NST Buses

The North Shore Transport Co Ltd did some interesting things with buses. The developments commenced with an underfloor conversion of a Mack CB chassis. In 1965 three buses were built. 2 NST Macks and the Keas Mk I. In 1969 two new Kea MkII coaches were built. After takeover by ARA 26 Bedford VAM buses (ex, North shore, Suburban, ABC and PTC) were converted to use Isuzu 6BD1 engines. 18 of these were modifed to mid-engined buses and 14 got Alison automatic gearboxes (13 got both). In 1985 a Bedford VAl was converted from twin-steer to single fromt axle and a Gardner engine installed (along with a hideous grille). Also commencing in 1985 ?? of the ARA 0303s had tag axles and abody extention fitted at the North Shore workshops increasing setting from 41 to 49. The rapid expansion of North Shore following the opening of Auckland Harbour Bridge in 1957 must have placed severe strains on both North Shore Transport and other transport interests of the Davies family. Was shortage of capital a factor in the decision to rebuild buses?

Mack CBLIRS

NST 105 an underfloor engined Mack in service with North Shore Transport. Photo Wayne Duncan

NST Mack

Two buses constructed from components of scrapped Bedford and Mack chassis with Leyland O.680 engines. The bodies are NZMB.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
141	23365	23/3/65	EX9688	Auckland Regional Authority	941	EX9688	16/4/73	B45D
				Shore Watersports Ltd	?	EX9688	7/6/78	.
				Orewa Transport 1986 Ltd, Dairy Flat	.	EX9688	8/6/89	.
				L T Farnworth, Tauranga	.	EX9688	25/6/97	Movan
				S McGregor, Paengaroa	.	EX9688	17/10/97	Movan
				R C Curtis, Lower Hutt	.	EX9688	12/12/01	Movan
144	2705	22/12/65	DB9044	Auckland Regional Authority	944	DB9044	16/4/73	B44D
				Ray Vincent Ltd	?	DB9044	13/2/87	.
				V W McVeigh, Otahuhu	?	DB9044	23/4/87	Movan?
				T R & R J Dalbeath, Mt Maunganui	?	DB9044	22/7/91	Movan
				P & R A Barton, Ranui, Auckland	?	DB9044	3/1/01	Movan

NST Mack EX9688 highly modified as a movan June 2005. Photo Mike Butler

Kea Mark I

Kea Mk I with three doors as ARA 943. Photo John Gilmour

This bus was built by North Shore Transport using imported components. The engine is a horizontal rear mounted AEC AH505. The NZMB body was initally B43T later B45D. Neville Jarvis believes the chassis is a Ford Thames 36.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
143	117522	25/11/65	DB8990	Auckland Regional Authority	943	DB8990	16/4/73	.
				Orewa Transport (1984) Ltd, Dairy Flat	.	DB8990	18/9/86	.
				Explorer Bus Ltd, Penrose	.	DB8990	5/12/97	.
				The Party Bus Co Ltd, Whenuapai	.	DB8990	26/11/99	"Lucille"
				J Van De Voo, Royal Heights, Auckland	.	DB8990	27/1/03	No CoF
				taken off road (I hope not scrapped)	.	DB8990	27/8/03	.

Kea MkI as a Party Bus. Photo Ian Prince

Kea Mark II

Two coaches built at North Shore Transport workshops. They were used initally by Johnstons Coaches, another part of Auckland Transport Holdings Ltd and then sold to Midland Coachlines. They stayed together throughout their working life and both are now Movans. The coaches had NZMB C41F? bodies. Initially the buses ahd AEC 505 engines and gearboxes. These were quickly replaced with Detroit Diesel V6s driving through Allison automatic transmission.

Kea Kiwi 31 at Diana Drive c1970. Photo Peter Trevor