1954 Bristol Bus

Adopt-an-Auto Vehicle - Adopted by John and Jessica Lyons of Connecticut!

The red double-decker buses in London have become an icon of Britain. Bristol-built buses have a reputation the world over for longevity and reliability.  This is partly due to the quality and care with which they were built and partly due to a reliance on tried and tested technology.  Until the early 'sixties triple-servo vacuum-assisted mechanical brakes were the norm along with mechanical transmission utilizing a 4 or 5-speed synchromesh gearbox usually of Bristol's own design.

The Lodekka was an innovation for which the railways were largely responsible; the number of low-clearance railway bridges that had been constructed during the period in which the railways were being developed meant that uncomfortable 'low bridge' double-deck bodies had been constructed with an upper deck with four seats in a row and a side gangway with limited headroom.  These were very unpopular with the travelling public so, the Lodekka addressed this issue by a clever design in the 1920s.  The Lodekka's running gear was kept low down in the chassis, thus allowing the lower deck gangway to be lower.  This in turn led to an overall reduction in height comparable with a standard 'low bridge' model.   The Lodekka, though technically sophisticated for it's time, proved to be  an excellent vehicle and many still exist.  Although never sold on the open market, many still exist either in preservation or in use all around the world.

References: 

http://classicbristolbuses.thornet.co.uk/bristol.htm