Buses GUY Wolverhampton England UK

GUY       

Guy Motors was a Wolverhampton-based vehicle manufacturer that produced cars, lorries, buses and trolleybuses. The company was founded by Sydney S. Guy (1885-1971) who was born in Kings Heath, Birmingham. Guy Motors operated out of its Fallings Park factory from 1914 to 1982, playing an important role in the development of the British motor industry.

an-aerial-view-of-guy-motors-fallings-park-factory

1953 Guy GS bus built for London Transport

History

Foundation and the First World War

Sydney S. Guy registered Guy Motors Limited on Saturday 30 May 1914, the same day he departed his position as Works Manager at the Wolverhampton company, Sunbeam. A factory was built on the site at Fallings Park, Wolverhampton. and by September 1914 production was underway on the newly designed 30cwt lorry. This employed a much lighter form of pressed steel frame, unlike the more commonly used heavy rolled steel channel frames of the time. This made the vehicle able to cross difficult terrain and a 14 seat poster bus built based on the design was used for crossing the Scottish Highlands.

1914 Guy’s 14 seater bus designed for use in the highlands

In 1915 Guy came under control of the Ministry of Munitions and production was focused on the war effort. The factory continued to produce 30cwt lorries which were supplied to Britain’s allies in the First World War. They also produced Wasp and Dragonfly radial aircraft engines, Tylor truck engines and Maudslay gearboxes as well as being the country’s largest maker of depth charge fuzes. For their efforts during the war Guy received a commendation from William Weir, Secretary of State for Air. Due to orders from the ministry Guy prospered during the war, expanding its factory and became an established name in British manufacturing.

1920s

The post-war period was difficult for the motor industry as military contracts were cancelled and military vehicles no longer required for service were sold onto the market at low prices. Guy returned to the civilian market, deciding to make luxury cars with a design by RH Rose, also from Sunbeam. They produced the Guy 8-cylinder car, powered by the first British V8 engine and featuring horizontal side valves. Around 25 of these were made and it was joined by a smaller model in 1922 with the 2465 cc four-cylinder 16.9 hp. A cheaper model followed in 1924 with the 1954 cc 13/36 with an engine from Coventry Climax. About 110 of the 4-cylinder models are thought to have been made. Production also continued on vehicles based on the 30cwt chassis such as the Guy charabanc and their major success the 30 seater bus.

In 1924 the company adopted the slogan ‘Feathers in our Cap’ which led to the addition of a Native American mascot to their vehicles. 1924 also saw Guy produce the first ever dropped frame chassis for passenger vehicles (the B-type). This design allowed passengers to enter buses in a single step and became extremely popular, Guy receiving an order for 170 from Rio de Janeiro.

Guy Motors badge

Growing populations in towns and cities meant larger capacity buses were a necessity, leading Guy to develop a 6-wheeled version of their dropped-frame chassis which allowed for the introduction of the first 6-wheeled double decker buses and 6 wheeled trolleybuses in 1926. Guy double decker buses and trolleybuses would prove popular with a fleet of double deckers sold to the London Public Omnibus Company and exports supplied all around the world. Exports served as a major source of income for Guy with sales to South Africa, Pakistan, India and the Netherlands, their armoured vehicles proving particularly popular for covering difficult terrain with 100 supplied to the Indian government in 1928.

Guy’s first military vehicle produced in 1923

In 1928 Guy took control of fellow Wolverhampton manufacturer the Star Motor Company, who had seen declining sales throughout the decade, in an attempt to expand their luxury car manufacturing. Under Guy, Star Motors moved to a new factory in Bushbury and the range of vehicles was narrowed to prevent competition against itself. Despite this Star continued to struggle and a loss was made on every car sold. The Wall Street Crash had a crippling effect on industry and the subsequent recession meant Guy could no longer afford to fit out Star’s Bushbury plant and in 1932 the company entered receivership.

Despite performing well throughout the decade, by the end of the 1920s Guy was facing an uncertain future due to the takeover of Star and the Wall Street Crash which had seen share prices fall from one pound to one shilling.

1930s

Guy was able to endure the depression due to orders from the war office and by taking advantage of the 1930 Road Traffic Act which encouraged the development of lighter vehicles. In 1933 the Arab bus chassis, designed for use with diesel engines, was launched and would prove a mainstay of Guy’s success for the next twenty years.

From the mid-1930s, the company became increasingly involved in the British rearmament programme, developing and producing military vehicles. In 1935 Guy submitted their new four wheel Ant armoured car to military trials where it impressed and 150 were ordered by the government. After this success Guy began to concentrate solely on the production of military vehicles and by 1938 Guy relied exclusively on Government contracts and had ended civilian productions. During this time Guy designed a new armoured car, the Quad Ant, which was welded rather than riveted together. This development made armoured vehicles much safer and is reported to have saved the British government £100 million, earning Guy a commendation from the Royal Commission.

1914 Guy Syzygies

1914 Guy Syzygies

1914 Guy Syzygies

1914 Guy Syzygies

1919 Guy Charabanc T-5182

1921 Guy 30-seater bus

1921 Guy coaches in Wolverhampton Market place

1922 Guy Promenade Runabout

1924 Guy six-wheelers in Rio de Janeiro

1925 Guy first six wheeled pneumatic Trolley Bus

1925 Guy Motors

1925 Guy Rio 1925

1927 Guy 6 wheeled Londonbus

1927 Guy 26 seater

1927 Guy FBB (chassis number 22257) with a Hall Lewis B32R body

1927 Guy Star Flyer

1928 Guy 6 wheeled double deck long distance sleeper coach

1928 Guy BT Dodson DY 4965 in Hastings

1929 Guy php

1930 Guy FC of Newcastle Corporation

1930 Guy Motors

1930 guy-vixen

1931 Guy ‘BTX’ Zuid Africa

1931 Guy Trolleybus op weg naar Japan

1932 Guy Open coach

1933 Guy Trolleybus adv1

1933 Guy NL

1934 Guy Wolf Guy GR-1157

1936 Guy Trolleybus  adv

1937 Guy Arab

1937 Guy Wolf with Martin body

1938 Guy Wolf with 20 seat bodywork by Waveney

1943 Guy Arab I JUA762 Pickering H30 26R Re bodied ROE H31-25R

1943 Guy Arab I JUA762 Pickering H30 26R Re bodied ROE H31-25R

1943 Guy Arab II as a double decker, later an open top decker similar to 39

1946 Guy Arab III with Massey C35F body new to W. Alexander

1946 Guy Arab Massey TSB019

1946 Guy Arab Seamer Service

1946 Guy Arab with Brush B35F body

1946 Guy Vixen Hainje B-22878 NL

1946 Guy-Arab bus 84 met carrosserie van Verheul. Dienstbus

1947 Guy Arab (Seida)

1947 Guy Arab III with Duple C35F body

1947 Guy Arab Verheul NB-34-13 NL

1947 Guy first post war Trolley Bus Belfast Corporation

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr. Saunders GTW 30 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 32 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 33 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 34 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 35 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 36 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 37 NL

1947 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton, Individually built bus advert

1947 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton, Newport buses bus advert

1947 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton, Southampton Guy Arab bus advert

1947 Guy Saunders Tet 075 NL

1947 guy-arab

1947 Guy-Vixen. Carrosserie v d Bos(linker bus) NL

1947-52 Guy carr. Den Oudsten NB-21-69 NL

1947-52 Guy Vixen carr. Verheul NB-28-40 NL

1948 Guy Arab 16 Brian Shaw

1948 Guy Arab 16

1948 Guy Arab 21 Brian Shaw

1948 Guy Arab 37

1948 Guy Arab carr. Verheul NB-28-54

1948 Guy Arab Fleet LUT&PC 22

1948 Guy Arab Fleet of Maidstone Corporation Transport Department 26

1948 Guy Arab Fleet of Newport Corporation Transport 24

1948 Guy Arab Glasgow Corporation Transport Fleet 23

1948 Guy Arab I 136

1948 Guy Arab III with an MCW 35 seat body

1948 Guy Arab III with MCW 35 seat rear entrance body.

1948 Guy Arab IV African Transport Limited Kenya 30

1948 Guy Arab Mark IV Hong Kong China Bus Company Limeted 34

1948 Guy Arab Mark IV South Africa 35 Greyhound

1948 Guy Arab Mark IV Southdown Motor services Limited 32

1948 Guy Arab Mk III 19 6 1957 Verheul 1948 TET 88 E-45960 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW 320 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW 321 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW 324 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW 328 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW NL

1948 Guy Arab Single decker 2

1948 Guy Arab single decker vehicle

1948 Guy Arab Single Decker

1948 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Verheul GTW 39 NL

1948 Guy met Verheul carr. uit de serie 82 tm 84 uit 1948  werd in 1953 verbouwd . De achterkant is verheul NL

1948 Guy Otters were never common and ones with Alexander bodywork rarer still

1948 Guy Vixen  coach

1948 Guy Wolf chassis carries a Barnard body

1948 Guy-Arab met carrosserie Saunders  NL

1948 guy-arab dd

1948 guy-arab 440

1948 guy-arab 440

1948 guy-arab dd

1948 Guy-bus 23 erachter Crossley- Scheldebus 20 (NS 1065) op 12 september 1948 vliegveld Beek en EBAD NL

1948 The Arab Mark IV, Guy’s most successful bus design

1948 The Sunbeam Double-Decker Trolleybus

1949 burlingham guy coach

1949 Guy Arab III 6LW with Park Royal H30-26R body

1949 Guy Arab III, fleet number 10 (KTC 615)

1949 Guy Arab IV

1949 Guy Arab IV

1950-guy-arab-mk-iii

1949 Guy Arab MK 5

1949 Guy Arab MKIII Gardner 6 LW carr Hainje GTW 329 NL

1949 Guy ArabIII-Brislington Bus Works

1949 Guy Motors adv.

1949 Guy Vixen carrosserie Den Oudsten NL

1949 guy-arab

1949-53 Guy-carr. Jongman NB-56-18 NL

1950 Guy Arab III with Guy B33R bodywork

1950 Guy Arab III-Harkness Coachworks B31F (may be B30F now) 286, MZ7384

1950 Guy Arab III-Harkness

1950 Guy Arab Mark IV

1950 Guy Arab MK IV South Africa 37

1950 Guy Arab UF with Guy B40F body (using Park Royal framework)

1950 Guy Arab V double deck bus

1950 Guy Motors

1950 Guy Vixen Overland Firms 59

1950 Guy Vixen NL

1950 guy-arab

1950 guy-arab

1950 Guy-Vixen NL

1951 Guy Arab III with a Windover C33F body

1951 Guy Arab III with rare Roe coach body

1951 Guy Arab III with unusual Roe coach body

1951 Guy Arab UF fitted from new with a preselector gearbox and carried a Guy B40F body.

1951 Guy-Arab 76 met carrosserie van Hondebrink. Opname 1955 tijdens toerwagenral NL

1951-guy-vixen-carrosserie-hainje

1952 Guy Arab III with Roe B41C bodywork

1952 Guy Arab LUF with Weymann B44F body

1952 Guy Arab Underfloor engined single deck Huddersfield 43 seater bus 4

1952 Guy GS – MXX 342

1952 Guy Otters with rare Mulliner bodywork

1952 Guy Underfloor Verheul  Jac. van Dijk nr 58 NB-06-72 NL

1952 Guy Vixen Wadham

1952 Guy-Arab 89 met carrosserie van Verheul. Met 45 zit en 10 staanplaatsen. Opname grens Glanerbrug in 1954 NL

1952 Guy-Arab nr. 86 met carrosserie van Verheul NL

1952 guy-otter

1952 guy-otter

1953 Guy Otter

1953-guy-arab-88-met-carrosserie-van-verheul

1953 Guy Arab bus 60

1953-guy-arab-iii-with-roe-b41c-bodywork

1953 Guy GS MXX-343ECW B26F Kerel

1953 GUY Otter Diesel light vehicle12

1953 Guy Special NLLVP with ECW B26F body

1953 Guy Special with ECW B26F bodywork

1953 Guy Special NLLVP with ECW B26F bodywork

1953 Guy Vixen 30 seater vehicle 4

1953 Guy Vixen London Transport GS84 and GS76

1953 Guys with ECW B26F bodies for use on low traffic country area routes

1953 Guys with ECW B26F bodies

1954 Guy Arab Lighteight heavy duty underfloor engined coach

1954 Guy Arab LUF with a Guy B43F body

1954 Guy Arab LUF with Picktree C35F body

1954 Guy Arab LUF with rare Picktree Continental C35F body

1954 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton advert

1954 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton advert

1954 Guy Otter with a Roe B25F body

1954 Guy Sunbeam Trolley Double Deck Bus Walsall Corporation

1954 Guy Warrior 43 seater Trambus with AEC 6cyl 135 bhp engine

1954 Guy-bus 8 van de EBAD met Den Oudsten carrosserie NL

1955 Guy Arab LUF with Alexander C41F bodywork

1955 Guy Arab LUF

1955 Guy Arab LUFs, fitted with Roe B34C+24 bodies

1955 Guy Arab Mark IV East kent Road car Company Limited 31

1955 Guy Warrior LUF Coach 3

1955 Guy Warrior with Burlingham C41F body

1955 guy-s ad

1956 Guy Arab LUFs with Willowbrook C37C bodies

1956 Guy Arab Mark IV Belgium 36

1956 Guy Arab, with Park Royal body

1956 Guy Kusters-bus, de EBAD 91

1956 Guy Raghano België

1956 Guy Seal Small capacity tourist coach 1

1956 Guy Warrior, XUK768, with Mulliner C37C body

1957 Guy Arab LUF with Roe B41R body

1957 GUY Jonckheere België

1957 Guy Arab Toerwagen 88 met carrosserie van Verheul

1957 Guy Otter P6 with Mulliner B26F bodywork

1957 Guy Vixen

1958 Guy Arab LUFs with Longwell Green B44F bodies, XNY419

1958 Guy LUF with Longwell Green B44F body

1958 Guy UF with Burlingham Seagull C41F body

1958 Guy Victory Trambus

1958 Guy Victory Trambus

1958 Guy Victory UF 44 till 65 seater Luxery Touring Coach Victory 2

1958 Guy Victory

1958 Guy Warrior Gardner 5HLW oil engine 2

1958 Guy Wulfrunian

1958 Guy-Arab nr. 89 met carrosserie van Verheul. De bus had 45 zit en 10 staanplaatsen

1958 guy-victory

1958 guy-victory

1958 guy-victory

1959 GUY 1460

1959 Guy Arab LUF Powered by a Gardner 6HLW engine Registration 1294 RE

1960 GUY J- Type

1960 Guy Warrior coach vehicle 21

1960 guy-victory

1961 Guy Arab III-Strachen-Highland Trans.G.Rixon2

1961 Guy Wulfrunians with Roe H43-32F body

1963 Guy Arab IV with Massey lowbridge body

1964 Guy Conquest Luxery Coach

1965 Guy Conquest Luxery Coach with AEC AV505 Gardner 6LX or 6LW Victory Trambus

1960 Guy Victory 40-45 seat

GUY DD

Guy Arab – FRU 224

Guy buses

1967 Guy -ZABO NL © AvdBorg&CBos

1978 Guy Victory U F Victory 1 ?

The End

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CUMBERLAND Coachwork (Myers + Bowman Ltd.) Distington Cumberland England UK

Cumberland Coachwork (Myers & Bowman Ltd.) of Distington, Cumberland

1950 an advert for Cumberland Coachwork (Myers & Bowman Ltd.) of Distington, Cumberland., whose coachwork seen here could well “crossover” to the Highly Esteamed ‘Oddities on Wheels’ tread. A better photo would be welcome but a fuzzy wuzzy is better than nothing to see this unusual observation coach without a raised rear section. Instead seats behind the back axle are stepped down and face to the rear. Built on a Commer Avenger chassis for Sowerby’s Tours Ltd of Gilsland, Cumberland., where did the luggage go? Imagine too, being stuck behind it for for any great distance with rows of passengers looking out at you! More conventional coachwork from this LKC is seen in the second photo.

1934 Cumberland Motors 38, AAO574, a Leyland Lion LT5A with Massey body

1951 Cumberland 152, LAO146, seen at Wigton was a Leyland PSU1-13 Royal Tiger with Eastern Coachworks B45F body

1951 Cumberland 324, LAO145, carried an early version of the ECW body which was B45F in this case

1949-cumberland-358-hrm699-was-a-1949-leyland-l27-26r-bodied-leyland

1951-cumberland-152-lao146-seen-at-wigton-was-a-leyland-psu1-13-royal-tiger-with-eastern-coachworks-b45f-body

1951-cumberland-153-lao147-an-eastern-coachworks-b45f-bodied-leyland-psu1-13-royal-tiger

1951-cumberland-324-lao145-carried-an-early-version-of-the-ecw-body-which-was-b45f-in-this-case

1951-cumberland-370-krm252-a-leyland-pd2-12-with-leyland-l27-28r

1952-cumberland-motor-services-334-lrm108-a-leyland-pd2-12-with-leyland-l27-26r-body

1953-cumberland-155-and-158-mao107-and-mao109-1953-leyland-b44f-bodied-leyland-psu1-17-royal-tigers

1953-cumberland-175-mao105-was-the-last-of-three-leyland-c41c-bodied-leyland-psu1-15-royal-tigers

1954-cumberland-406-orm141-an-early-bristol-ld6g-with-ecw-h33-27rd-body

1956-cumberland-282-rao736-a-bristol-ls6g-with-ecw-c39f-body

1957-cumberland-200-uao373-was-a-bristol-sc4lk-with-an-e-c-w-b35f-body

1957-former-eastern-national-bristol-sc-436-606jpu-and-seen-here-with-cumberland

1961-cumberland-553-112drm-was-a-bristol-fs6g-with-an-e-c-w-h33-27rd-body

1961-cumberland-motor-services-550-109drm-a-1961-bristol-lodekka-fs6g-with-ecw-body

1963-cumberland-motor-services-231-aao34b-a-1964-bristol-mw6g-with-ecw-bus-body

1964-cumberland-564-aao574b-a-bristol-fs6b-with-ecw-h60r-body

1966-cumberland-motor-services-245-jao245d-a-bristol-mw6g-with-ecw-b45f-bodywork

1967-cumberland-motor-services-256-krm262e-a-bristol-rell6l-with-ecw-b53f-body-and-369-mao369p-a-new-52-seat-leyland-national

 

1967 Cumberland Motor Services 809, NRM809M, a Ford R226 with Duple C53F bodywork.

Inbetween Cumberland decided to do something else and became Cumberland Motors what was a buscompany.

Incoming Info

http://www.busmuseum.org.uk/webnews/news043.htm

That’s it

Buses MASSEY Brothers Ltd Pemberton Lancashire England UK

Massey Brothers Ltd

A Massey-bodied Guy Arab bus

Massey Brothers (Pemberton) Limited was formed in 1904 by the three brothers William, Isaac and Thomas as timber merchants and building contractors and were based in Pemberton two miles west of Wigan in Lancashire. During the first fifteen years they built schools, mills, cinemas and houses and in 1919 started in the construction of bodies for cars, vans and charabancs. In the early 1920s a number of trams and buses were built for Wigan Corporation and their coachbuilding activities increased rapidly with many new customers being supplied by the end of the decade. Their building and construction activities continued throughout this period. By the mid thirties Masseys were supplying bodies on buses and trolleybuses mainly for municipal undertakings with occasional orders coming from independent operators. They were very active during the second world war in the building of “utility” bodies for many operators in England, Scotland and Wales plus fire brigade utility vehicles. After the war the company was increasingly busy as the need for new buses gained momentum and the rebuilding of bomb damaged property took place. Masseys had a high reputation for solid PSV bodywork with their distinctive design. Building and construction work ceased in 1962 after the completion of some new houses but PSV bodybuilding continued until 1967 when they were taken over by another Wigan bodybuilder – Northern Counties Motor and Engineering Company

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Buses GUY Wolverhampton England UK

GUY

Guy Motors was a Wolverhampton-based vehicle manufacturer that produced cars, lorries, buses and trolleybuses. The company was founded by Sydney S. Guy (1885-1971) who was born in Kings Heath, Birmingham. Guy Motors operated out of its Fallings Park factory from 1914 to 1982, playing an important role in the development of the British motor industry.

  

an-aerial-view-of-guy-motors-fallings-park-factory

1953 Guy GS bus built for London Transport

History

Foundation and the First World War

Sydney S. Guy registered Guy Motors Limited on Saturday 30 May 1914, the same day he departed his position as Works Manager at the Wolverhampton company, Sunbeam. A factory was built on the site at Fallings Park, Wolverhampton. and by September 1914 production was underway on the newly designed 30cwt lorry. This employed a much lighter form of pressed steel frame, unlike the more commonly used heavy rolled steel channel frames of the time. This made the vehicle able to cross difficult terrain and a 14 seat poster bus built based on the design was used for crossing the Scottish Highlands.

1914 Guy’s 14 seater bus designed for use in the highlands

In 1915 Guy came under control of the Ministry of Munitions and production was focused on the war effort. The factory continued to produce 30cwt lorries which were supplied to Britain’s allies in the First World War. They also produced Wasp and Dragonfly radial aircraft engines, Tylor truck engines and Maudslay gearboxes as well as being the country’s largest maker of depth charge fuzes. For their efforts during the war Guy received a commendation from William Weir, Secretary of State for Air. Due to orders from the ministry Guy prospered during the war, expanding its factory and became an established name in British manufacturing.

1920s

The post-war period was difficult for the motor industry as military contracts were cancelled and military vehicles no longer required for service were sold onto the market at low prices. Guy returned to the civilian market, deciding to make luxury cars with a design by RH Rose, also from Sunbeam. They produced the Guy 8-cylinder car, powered by the first British V8 engine and featuring horizontal side valves. Around 25 of these were made and it was joined by a smaller model in 1922 with the 2465 cc four-cylinder 16.9 hp. A cheaper model followed in 1924 with the 1954 cc 13/36 with an engine from Coventry Climax. About 110 of the 4-cylinder models are thought to have been made. Production also continued on vehicles based on the 30cwt chassis such as the Guy charabanc and their major success the 30 seater bus.

In 1924 the company adopted the slogan ‘Feathers in our Cap’ which led to the addition of a Native American mascot to their vehicles. 1924 also saw Guy produce the first ever dropped frame chassis for passenger vehicles (the B-type). This design allowed passengers to enter buses in a single step and became extremely popular, Guy receiving an order for 170 from Rio de Janeiro.

Guy Motors badge

Growing populations in towns and cities meant larger capacity buses were a necessity, leading Guy to develop a 6-wheeled version of their dropped-frame chassis which allowed for the introduction of the first 6-wheeled double decker buses and 6 wheeled trolleybuses in 1926. Guy double decker buses and trolleybuses would prove popular with a fleet of double deckers sold to the London Public Omnibus Company and exports supplied all around the world. Exports served as a major source of income for Guy with sales to South Africa, Pakistan, India and the Netherlands, their armoured vehicles proving particularly popular for covering difficult terrain with 100 supplied to the Indian government in 1928.

Guy’s first military vehicle produced in 1923

In 1928 Guy took control of fellow Wolverhampton manufacturer the Star Motor Company, who had seen declining sales throughout the decade, in an attempt to expand their luxury car manufacturing. Under Guy, Star Motors moved to a new factory in Bushbury and the range of vehicles was narrowed to prevent competition against itself. Despite this Star continued to struggle and a loss was made on every car sold. The Wall Street Crash had a crippling effect on industry and the subsequent recession meant Guy could no longer afford to fit out Star’s Bushbury plant and in 1932 the company entered receivership.

Despite performing well throughout the decade, by the end of the 1920s Guy was facing an uncertain future due to the takeover of Star and the Wall Street Crash which had seen share prices fall from one pound to one shilling.

1930s

Guy was able to endure the depression due to orders from the war office and by taking advantage of the 1930 Road Traffic Act which encouraged the development of lighter vehicles. In 1933 the Arab bus chassis, designed for use with diesel engines, was launched and would prove a mainstay of Guy’s success for the next twenty years.

From the mid-1930s, the company became increasingly involved in the British rearmament programme, developing and producing military vehicles. In 1935 Guy submitted their new four wheel Ant armoured car to military trials where it impressed and 150 were ordered by the government. After this success Guy began to concentrate solely on the production of military vehicles and by 1938 Guy relied exclusively on Government contracts and had ended civilian productions. During this time Guy designed a new armoured car, the Quad Ant, which was welded rather than riveted together. This development made armoured vehicles much safer and is reported to have saved the British government £100 million, earning Guy a commendation from the Royal Commission.

1948 The Arab Mark IV, Guy’s most successful bus design

World War Two

Guy armoured vehicles were used throughout the war, featuring prominently in the North African campaign and at the evacuation of Dunkirk. Although production of the Ant and Quad Ant were moved to Karrier the factory was still involved in the war effort producing anti-aircraft guns.

Passenger car sales in the UK virtually ceased during the war, which was accordingly a good time to be a UK bus manufacturer, and more than 2,000 Guy double-decker buses entered service between 1942 and 1945. The Ministry of Supply had ordered Guy to produce a chassis suitable for double decker buses, the blitzhaving resulted in a shortage of buses. In 1942 Guy launched the Arab utility deck bus based on their original 1933 design, but with a frame of identical shape to the Leyland Titan TD8. It was immediately successful due to its reliability and low running costs. The company’s contribution to the war effort established them as a leading supplier for the government and meant they were financially stable heading into the post-war years.

Post-War Years

After the war Guy returned to civilian production with bus production remaining a mainstay and retaining a strong emphasis on export sales to their major markets including South Africa, Pakistan and the Netherlands. In 1948 Guy acquired Sunbeam Commercial Vehicles Limited and from then on all trolleybuses produced (except some for UK operators carrying Karrier badges) carried the Sunbeam name. Trolleybuses continued to sell well with the Sunbeam becoming the most popular model in South Africa.

The Sunbeam Double-Decker Trolleybus

Guy continued to update their old models, introducing a new version of the Otter chassis in 1950 for 30-seater vehicles and 84 were ordered by London Transport. By 1954 Guy passenger vehicles were operated by 150 companies in the UK and in 26 countries abroad. The company developed the first 30 ft two-axle double-deck trolleybus chassis in 1954, the Sunbeam F4A, which could seat 68 passengers.

1954 The Otter Tractor Vehicle

In 1957 Sydney Guy retired after 43 years with the company. Guy continued to develop new models of chassis, introducing updated versions of the Otter and Warrior models and the high performance Victory chassis. However an ill-advised decision to take South African sales in house proved an extreme strain on the company’s finances. Combined with their attempt to develop a new double decker chassis this would prove highly damaging for Guy’s future. Launched in 1958 the Wulfrunian promised many innovations in its design but crucially lacked the reliability upon which Guy had built its name.

The decline of the company

Although new designs such as the Warrior Mark II were being produced and despite the fact their lorries were performing well by 1960 Guy faced seemingly insurmountable financial problems. The failure of the Wulfrunian was a commercial disaster and the operation in South Africa was losing them £300,000 a year.

By 1961 Guy had no choice but to enter receivership. Sir William Lyons, managing director of Jaguar, acquired the company for £800,000, transferring its assets to a new company, Guy Motors (Europe) Limited which left all the liabilities with the now defunct Guy Motors Limited the name eventually reverting to “Guy Motors Ltd” in 1966. Jaguar immediately set about rationalisation, decreasing the number of employees and the range of vehicles in production.

Guy continued to be successful throughout the 1960s with the development of the Victory trambus and the Big J series of trucks. The Big J was designed around a new Cummins V6 engine, and was intended for motorway operation. However a series of mergers by their parent company had left them in a precarious situation In 1966 Jaguar had merged with the British Motor Corporation to form British Motor Holdings. This company had then merged with Leyland in 1968 to form the British Leyland Motor Corporation. Leyland ceased the production of Guy badged buses in 1972 although Leyland badged versions of the Guy Victory were produced at Wolverhampton and Leyland until 1986. Despite the mergers the British motor industry continued on a generally downward trend and British Leyland looked for where it could make savings.

Guy Motors was able to postpone closure due to the success of its Big J range which meant it was one of the few companies owned by British Leyland operating at a profit. Despite this in 1981 Leyland decided to close the Fallings Park plant as part of a rationalisation drive and in August 1982 the doors were shut at the cost of 740 jobs. On 5 October the factory was stripped clean and the contents auctioned.

1914 Guy Syzygies

1914 Guy Syzygies

1914 Guy Syzygies

1919 Guy Charabanc T-5182

1921 Guy 30-seater bus

1921 Guy coaches in Wolverhampton Market place

1922 Guy Promenade Runabout

1924 Guy six-wheelers in Rio de Janeiro

1925 Guy first six wheeled pneumatic Trolley Bus

1925 Guy Motors

1925 Guy Rio 1925

1927 Guy 6 wheeled Londonbus

1927 Guy 26 seater

1927 Guy FBB (chassis number 22257) with a Hall Lewis B32R body

1927 Guy Star Flyer

1928 Guy 6 wheeled double deck long distance sleeper coach

1928 Guy BT Dodson DY 4965 in Hastings

1929 Guy php

1930 Guy FC of Newcastle Corporation

1930 Guy Motors

1930 guy-vixen

1931 Guy ‘BTX’ Zuid Africa

1931 Guy Trolleybus op weg naar Japan

1932 Guy Open coach

1933 Guy Trolleybus adv1

1933 Guy NL

1934 Guy Wolf Guy GR-1157

1936 Guy Trolleybus  adv

1937 Guy Arab

1937 Guy Wolf with Martin body

1938 Guy Wolf with 20 seat bodywork by Waveney

1943 Guy Arab I JUA762 Pickering H30 26R Re bodied ROE H31-25R

1943 Guy Arab I JUA762 Pickering H30 26R Re bodied ROE H31-25R

1943 Guy Arab II as a double decker, later an open top decker similar to 39

1946 Guy Arab III with Massey C35F body new to W. Alexander

1946 Guy Arab Massey TSB019

1946 Guy Arab Seamer Service

1946 Guy Arab with Brush B35F body

1946 Guy Vixen Hainje B-22878 NL

1946 Guy-Arab bus 84 met carrosserie van Verheul. Dienstbus

Almelo-Glanerbrug op de weg Borne-Hengelo. Opname verm. 1949. NL

1947 Guy Arab (Seida)

1947 Guy Arab III with Duple C35F body

1947 Guy Arab Verheul NB-34-13 NL

1947 Guy first post war Trolley Bus Belfast Corporation

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr. Saunders GTW 30 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 32 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 33 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 34 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 35 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 36 NL

1947 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Saunders-de Schelde GTW 37 NL

1947 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton, Individually built bus advert

1947 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton, Newport buses bus advert

1947 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton, Southampton Guy Arab bus advert

1947 Guy Saunders Tet 075 NL

1947 guy-arab

1947 Guy-Vixen. Carrosserie v d Bos(linker bus) NL

1947-52 Guy carr. Den Oudsten NB-21-69 NL

1947-52 Guy Vixen carr. Verheul NB-28-40 NL

1948 Guy Arab 16 Brian Shaw

1948 Guy Arab 16

1948 Guy Arab 21 Brian Shaw

1948 Guy Arab 37

1948 Guy Arab carr. Verheul NB-28-54

1948 Guy Arab Fleet LUT&PC 22

1948 Guy Arab Fleet of Maidstone Corporation Transport Department 26

1948 Guy Arab Fleet of Newport Corporation Transport 24

1948 Guy Arab Glasgow Corporation Transport Fleet 23

1948 Guy Arab I 136

1948 Guy Arab III with an MCW 35 seat body

1948 Guy Arab III with MCW 35 seat rear entrance body.

1948 Guy Arab IV African Transport Limited Kenya 30

1948 Guy Arab Mark IV Hong Kong China Bus Company Limeted 34

1948 Guy Arab Mark IV South Africa 35 Greyhound

1948 Guy Arab Mark IV Southdown Motor services Limited 32

1948 Guy Arab Mk III 19 6 1957 Verheul 1948 TET 88 E-45960 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW 320 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW 321 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW 324 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW 328 NL

1948 Guy Arab MkIII, Gardner 6LW, carr. Verheul GTW NL

1948 Guy Arab Single decker 2

1948 Guy Arab single decker vehicle

1948 Guy Arab Single Decker

1948 Guy Gardner 6LW Arab MkIII carr Verheul GTW 39 NL

1948 Guy met Verheul carr. uit de serie 82 tm 84 uit 1948  werd in 1953 verbouwd . De achterkant is verheul NL

1948 Guy Otters were never common and ones with Alexander bodywork rarer still

1948 Guy Vixen  coach

1948 Guy Wolf chassis carries a Barnard body

1948 Guy-Arab met carrosserie Saunders  NL

1948 guy-arab dd

1948 guy-arab 440

1948 guy-arab 440

1948 guy-arab dd

1948 Guy-bus 23 erachter Crossley- Scheldebus 20 (NS 1065) op 12 september 1948 vliegveld Beek en EBAD NL

1949 burlingham guy coach

1949 Guy Arab III 6LW with Park Royal H30-26R body

1949 Guy Arab III, fleet number 10 (KTC 615)

1949 Guy Arab IV

1949 Guy Arab IV

1949 Guy Arab MKIII Gardner 6 LW carr Hainje GTW 329 NL

1949 Guy ArabIII-Brislington Bus Works

1949 Guy Motors adv.

1949 Guy Vixen carrosserie Den Oudsten NL

1949 guy-arab

1949-53 Guy-carr. Jongman NB-56-18 NL

1950 Guy Arab III with Guy B33R bodywork

1950 Guy Arab III-Harkness Coachworks B31F (may be B30F now) 286, MZ7384

1950 Guy Arab III-Harkness

1950 Guy Arab Mark IV

1950 Guy Arab MK IV South Africa 37

1950 Guy Arab UF with Guy B40F body (using Park Royal framework)

1950 Guy Arab V double deck bus

1950 Guy Motors

1950 Guy Vixen Overland Firms 59

1950 Guy Vixen NL

1950 guy-arab

1950 guy-arab

1950 Guy-Vixen NL

1951 Guy Arab III with a Windover C33F body

1951 Guy Arab III with rare Roe coach body

1951 Guy Arab III with unusual Roe coach body

1951 Guy Arab UF fitted from new with a preselector gearbox and carried a Guy B40F body.

1951 Guy-Arab 76 met carrosserie van Hondebrink. Opname 1955 tijdens toerwagenral NL

1952 Guy Arab III with Roe B41C bodywork

1952 Guy Arab LUF with Weymann B44F body

1952 Guy Arab Underfloor engined single deck Huddersfield 43 seater bus 4

1952 Guy GS – MXX 342

1952 Guy Otters with rare Mulliner bodywork

1952 Guy Underfloor Verheul  Jac. van Dijk nr 58 NB-06-72 NL

1952 Guy Vixen Wadham

1952 Guy-Arab 89 met carrosserie van Verheul. Met 45 zit en 10 staanplaatsen. Opname grens Glanerbrug in 1954 NL

1952 Guy-Arab nr. 86 met carrosserie van Verheul NL

1952 guy-otter

1952 guy-otter

1953 Guy Arab 88 met carrosserie van Verheul. NL

1953 Guy Arab bus 60

1953 Guy Arab III with Roe B41C bodywork

1953 Guy GS MXX-343ECW B26F Kerel

1953 GUY Otter Diesel light vehicle12

1953 Guy Special NLLVP with ECW B26F body

1953 Guy Vixen Bus

1953 Guy Special with ECW B26F bodywork

1953 Guy Special NLLVP with ECW B26F bodywork

1953 Guy Vixen 30 seater vehicle 4

1953 Guy Vixen London Transport GS84 and GS76

1953 Guys with ECW B26F bodies for use on low traffic country area routes

1953 Guys with ECW B26F bodies

1954 Guy Arab Lighteight heavy duty underfloor engined coach

1954 Guy Arab LUF with a Guy B43F body

1954 Guy Arab LUF with Picktree C35F body

1954 Guy Arab LUF with rare Picktree Continental C35F body

1954 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton advert

1954 Guy Motors of Wolverhampton advert

1954 Guy Otter with a Roe B25F body

1954 Guy Sunbeam Trolley Double Deck Bus Walsall Corporation

1954 Guy Warrior 43 seater Trambus with AEC 6cyl 135 bhp engine

1954 Guy-bus 8 van de EBAD met Den Oudsten carrosserie NL

1955 Guy Arab LUF with Alexander C41F bodywork

1955 Guy Arab LUF

1955 Guy Arab LUFs, fitted with Roe B34C+24 bodies

1955 Guy Arab Mark IV East kent Road car Company Limited 31

1955 Guy Warrior LUF Coach 3

1955 Guy Warrior with Burlingham C41F body

1955 guy-s ad

1956 Guy Arab LUFs with Willowbrook C37C bodies

1956 Guy Arab Mark IV Belgium 36

1956 Guy Arab, with Park Royal body

1956 Guy Kusters-bus, de EBAD 91

1956 Guy Raghano België

1956 Guy Seal Small capacity tourist coach 1

1956 Guy Warrior, XUK768, with Mulliner C37C body

1957 Guy Arab LUF with Roe B41R body

1957 GUY Jonckheere België

1957 Guy Otter P6 with Mulliner B26F bodywork

1957 Guy Vixen

1958 Guy Arab LUFs with Longwell Green B44F bodies, XNY419

1958 Guy LUF with Longwell Green B44F body

1958 Guy UF with Burlingham Seagull C41F body

1958 Guy Victory Trambus

1958 Guy Victory Trambus

1958 Guy Victory UF 44 till 65 seater Luxery Touring Coach Victory 2

1958 Guy Victory

1958 Guy Warrior Gardner 5HLW oil engine 2

1958 Guy Wulfrunian

1958 Guy-Arab nr. 89 met carrosserie van Verheul. De bus had 45 zit en 10 staanplaatsen

1958 guy-victory

1958 guy-victory

1958 guy-victory

1959 GUY 1460

1959 Guy Arab LUF Powered by a Gardner 6HLW engine Registration 1294 RE

1960 GUY J- Type

1960 Guy Warrior coach vehicle 21

1960 guy-victory

1961 Guy Arab III-Strachen-Highland Trans.G.Rixon2

1961 Guy Wulfrunians with Roe H43-32F body

1963 Guy Arab IV with Massey lowbridge body

1964 Guy Conquest Luxery Coach

1965 Guy Conquest Luxery Coach with AEC AV505 Gardner 6LX or 6LW Victory Trambus

1960 Guy Victory 40-45 seat

GUY DD

Guy Arab – FRU 224

Guy buses

1967 Guy -ZABO NL

1978 Guy Victory U F Victory 1 ?

END