RVL HB216 Bus

The RVL stands for Ray Vincent Ltd., the dealer who imported the chassis. The origins of these chassis are shrouded in mystery.

Officially, these were supposed to be an Indian chassis based on the Bedford SB built under licence to Bedford in India. No one has been able to prove or disprove this. There were strong suspicions in NZ psv circles that they were in fact recycled Bedford SB chassis obtained locally from written off vehicles. Again this remains supposition only - no one has been able to prove this. The insiders' joke is that the "HM" in the chassis number stands for "home made". Certainly I have found no mention of this chassis elsewhere in the world. Some Indian components (eg Brake cylinders) were used but India in the 21st century is the major manufacturer of Bedford SB parts. No doubt these parts where being manufactured in 1979 and 1980 when these chassis where built.

Making me very suspicious of the origin of the vehicles is that Vernon Milne's 35 and Tui 38 have the same chassis number. I can't imagine a real manufacturer making such an error.

Eight were sold. Five are fitted with Hawke ECW style bodies and three sold to Tui Motors had NZMB bodies.

Brice Motors Ltd

This bus was used on Brice Motors services from Auckland to Whitford, Beachlands and Maraetai. Hawke C40F body.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
17	HM224372	2/11/79	JL3311	Newmans Coach Lines Ltd	287	JL3311	3/5/83	Whangarei
				Kiwi Coaches Ltd, Tauranga	287	JL3311	6/12/91	.
				Bayline Group Ltd, Tauranga	287	JL3311	26/9/97	.

Vernon Milne, Reporoa

Hawke B40F body

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
32	HM224359	25/7/79	JG3070	Taupo Passenger Services Ltd	32	JG3070	29/4/92	LPG
				R & T Passenger Services, Taihape	32	JG3070	9/7/03	Robin Johnston
35	HM224375	9/2/80	JM9637	Taupo Passenger Services Ltd	35	JM9637	29/4/92	LPG
				Parakai Travel Ltd, Mangere, Auckland	?	JM9637	25/9/00	CoF exp 11/00
				J & J Lupton, Manukau City	?	JM9637	7/4/04	No CoF; At Pacific Tourways yard

Shaws Transport Ltd, Pukekohe

Hawke B40F body

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
17	HM224374	12/6/79	JG3029	Murphy Buses Ltd, Thames	.	JG3029	17/10/01	.
				M Gavalas & K Smith, Whitianga	.	JG3029	5/3/04	.

Tauranga Bus Services Ltd

Now Bayline Group Ltd. Hawke DP40F body

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
44	HM224343	19/11/80	JY6507	.	.	.	.	LPG

Tui Motors Ltd

Te Puke. NZMB Commuter 2 B44F body. NZMB building shop records describe the vehicles as RVL/Bedford SB5.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
38	HM224375	24/2/82	KJ5593	Katikati Bus Co Ltd	38	KJ5593	24/7/89	.
				withdrawn from use			25/1/00	.
39	HM224341	22/4/82	KJ5594	Katikati Bus Co Ltd	39	KJ5594	24/7/89	.
				withdrawn from use			9/10/03	.
40	HM224373	22/4/82	KJ5595	Katikati Bus Co Ltd	40	KJ5595	24/7/89	.
				withdrawn from use			5/12/00	.