Seaside Open-Top Buses - 1969-99

by Malcolm Batten

ISBN: 9781398122932

Published: 2025-05-15

When double-deck motorbuses were first introduced they were all open-top, like the horse buses that preceded them. Roofs were not permitted until the 1920s, but once they were the vagaries of the British climate dictated that they would normally be fitted. However, when the sun did shine, what could be nicer than a trip along the sea front with the sea air in your nostrils and ruffling your hair? Therefore, many seaside towns introduced seasonal open-top services. Many of these towns had their own municipally owned bus fleets. Elsewhere, the liveries of company fleets such as Southdown, Devon General and Crosville could be found. As the services were seasonal it did not justify buying new vehicles for such work. Instead, older buses nearing the end of their life would be converted. An alternative option from the 1960s was to buy new vehicles fitted with a detachable roof, meaning that the buses could be utilized all year round, with the roof off during the summer and back on at...