|
|
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coach, is fairly well documented, & it is generally agreed that there were 34 built, the Mercedes 608 version, which superseded the Bedford, is less well documented. As far as I have been able to ascertain at least 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 one Mercedes Mini Supreme appears to be in preservation according to the PSV Circles Preserved Buses 2002, C200 HGF with the Aberdeen & District Transport Preservation Society. Others are known to still be active PSV's 'including, ANA 114Y, (now re registered as LlL 7804) is now in preservation with Felix, Long Melford. C930 LMW is currently operated by Martin Babb of Minehead as part of his Blue Motors fleet, & D126 YDL has been owned from new by Ganges Coaches of Cowes, Isle of Wight, & is still in service with them.
Others may still be active, & '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 | Jackson, Altricham (4/83); Cunningham, Daventry; C&G, Chatteris (-/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 |
| A966 KAJ | WO 4035 | Brown, South Kirkby (4/84) New as A600 OHD then WSV 520 2/92 current registration received 3/92. F Siviter, Saltburn (caravan) Abbey Coaches Middlesborough 6/06 still as caravan |
| A197 RUR | 029 | Londoners, SE15 (5/84); Croxford, Farnham; Felix, Long Melford; BJS Travel, Gt Wakering; Excalibur, Essex reregistered HBZ 6288 (reported scrapped -/03) |
| A425 VDS | WO 4611 | Southern, Barrhead (7/84); Derek Moore Coachways, Kingswinford as A256 YEP & SIB 3256; A & H Coachways, Dudley (9/00) as SIB 7884 (see notes) |
| B276 AMG | 030 | Clark, SE5 (3/85); Brenton, Blackheath (re reg SJI 9331) |
| 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); Aberdeen & Dist. Trans. Pres. Group by -/06 Macduff, Kilmarnok |
| C668 JKG | WO 5377 | Hill, Tredegar (5/86); Bennett, Newbury exported 3/01 |
| C201 KGJ | WO 5225 | Richmond, Epsom (12/85) ; Brenton, Blackheath (as SN 9329) |
| 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); unknown, caravan 00/05 |
| 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) Trev Matthews, Warrington for motor home conversion. ??/03 |
Notes:
A425 VDS was also un 1765 between Southern & Moore
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 of Vista Coachways 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 November 2003
Telephone John Wakefield on 01223 843802
Return to the Wakefield Files index
