UMP277 is a 1949 AEC Regal IV prototype with PRV B40F body that spent some with London Transport. It is pictured here outside PRV's offices in Abbey Road as "just built". This monochrome hand-coloured photograph was probably to be used for a brochure (Image courtesy Ian McLellan-Smith).  This vehicle has now been restored see the restoration story here.

This is the second Regal IV prototype with PRV body dating August 1949 (Body No. B34156).  Similar to UMP227 but RHD, It was delivered to Hague Tramways as their #96, but after further demonstration work, it was sold in Britain in the mid 50's, becoming a roadside tea bar!

This is one of three photos included in a feature in the January 1952 ACV Gazette about the MIRA Proving Ground near Nuneaton.  It is believed this LHD coach is on a Regal IV chassis (No. 9831E002) that was shown on Park Royal's stand at the 1950 Commercial Motor Show.  Apparently the body was later transferred to Crossley on the the Regal IV chassis (No. 9831E004) (image and information kindly supplied by Neil Fraser of www.aecsouthall.co.uk).

A680 is a PRV built coach (Body # B34585) built in June 1951 on an AEC Regal IV chassis (# 9821E370) for Linjebuss, Stockholm. 

A728 is a PRV built coach (Body # B34626) built in June 1951 on an AEC Regal IV chassis (# 9821E400) for Linjebuss, Stockholm. 

A697 is a PRV built coach (Body # B34593) built in July 1951 on an AEC Regal IV chassis (# 9821E377) for Linjebuss, Stockholm. 

MLL738 is a PRV built coach (Body # B35271) built in February 1953 on an AEC Regal IV chassis (# 9822E120) for BEA.  Please see the BEA page for further images and information (Images courtesy Roy Gould).

Björn Forslund kindly sent in his photograph of the only remaining Park Royal bodied AEC Regal in Sweden; built in 1952 this AEC Regal Mark IV was restored in the 80's by the Linjebuss company (fleet No. 439) but when the company was bought by Connex in the 90's the bus was eventually donated to the the Svenska Omnibusföreningen (Swedish Omnibus Association); the photo [©Björn Forslund], was taken at the Swedish 100 year celebration of the first regular bus service at Malmkoping in 1999; at that time it was still was owned by Linjebuss/Connex company.  Please visit the Svenska Omnibusföreningen (Swedish Omnibus Association) website where you will find links to photos and descriptions of their preserved buses (it's in Swedish but the Google toolbar translator solves the issue for those like me! Ed.).

This is the first of the only batch of thirty-nine Regal IVs (Fleet Nos. 290-328) with Crossley built bodywork (see note[1] below) that were all delivered in 1952 (except Fleet Nos. 312 & 325-8 that were delivered in early '53) to the Christchurch Transport Board in New Zealand.  Notice the series of hooks asymmetrically mounted above the AEC badge to the front!  If you are wondering their purpose see the picture below of a PRV version of this bus and perhaps be surprised? We believe the interior of the driver's cabin (of either a Crossley or PRV version) of this bus can be seen here. 

 This Regal IV, fleet No. 331, with PRV bodywork (B35453 Range 51-68), was one of a first batch of eighteen delivered in 1952/3 to the Christchurch Transport Board in New Zealand.  Though 331 was built in June 1952 to feature in the September/October Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court it wasn't delivered to CTB until April '53. (The photograph demonstrates New Zealand's unusual method of carrying perambulators!)

The following anecdote has been kindly provided by David Welch formerly of the Christchurch Transport Board:
I used to love the old "Mark Fours", lumbering but very comfortable to drive, I think partly because of their dependability, pre-select and the very comfortable (sitting at a table feel) body position for driving.  They ran for about 25 years in Christchurch, not bad for buses that often ran 18 hours a day most days.  The bodies were very heavy and solid.  Sometimes I'd pat the bus when I came alongside, it used to make me think of an elephant. They had such a low torque I swear you could have driven up a hill in fourth gear and that no mud in the world would ever bog down a Mark IV.  It would just complacently "chew its cud" and slowly turn over, and however slow, surely but steadily pull away. We would continue driving them even when boiling over (that was the advice) up our main hill route to the hose that was kept at the top - and boy watch out when you prized off the radiator cap!

Strange as it may seem, I specifically remember the 331 (pictured).  I used to look out for it (if I had the option of say taking a bus from the yard to do a special).  For some reason the steering and acceleration on the 331 seemed a lot lighter and peppier to handle than most of the rest of the fleet!  Amazing that the only one I specifically remember should be the one in the photo.

I suspect the picture was actually a UK factory publicity photo as I don't think there was ever a period when CTB provided dustcoats for drivers, always a full uniform.  It is a very nostalgic image nonetheless. 

David Frost comments:
Whilst in NZ I spotted an ex. Christchurch Hawke bodied Bristol RELL (Hawke produced ECW bodies under licence). A local company (Bayline) bought several of these for school contracts; both Hawke & Hess bodied. The Hess ones looked a little more modern but didn't have room for the pram hooks due to the windscreen wiper spindles being well beneath the screens. Bayline took the pram hooks off the Hawke buses before painting but there was one in the depot, still in Christchurch colours, with said hooks still in place! Pram hooks were a distinctly NZ fitment - I've never seen them anywhere else.

(Neither have I.  Whilst the idea seems quaint or somewhat bizarre these vehicles were hardly designed for taking perambulators onboard so the idea isn't as eccentric as it may first appear. Though I wonder whether, if upon a sudden stop, or a tight turn at speed, whether any prams were lost as there appears no locking mechanism to the hooks. Certainly the prams would encourage the drivers' not to get too close to the vehicle in front. Ed.)