The magnificent EWS753W - a Bristol VR with Leyland 680 power!

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11th July 2021 was a great day. Not only did I get to drive the wonderful KHW309E, I also managed a short drive in this very rare Bristol VR, in the shape of ECW bodied EWS753W. This is one of only two VRT's known to survive with a Leyland 680 engine (the other being ex Southdown JWV275W).
EWS753W was new to Bristol Omnibus in August 1981 as fleet number 5545. It was one of around 30 VRT's fitted with Leyland 680 engines, I think due to a shortage in the supply of Gardner engines. Most were retro-fitted with Gardner engines many years ago, thankfully this bus wasn't and makes all the right 680 noises! The bus is still in as withdrawn condition, it is hoped that restoration will commence soon.
This is just a quick video along some Gloucestershire country lanes, with that and the pouring rain meant that I wasn't able to stretch this long-legged VR to its full potential. But I felt very lucky to have been given the chance to drive it anyway, and big thanks must go to Mike Ede and Mike Ellis for allowing this to happen.

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23 окт 2021

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Комментарии : 27

@brianlockyer9499 2 года назад

We had 2 of these at Hadleigh bus dept (Eastern National) the drivers used to fight over who was going to take then out, brilliant motor.

@scatmancraig1974 2 года назад

I suspect they may have had the Leyland 501 engine. Only Badgerline and Southdown had the 680 version from new.

@AndreiTupolev 2 года назад

I remember those with Badgerline. I always thought them interesting. The Leyland 501 engined ones were interesting too.

@bmused55 2 года назад

Last time I was on the VR was my last day at High School in 1998. Moffat and Williamson had a fleet of them. On one of them, when it went over a bump, you could see daylight between the rubber seal and the frame at the top right of the driver's windscreen!

@izalman 2 года назад

Leyland 0.680 engine..... superb power plant, simple an effective. As an apprentice mechanic at a civil engineering company, we had a Scammel Highwayman low loader for shifting the plant around, this had the 680 engine fitted. What a workhorse, apart from firing 1 of the injector nozzles into a piston crown during a hard climb in North Wales one day, the engine only ever received regular servicing. Had a few niggles with the rigid fuel feed line from the lift pump to the filter bowl cracking from vibration, replacing it with a flexi pipe cured that. Ran for decades....

@rogermoore52 2 года назад

I swear that bus used to have an auto box. Probably long since failed. The controller was under the rear seat on the n/s and automatically operated the semi auto box. You could watch the leds change state as the box removed the throttle to change gears and then reapply. I believe it was of two at bath depot in the 80’s. 5545 was unique as it had the number only transign in the front which was way too small and quickly faded. Nice to see it still sounds as great now as it did on my way to school.

@scatmancraig1974 2 года назад

I wouldn't know if it was originally automatic, but I gather a few of them were. I remember watching an Atlantean transmission control box in action once, like you say there was a lot of flashing led's involved.

@captainscutter 2 года назад

Superb video Craig. I was lucky enough to drive the Southdown ones in service. They had DP-type seats and a high ratio axle for the Portsmouth to Brighton service. They were an absolute joy to drive.

@stevesales4263 2 года назад

I drove them on the 729, Brighton to Tunbridge Wells and the 712, Brighton to Eastbourne. Great vehicles to drive, plenty of grunt and beautifully matched transmission.

@david197407 2 года назад

beautiful sound, like music & i remember a lot of if not all these double deckers sometimes drivers would put or leave them in 4th gear & the gears would go to auto changing, semi auto boxes

@scatmancraig1974 2 года назад

We had a lot of automatic VR's in Lincoln, as Lincoln City Transport specced theirs like that from new. But they just had a 3 position lever, with auto, hold and reverse.

@jaggass 2 года назад

So weird hearing an 0.680 VR. It's almost like having a Gardner engine in an Atlantean.

@philipareed 2 года назад

Like the HTV logo sound.

@wheelwonderland 2 года назад

Great video mate.

@IrishvintageTVRadio 2 года назад

She's certainly not short of power!

@scatmancraig1974 2 года назад

Definitely not. I'm told it will do over 60, which is good going for a VR.

@scatmancraig1974 2 года назад

If anyone is interested, I've uploaded another video of this bus, this time where I was on much better and faster roads. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eY3HohBNShg.html

@MrTech1210 3 месяца назад

Why was it common to start off from standstill in 2nd gear with the Bristol VR? Was the gear ratio for 1st too short or something? And more applicable for hill starts? Curious

@joeziffbev4977 2 года назад

I love this how is not an an68 atlantean most bizarre

@jaggass 2 года назад

It sounds just like an Atlantean without it's fan drive.

@basiltaylor8910 2 года назад

Jammy bugger, Mike letting you drive CHER EWS753W, a motor rarer than a Bugatti Veyron!!. She always has attitude, one hundred fifty Prancing Preston Ponies twirling five screaming Self Changing Gears, banging crashing screeching like any self respecting 680 ,VR. I HAVE a recording of her made April 2003 at Stroud Bus Rally, with a blown exhaust, YES CATS&KITTENS!! I Rode CHER with a blown elbow on her exhaust ,I SAT RIGHT OVER THE BLOWN EXHAUST ,THAT 680 LEYLAND ROARING JESUS CHRIST WAS MAGIC!!! EAT YOUR HEART OUT GARETH MALONE.

@francesconuzzolese7173 7 месяцев назад

Ciao ho un bus come questo puoi aiutarmi a trovare i ricambi ?

@paulconner9354 2 года назад

Same engine as in the National?

@scatmancraig1974 2 года назад

Same as a Mk2 National, but upright in a VR. More in common with an Atlantean engine. Most Leyland powered VR's came fitted with a 501 engine, which is very similar to the 510 in a Mk1 National.