Description
1950 London Transport Country Area AEC Regent III RT — RT3183, registration KYY 912.
A rare green Country Area RT with strong London Transport and London Country history, known restoration work, and current roadworthy usability. New to London Transport in June 1950 with Weymann body 6064 as a 3RT8, RT3183 entered service at Chelsham on routes 408 and 470, later serving from depots including Dorking, Grays, Romford, Godstone, Reigate, Dunton Green, Northfleet, Swanley, Addlestone, Windsor and Luton. It passed to London Country Bus Services in January 1970, was withdrawn in July 1972 and later sold for further contract transport use.
The bus later became known as the Harlow Playbus, having been heavily modified in 1980 and used in that role for around ten years. It subsequently underwent significant structural restoration at Tilsworth by Brian and Dave Simmons, including work to the underside, rear platform, platform riser and offside lower body. This addressed a number of common RT body issues, particularly around the rear platform and lower rear structure.
The restoration work is documented on YouTube under “London Transport RT3183 Restoration”:
- details above
I have owned RT3183 for the past few years, having purchased it as an ongoing restoration project. It is fully road legal, mechanically well maintained and immediately usable. It has been driven and rallied often during my ownership and is not a dormant project. During my ownership I have also attended to a number of body repairs and restoration items, as well as sourcing parts to support future improvement of the interior.
Recent and notable mechanical work/ features include:
Brand new set of six commercial vehicle tyres, with only a few hundred miles covered.
Recently serviced and top-end overhauled engine.
New head gaskets fitted as part of that work, not due to any known engine fault.
Clean oil samples.
Fully greased and maintained chassis.
High-speed differential, allowing it to cruise comfortably at around 48–50 mph.
Driven and rallied regularly during my ownership.
Returns approximately 12 mpg on diesel in real-world use.
Tax and MOT exempt due to age/ historic status.
Although the bus is tax and MOT exempt, I am happy to provide a fresh Class 5 MOT at the full asking price for additional buyer confidence.
The bus is best described as a usable rolling restoration. It is presentable, roadworthy and ready to use, but it is not a finished concours vehicle. Areas for future attention include some exterior body panels and an interior refresh, depending on the standard the next owner wishes to achieve.
The interior is fully usable but showing signs of age. The bus comes with a presentable set of London Transport moquetted seat backs and cushions with leather edging, giving the next owner a good basis for a sympathetic interior improvement. I bought RT3183 because it is a genuine London Transport Country Area RT with a particularly interesting life story. It is not just another preserved double-decker; it has proper London Transport service history, later London Country ownership, a second life as the Harlow Playbus, and a documented restoration record.
What makes it stand out is that it is a usable, roadworthy bus with known history and important structural work already carried out. Many RTs have either been fully restored to a very high standard or remain major long-term projects. RT3183 sits in a very usable middle ground: it can be driven, rallied and enjoyed now, while still offering scope for the next owner to improve it further.
The Country Area RTs are also much rarer to see than the standard red Central Area buses, and the green livery gives the vehicle real presence. Its service history across depots such as Chelsham, Grays, Romford, Godstone, Reigate, Dunton Green, Northfleet, Swanley, Addlestone, Windsor and Luton gives it a broad and interesting London Transport/ London Country story.
Although RT3183 is currently a green Country Area RT, it could also credibly be painted into London Transport red livery if the next owner preferred that presentation. Its long London Transport service history, later body/ chassis changes through Aldenham overhaul, and standard RT appearance mean it would still make an authentic and attractive London Transport red bus, while the current green Country Area identity gives it a rarer and more distinctive preservation angle.
My favourite thing about the bus is how usable it is. It has a high-speed differential, so it is capable of cruising at around 48–50 mph, which makes it much more practical on modern roads than some vehicles of this age. It drives well, attracts attention wherever it goes, and has been driven and rallied regularly during my ownership.
The reason for sale is purely personal: I have my first child on the way and already have another RT bus in my collection. I would like RT3183 to go to someone who will continue to use it, improve it and ideally keep it in preservation.
