Bristol FLF6LX 1968
with ECW CH37/18F Lodekka Body
Reg no AVX 975G
Eastern National fleet No’s 2614, 2946
Engine: Gardner 6LX Diesel
Transmission: 5 speed semi-automatic
AVX 975G was delivered to the Prittlewell depot on 16 August 1968 and was Eastern National’s last new half cab double deck bus. The livery was Tilling cream with Tilling green waistband and wheel arches. It entered service in Southend in September 1968 moving to Hadleigh depot in the November. It then returned to Southend in November 1969 and then to Basildon depot in January 1970. Over the following year AVX 975G went through a number of changes including being re-seated, extension of the luggage compartment and changes to the livery. Again, in February 1971 more changes occurred as it was transferred to the Tilling Travel fleet, entering service from the Wood Green depot. In January 1973 it returned to Eastern National where it was loaned to United Counties at Bedford. In January 1975 AVX 975G returned to Eastern National where conversion began from coach to conventional bus layout and was allocated to Southend depot later that year where it remained until withdrawn on 13 June 1981. Later that year it was sold to a member of the Eastern National Preservation Group and housed here at Canvey. Further owners occurred before eventually AVX 975G was sold to the present owner Paul Harrison who carried out a major restoration programme to return it to a coach layout again, that work being completed in September 2009.