Descrição
1987 volvo b10m van hool alizee t8 - ex kenzies coaches - 57 seater coach
introduction:
welcome to this advert listing for my 1987 volvo b10m van hool t8 alizee coach, which i must stress from the outset of this description, must not be confused with any other b10m t8 currently for sale. I must also stress that i really do not wish to sell this coach. And it is only due to circumstances outside of my control that has lead to be advertised for sale.
upon acquiring this coach, i had the understanding and reassurance that suitable inside storage was going to be available to me, and therefore it would be safely stored over the up and coming winter months. Unfortunately, this promise of storage has never come to fruition, and therefore i have had to make the incredibly hard decision to advertise it for sale.
i feel it is very important to include a detailed description within an advertisement, however if you have any further questions about this coach then please do not hesitate to contact me - and if you would prefer to talk via a telephone call as opposed to email, then that is fine too.
background history:
as you may well be aware if you are viewing this advert, kenzies coaches of shepreth (near cambridge), retired from coach operating in august 2019, after some 70 years of service. As a result of this. Their operational fleet was sold off following retirement and them closing their doors. You may also be aware of the incredible reputation that kenzies coaches upheld within the coach operators industry - being somewhat of a household name within bus, coach. And operator circles. None of kenzies coaches operational fleet were formally advertised on the open market so to speak, as their reputation was such that the vehicles were quickly acquired through word of mouth by individuals up and down the country. I therefore feel rather fortunate to have had the opportunity to purchase this particular example.
coach history:
this particular coach was purchased brand new by kenzies coaches, in 1987, and has remained within kenzies ownership for the past 32 years. The underpinnings of this coach are that of the renowned volvo b10m, which really does need little introduction, being such a stalwart of the bus and coach industry. Coupled with the attractive and desirable van hool alizee t8 coachwork, this does indeed make for a superb combination. The coach remained in operational service until the very end of kenzies retirement, and is therefore still in class 6 / psv running order now.
mechanicals:
as previously mentioned, this coach features the volvo b10m chassis configuration, which is one of the most rugged and highly regarding engine and chassis combinations around. For those who are not aware, this means it has a 9. 6 litre straight 6 turbo diesel engine, which is horizontally mounted under the floor behind the front axle. This is also combined with a 6 speed manual gearbox.
i am pleased to report that this coach drives very well indeed, and is a pleasure to drive. Not only does it start up instantly, and builds up it's air very quickly and with ease - it also holds it's air for a goodly while (arguably longer than more modern coaches!). the b10m always starts with ease regardless of how since last being started, and obviously produces a superb sound which can only be the b10m.
with this coach being operated by kenzies coaches from new, naturally it has been maintained incredibly well over it's lifetime with regular servicing and safety check procedures. This is without doubt evident in how well it drives, and as mr cyril kenzie personally said to me - "all of our coaches are maintained and kept in such order that you could get in any of them, at anytime, and drive anywhere". for me, that is the only service history details i need, and i wouldn't hesitate in driving anywhere in this coach. As well as this, please note this coach is also fitted with michelin tyres.
the coach has a current mot until april 2020, and is still class 6 motd, therefore meaning it could return to psv service in an instant if required. It also had a 6 year tachograph calibration carried out in december 2018 too. There is a selection of paperwork available with the coach, which includes it's original psv certificate of initial fitness, tachograph calibration certificates, detailed brake test results, psv technical details/ specification, seat belt inspection certification, speed limiter register and of course the current v5 logbook showing just 1 previous owner (kenzies).
exterior:
as you can see from the photographs, this coach is an incredibly aesthetically pleasing coach indeed. The t8 alizee is almost something of a timeless design, and still looks great today. Coupled with the wonderful kenzies paintwork design, it really is a pleasure to see. The exterior condition and appearance of this coach is once again testament to being looked after so well over the years, and having been stored undercover too. Being super critical there are a couple of areas on the bodywork which have some blemishes and may require rectification if you so wished - however, for a coach of this vintage - it is very good indeed. Seldom do you find a van hool t8 that is as original as this, and has not been messed about with. Naturally you can be assured the coach is of course structurally sound, especially with the class 6 psv mot currently in place too. All of the side lockers open and close with ease, and with the b10m engine position, there is an incredible amount of room underneath the coach with the full boot area and side locker storage.
interior:
the interior of the coach is, as the photographs show, a very pleasant place to be. It is a 57 seater, excluding driver and courier seat, and all of the seats are in very nice condition with minimal evidence of wear, and all are seat-belted too. Once again, testament to having been looked after incredibly well, the interior of the coach is very impressive indeed. Everything that i have tried on the electrical side of things works well, including the original blaupunkt radio/ cassette/ amplifier which is in good working order. There are also two microphones fitted, as well as a plethora of lighting too. Naturally there is also forced air rack blowers, roof vents and curtains too. Once again being super critical it is evident that two of the windows have condensated and therefore may require rectification if you so wished - however, all in all - the interior of the coach for this vintage is very good indeed.
conclusion:
to conclude, this is a very rare opportunity to own a van hool t8 which has been very well looked after, and a slice of coach operators history having been owned from new by kenzies coaches up until their retirement in august 2019. as previously mentioned, this is an incredibly hard decision to advertise this for sale, as i quite simply do not want to sell. Circumstances outside of my control regarding previous storage arrangements not coming to fruition are the only factor in this decision. However, please note - the coach will be withdrawn from sale if i do manage to unexpectedly arrange alternative storage arrangements during the course of the advert. I cannot stress enough that i am more than happy to keep the coach within preservation myself.
i am based in march, cambridgeshire, pe15, and the coach is stored in the close vicinity to this. There are numerous train stations in the locale and i am more than happy to collect you from the train station to aid collection. I welcome all serious enquires, and i am more than happy to answer any questions or queries you may have - if you would prefer to talk via a telephone call as opposed to email - that is fine too. I may also be interested in any part exchange offerings you may have, but this would naturally have to be in accordance with ebay listing rules. Whilst i cannot find storage space for a coach of this size, i do have storage available for something of a smaller scale, and i have an eclectic taste in all things vehicles being a through and through vehicle enthusiast.
thanks and kind regards.
