Daimler CWA6 1945
Originally with Duple Utility 030/26R body
Reg no FOP 429
Birmingham Transport 1429, Canvey & District Motor Transport, Westcliff on Sea Motor Services, Eastern National 1199, Southend Corporation Transport 244
Engine AEC A173 Diesel
Transmission: 4 speed pre-select
Wartime production of public service vehicles fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of War Transport and from 1941 a new standard body was evolved as material supply was rigidly controlled and FOP 429 fell into this category. In the chassis code CWA6 the “W” stands for wartime and the A6 refers to the fitting of an AEC 7.7 litre 6 cylinder diesel engine which was coupled to a 4 speed pre-select gearbox. FOP 429 was purchased by Southend Corporation Transport in 1955 and was converted to an open top design the following year. As first converted, an upstairs windscreen was not fitted but at a later renovation a new rubber mounted window glass and top windscreen was installed, the first open top vehicle in the country to be so fitted. After withdrawal in 1971 it was sold to the Beamish Museum in County Durham and in 1982 members of the Eastern National Preservation Group managed to buy it and it was returned to familiar surroundings. In 1956 FOP 429 was donated to the Castle Point Transport Museum Society.