a goods carrying function. i was very surprised to see such large numbers of them when i did my country tours in the 1965/66's and realised the people in some regions would not have access to transport services without the use of these versatile vehicles such as the J2'S and the Commer conversions.

[Swift]

Holden EH Station wagon with MO plates. Not a sight Is ever expect. I wonder if there were others like this?

Cute vans as well.

[Red and Cream]

Holden EH Station wagon with MO plates. Not a sight Is ever expect. I wonder if there were others like this?

Cute vans as well.

There were a few more Holdens Swift. and probably more that i did not see, anyone that knows of more please contribute.
MO 676 BLACK AND WHITE OF INVERELL
MO3530 BALMAIN OF BEGA.
MO 3779 RYAN OF COFFS HARBOUR and what about something more amazing a Ford Falcon Station wagon bus MO 4049 owned by Simpson of Armidale.

Here is another Holden CYA008 i photographed in Bega but i am not sure it was licenced for passenger carrying as it may have been only for mail and general goods such as the newspapers on the footpath.

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In Carp Street Bega out side the Court House.