New member saying hello

[bingo66]

Hi all,

I'm an ex Fire Fighter and to cut an extremely long story short, find myself the owner of a 1947 Flxible Clipper bus which is currently being restored in California. I'm here a desparate man as I know nothing about buses let alone restoring one!! The Flxible hasn't run for over 30 years so it's been one huge financial black hole up until now. Any advice will be very gratefully received

[G-CPTN]

Welcome to Truck and Bus Forum, bingo.

If you search you will find posts involving Flxible Clippers (from Dunnunda) - but I don't think that there is anything technical to help you.

Search on 'John Tgood' and 'Flxible'.

http://www.truckandbusforum.com/gall...&searchid=8650


Edited to add:- I've just seen all your photographs.

It looks good cosmetically - what about the mechanicals?

Do tell the story about how you discovered it and what persuaded you to restore it.


.

[bingo66]

Originally Posted by G-CPTN

Welcome to Truck and Bus Forum, bingo.

If you search you will find posts involving Flxible Clippers (from Dunnunda) - but I don't think that there is anything technical to help you.

Search on 'John Tgood' and 'Flxible'.

http://www.truckandbusforum.com/gall...&searchid=8650

Thanks,

It's when I eventually get the thing over here that's worrying me. I live in Cheshire but can't find anywhere to store the bus indoors here. Also licensing regs for a bus this old and MOT etc. I'm an ex Fire Fighter so have kept my HGV ticket. Driving a left hand drive of this size isn't a problem as we already have a 34ft Damon Daybreak RV here.

I'm sure I'll learn a lot from members on here.

[G-CPTN]

There probably won't be any MOT or VED requirement because of its age, and if you licence it as private there'll be no PSV requirement either.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-exempt-from-car-tax

The only hurdle will be registering it to drive in the UK.

Can you get it licenced in the USofA?
That should allow you to drive it initially on the roads in Britain as a temporary import. Otherwise you might need an SVA.

No:- You don’t need vehicle approval for:

heavy goods vehicles (more than 3,500kg maximum weight) over 25 years old
light goods vehicles (3,500kg maximum weight or less) over 10 years old
cars and minibuses with 8 passenger seats or less (not including the driver) over 10 years old
buses, coaches and minibuses with more than 8 passenger seats (not including the driver) built by a single manufacturer before 29 July 2010
buses, coaches and minibuses with more than 8 passenger seats (not including the driver) with different body and chassis manufacturers, made before 29 July 2011

From (and more at):- https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/...hicle-approval


Seems you'll need the help of the vehicle owners' club!

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/old-vehicles

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registrat...assic-vehicles



.

[bingo66]

Originally Posted by G-CPTN

There probably won't be any MOT or VED requirement, and if you licence it as private there'll be no PSV requirement either.
The only hurdle will be registering it to drive in the UK.

Can you get it licenced in the USofA?
That should allow you to drive it initially on the roads in Britain as a temporary import. Otherwise you might need an SVA.

No:- You don’t need vehicle approval for:

heavy goods vehicles (more than 3,500kg maximum weight) over 25 years old
light goods vehicles (3,500kg maximum weight or less) over 10 years old
cars and minibuses with 8 passenger seats or less (not including the driver) over 10 years old
buses, coaches and minibuses with more than 8 passenger seats (not including the driver) built by a single manufacturer before 29 July 2010
buses, coaches and minibuses with more than 8 passenger seats (not including the driver) with different body and chassis manufacturers, made before 29 July 2011

From (and more at):- https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/...hicle-approval


Seems you'll need the help of the vehicle owners' club!

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/old-vehicles

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registrat...assic-vehicles

.




.

Great, thanks.

I have phoned the DVLA and other agencies numerous times but they normally cut me off when they don't know the answers

[G-CPTN]

Find someone with an old unusual vehicle and follow their advice.

Search for classic vehicle owner websites, or attend a classic vehicle rally.

[bingo66]

Originally Posted by G-CPTN

Find someone with an old unusual vehicle and follow their advice.

Search for classic vehicle owner websites, or attend a classic vehicle rally.

I've been told that there is a bus preservation group on the Wirral or Chester somewhere but haven't found them yet. They may be able to help with storage as well. I'll keep looking.

[G-CPTN]

http://nwvrt.co.uk/

though you might be better off with a less formal group - ie not dedicated to buses and coaches.