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The Mercedes L608D Plaxton Mini Supreme
In a previous article I looked at the Bedford CFL350 C17F bodied Plaxton Mini Supreme. Whilst the Bedford version of this, the smallest Plaxton bodied coach, is fairly well documented, & it is generally agreed that there were 34 built, the Mercedes L608 version, which superseded the Bedford, is less well documented. As far as I have been able to ascertain at only 19 Mercedes versions were built between 1981 & 1986, a 5 year timescale, as against a 3 year period for the Bedford CF. The Mercedes version was larger, 25 seats as against 17 for the Bedford, but still used many of the basic body parts as the smaller version. The Mercedes. chassis though was much more robust than the Bedford, & was already well established as a popular PSV chassis.
Shearing's were a major customer for the Mercedes Mini Supreme taking no less than four for their holiday feeder services, other tour operators, Wallace Arnold, Tappins, Epsom Coaches & Hamilton's took single vehicles for similar work. The remainder were taken into stock by smaller independent operators, who also bought second hand examples.Survivors
Only two Mercedes Mini Supremes appear to be in preservation according to the PSV Circle's Preserved Buses 2009 edition, C200 HGF with the Aberdeen & District Transport Preservation Society, & ANA 114Y, (now re registered as LlL 7804 with Felix Coaches, Long Melford. Two others although not listed as preserved are still in psv use, they are, C930 LMW is currently operated by Martin Babb of Barnstable as part of his Blue Motors fleet, & D126 YDL which has been owned from new by Ganges Coaches of Cowes, Isle of Wight
Others may still be active as caravans/motor homes etc. & 'any details of these, together with body numbers would be most welcome by the writer on 01223 843802, as would any that have been omitted or erroneously listed.
MERCEDES PLAXTON MINI SUPREME C25F known examples Compiled by John Wakefield
| Reg No | Body No | Owners (known) |
| CKH 454X | WO4970 |
Plaxton Demo; Wallace Arnold, Paignton (2/83); Dawlish Coaches; Court, Fillongly. (as 162 TTO) ; J & R Travel, High Wycombe, circa/00, scrapped 5/01 |
| NBL 902X | WO 4814 | Tappins, Didcot (4/82); (later WJB 490) |
| LIL 7804 | WO 5438 | Shearings, Altricham (4/83); Jones of Sarn, Pwllheli by 9/89; Cunningham, Daventry; C&G, Chatteris (8/99 as LIL 7804) Felix, Long Melford 6/06 New as ANA 114Y |
| BPK 67Y | WO 4925 | Bicknell, Godalming (6/83); Real Coach Hire, Sailsbury; Guscott, Halwill (as ALZ 4581) gone by 11/03 (sold for caravan) |
| A966 KAJ | WO 4035 |
Brown, South Kirkby (4/84) (New as A600 OHD);
Luckett, Farnham ?; Briggs, Redcar 4/90 as WSV 520; re reg A966 KAJ
3/92; F Siviter, Saltburn (caravan) by 6/05; Abbey Coaches
Middlesborough 6/06 still as caravan
scrapped by 11/08
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| A197 RUR | 029 | Londoners, SE15 (5/84); Croxford, Farnham; Felix, Long Melford; BJS Travel, Gt Wakering; Excalibur, Essex reregistered HBZ 6288 (written off in accident -/03) |
| A425 VDS | WO 4611 | Southern, Barrhead (7/84); Ellis, Coventry 6/91; Evans, Tregaron 8/94; Price, Newcastle, Shrops. c9/94; Nelson, Glyn Neath 4/96 (re reg. UJI 4765 4/96 & A256 YEP 12/96); Derek Moore Coachways, Pensnett 12/96; Hi-Lite, Lye 3/98; Tilt Wombourne 2/99; Kingswinford, Pensnett 8/99 (re reg. SIB 7884 7/00); A & H Coachways, Dudley (9/00) non psv; sold as caravan (unknown) 8/03 |
| B276 AMG | 030 | Clark, SE5 (3/85); Brenton, Blackheath (re reg SJI 9331) stolen circa 2003 |
| B154 JRD | 031 | Pritchard, Burghfield (4/85) |
| B736 JRA | WO 4762 | Nottingham C.T. (736) (2/85) |
| C200 HGF | WO 4921 | Richmond, Epsom (9/85); Kirkpatrick of Deeside, Banchory as LSK 546; Aberdeen Transport Society by -/03 |
| C668 JKG | WO 5377 | Hill, Tredegar (5/86); Bennett, Newbury exported 3/01 |
| C201 KGJ | WO 5225 | Richmond, Epsom (12/85) ; Brenton, Blackheath (as SJN 9329) sold to unknown operator Irish Republic by 8/04 |
| C930 LMW | 032 | Lever, East Knoyle (3/86); Felix, Long Melford; Grey, Ely; (WSU 485) Watts, Oxhey Babb, Barnstable 6/00 |
| C777 NCP | WO 5266 | Brown, South Kirkby (3/86); Hayton Manchester ??; Hudson (Venue Coaches) York ?; Mills, Bedford caravan -/05; 'Lee' t/a 1st Call Motor Co. (dealer) by 7/09; Narey, New Milton 7/09 |
| C584 NCW | 033 | Hamilton, Workington 4/86; Abbeyways Halifax -/?? ; exported 1/05 |
| D126 YDL | WO 5426 | Gange, Cowes, loW (5/86) |
| D202 PGJ | 86MM034 | Richmond, Epsom (10/86) Hilton Newton le Willows by 2/01; Matthews, Warrington for motor home conversion. by 12/03; dealer Leicester by 1/04 Sold via eBay to an unknown buyer 5/09 |
Notes:
BPK 67Y built C19F (2+1 seating) high spec.
C200 HGF is C20F
Body numbers 029-34 are in the CF series, WO refers to the works order number when body number is not known
Once again I am indebted to Terry Jones for his help in compiling the accompanying list of known Mercedes 608 Plaxton Mini Supremes, and to Dick Haughey for mastering the site & supplying the photo's. Thanks are also offered to Terry Stapley of the PSV Circle for supplying some of the information
John Wakefield July 2009
Telephone John Wakefield on 01223 843802
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