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THE MELLOR BROTHERS PRESENT THE A TEAM

  
     
  Many operators all over Britain embraced this concept and as far as Paul and David Mellor are concerned the North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd - the fictional City bus operator - was no exception. The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd is a variation on the real-life North Western Road Car Co, founded in Cheshire in 1958, and continues to paint most of its buses red with an ivory trim and its coaches ivory with a red trim. However, the sub fleet of all over advertising buses not only breaks up the monotones of the standard livery but gives 21st Century viewers a glimpse back to companies and products that are either no longer a part of Gloucester life or have evolved out of all recognition.  
     
  "A" of course standing for Advertising, but don't you just love it when an all over paint scheme comes together?

Buses have carried interior and exterior advertisements almost from the day that they were invented in the horse-drawn era but it was not until the late 1970s that some crazy fool came up with the idea of buses being painted all over to promote just one company.

Many operators all over Britain embraced this concept and as far as Paul and David Mellor are concerned the North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd - the fictional City bus operator - was no exception. The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd is a variation on the real-life North Western Road Car Co, founded in Cheshire in 1958, and continues to paint most of its buses red with an ivory trim and its coaches ivory with a red trim. However, the sub fleet of all over advertising buses not only breaks up the monotones of the standard livery but gives 21st Century viewers a glimpse back to companies and products that are either no longer a part of Gloucester life or have evolved out of all recognition.

  
     
  A IS ALSO FOR AIRWAVES  
     
  All pictures in this section by Andy Peckham  
     
  1980 saw the launch of Gloucestershire's own first commercial radio station Severn Sound, broadcasting on a wavelength of 388 metres, 774 KiloHertz medium wave and also on 950 megahertz FM. This event inspired the fictional all over livery of RDB 889H, a rear engined Bristol RELL with a single deck Alexander Y B51F single deck body from the The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd fleet. The model is also a conversion of the very first white metal bus kit, released in 1969. Incidentally, if you take the number 300 000 and divide it by the wavelength of a radio station in metres you will discover its frequency in KiloHertz and similarly if 300 000 is divided by the frequency of a radio station in KiloHertz the division produces the wavelength in metres. Thus 300 000 divided by 388 equals ( give or take a little retuning ) 774 and 300 000 divided by 774 can be rounded up to 388. Have a go yourself if you can find a calculator!  
     
  1980 saw the launch of Gloucestershire's own first commercial radio station Severn Sound, broadcasting on a wavelength of 388 metres, 774 KiloHertz medium wave and also on 950 megahertz FM. This event inspired the fictional all over livery of RDB 889H, a rear engined Bristol RELL with a single deck Alexander Y B51F single deck body from the The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd fleet. The model is also a conversion of the very first white metal bus kit, released in 1969. Incidentally, if you take the number 300 000 and divide it by the wavelength of a radio station in metres you will discover its frequency in KiloHertz and similarly if 300 000 is divided by the frequency of a radio station in KiloHertz the division produces the wavelength in metres. Thus 300 000 divided by 388 equals ( give or take a little retuning ) 774 and 300 000 divided by 774 can be rounded up to 388. Have a go yourself if you can find a calculator!  
     
  1980 saw the launch of Gloucestershire's own first commercial radio station Severn Sound, broadcasting on a wavelength of 388 metres, 774 KiloHertz medium wave and also on 950 megahertz FM. This event inspired the fictional all over livery of RDB 889H, a rear engined Bristol RELL with a single deck Alexander Y B51F single deck body from the The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd fleet. The model is also a conversion of the very first white metal bus kit, released in 1969. Incidentally, if you take the number 300 000 and divide it by the wavelength of a radio station in metres you will discover its frequency in KiloHertz and similarly if 300 000 is divided by the frequency of a radio station in KiloHertz the division produces the wavelength in metres. Thus 300 000 divided by 388 equals ( give or take a little retuning ) 774 and 300 000 divided by 774 can be rounded up to 388. Have a go yourself if you can find a calculator!  
     
  Severn Sound was later to move to the more technically advanced frequency of 102.4 FM leaving 774 KHz for its subordinate oldies station Severn Sound Super Gold. In the history of The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd this coincided with the acquisition of a large number of rear engined Leyland Titans with Park Royal double deck bodywork from both West Midlands and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executives. Using cherished number plates to disguise their age they were to serve Gloucester reliably for many years.  
     
  Severn Sound was later to move to the more technically advanced frequency of 102.4 FM leaving 774 KHz for its subordinate oldies station Severn Sound Super Gold. In the history of The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd this coincided with the acquisition of a large number of rear engined Leyland Titans with Park Royal double deck bodywork from both West Midlands and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executives. Using cherished number plates to disguise their age they were to serve Gloucester reliably for many years.  
     
  Severn Sound was later to move to the more technically advanced frequency of 102.4 FM leaving 774 KHz for its subordinate oldies station Severn Sound Super Gold. In the history of The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd this coincided with the acquisition of a large number of rear engined Leyland Titans with Park Royal double deck bodywork from both West Midlands and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executives. Using cherished number plates to disguise their age they were to serve Gloucester reliably for many years.  
     
  A IS ALSO FOR ALFRESCO  
     
  All pictures in this section by Andy Peckham  
     
  LDF 665F, a rear engined Leyland Atlantean with double deck Park Royal bodywork, wears the completely fictitious all over livery of Hurran's Garden Centre, Churchdown. Although taken for granted nowadays, the modern garden centre was the brainchild of nurseryman Alfred Hurran and this set of markings was based on early issues of Popular Gardening magazines. The model itself is a rebuilt Dinky 292. Picture by Andy Peckham.  
     
  LDF 665F, a rear engined Leyland Atlantean with double deck Park Royal bodywork, wears the completely fictitious all over livery of Hurran's Garden Centre, Churchdown. Although taken for granted nowadays, the modern garden centre was the brainchild of nurseryman Alfred Hurran and this set of markings was based on early issues of Popular Gardening magazines. The model itself is a rebuilt Dinky 292. Picture by Andy Peckham.  
     
  LDF 665F, a rear engined Leyland Atlantean with double deck Park Royal bodywork, wears the completely fictitious all over livery of Hurran's Garden Centre, Churchdown. Although taken for granted nowadays, the modern garden centre was the brainchild of nurseryman Alfred Hurran and this set of markings was based on early issues of Popular Gardening magazines. The model itself is a rebuilt Dinky 292. Picture by Andy Peckham.  
     
  LDF 665F, a rear engined Leyland Atlantean with double deck Park Royal bodywork, wears the completely fictitious all over livery of Hurran's Garden Centre, Churchdown. Although taken for granted nowadays, the modern garden centre was the brainchild of nurseryman Alfred Hurran and this set of markings was based on early issues of Popular Gardening magazines. The model itself is a rebuilt Dinky 292.  
     
  A IS ALSO FOR ANIMALS  
     
  All pictures in this section by Andy Peckham  
     
  Until the Petsmart franchise left Bristol Road in Gloucester V 352 DFH, a rear engined Volvo Olympian with double deck Northern Counties Palatine II bodywork had the most advanced overall livery in the The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd fleet. Made from computer printed vinyl, this featured "fish tanks" on both decks on the driver's side and confronted archnophobic drivers following it with a giant tarantula, spider and lizard! The cat illustration is based on Paul Mellor's own venerable pet and V 352 DFH was later, in the mythology of The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd, repainted in standard fleet colours.  
     
  Until the Petsmart franchise left Bristol Road in Gloucester V 352 DFH, a rear engined Volvo Olympian with double deck Northern Counties Palatine II bodywork had the most advanced overall livery in the The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd fleet. Made from computer printed vinyl, this featured "fish tanks" on both decks on the driver's side and confronted archnophobic drivers following it with a giant tarantula, spider and lizard! The cat illustration is based on Paul Mellor's own venerable pet and V 352 DFH was later, in the mythology of The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd, repainted in standard fleet colours.  
     
  Until the Petsmart franchise left Bristol Road in Gloucester V 352 DFH, a rear engined Volvo Olympian with double deck Northern Counties Palatine II bodywork had the most advanced overall livery in the The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd fleet. Made from computer printed vinyl, this featured "fish tanks" on both decks on the driver's side and confronted archnophobic drivers following it with a giant tarantula, spider and lizard! The cat illustration is based on Paul Mellor's own venerable pet and V 352 DFH was later, in the mythology of The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd, repainted in standard fleet colours.  
     
  A IS ALSO FOR APPETISING  
     
  Everyone likes tender Berni Steak, and in the 1970s you could find one at The New Inn in Northgate Street, Gloucester. But where are they now? At least we have this model of half cab AEC Regent V with front entrance Park Royal body (above) and rear engined Alexander double deck bodied Daimler Fleetline GFH 41N (below) to remind us of yesterday's meal out  
     
  Everyone likes tender Berni Steak, and in the 1970s you could find one at The New Inn in Northgate Street, Gloucester. But where are they now? At least we have this model of half cab AEC Regent V with front entrance Park Royal body (above) and rear engined Alexander double deck bodied Daimler Fleetline GFH 41N (below) to remind us of yesterday's meal out  
     
  Everyone likes tender Berni Steak, and in the 1970s you could find one at The New Inn in Northgate Street, Gloucester. But where are they now? At least we have this model of half cab AEC Regent V with front entrance Park Royal body (above) and rear engined Alexander double deck bodied Daimler Fleetline GFH 41N (below) to remind us of yesterday's meal out.  
     
  Everyone likes tender Berni Steak, and in the 1970s you could find one at The New Inn in Northgate Street, Gloucester. But where are they now? At least we have this model of half cab AEC Regent V with front entrance Park Royal body (above) and rear engined Alexander double deck bodied Daimler Fleetline GFH 41N (below) to remind us of yesterday's meal out  
     
  Everyone likes tender Berni Steak, and in the 1970s you could find one at The New Inn in Northgate Street, Gloucester. But where are they now? At least we have this model of half cab AEC Regent V with front entrance Park Royal body (above) and rear engined Alexander double deck bodied Daimler Fleetline GFH 41N (below) to remind us of yesterday's meal out  
     
  A IS ALSO FOR ARS GRATIA ARTIS  
     
  "Ars Gratia Artis" - or "Art for Arts Sake" - is the motto of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, like Cannon and Virgin once owners of what in 2008 is the 6 screen Cineworld cinema at The Peel Centre, St Ann Way, Gloucester. Built on the site of the former Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, this particular picture palace was the first to be purpose-built in Gloucester as a multi screen complex and also the first to built away from the traditional town centre. G224ADG is a double decked MCW Metrobus III and the painstaking illustrations depict such films of the late 1980s as the Star Trek, Back To The Future, Batman, Superman, Death Wish, Crocodile Dundee and Beverley Hill Cop franchises as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Madonna and older favourites like Laurel and Hardy and Bambi.  
     
  "Ars Gratia Artis" - or "Art for Arts Sake" - is the motto of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, like Cannon and Virgin once owners of what in 2008 is the 6 screen Cineworld cinema at The Peel Centre, St Ann Way, Gloucester. Built on the site of the former Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, this particular picture palace was the first to be purpose-built in Gloucester as a multi screen complex and also the first to built away from the traditional town centre. G224ADG is a double decked MCW Metrobus III and the painstaking illustrations depict such films of the late 1980s as the Star Trek, Back To The Future, Batman, Superman, Death Wish, Crocodile Dundee and Beverley Hill Cop franchises as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Madonna and older favourites like Laurel and Hardy and Bambi.  
     
  "Ars Gratia Artis" - or "Art for Arts Sake" - is the motto of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, like Cannon and Virgin once owners of what in 2008 is the 6 screen Cineworld cinema at The Peel Centre, St Ann Way, Gloucester. Built on the site of the former Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, this particular picture palace was the first to be purpose-built in Gloucester as a multi screen complex and also the first to built away from the traditional town centre. G224ADG is a double decked MCW Metrobus III and the painstaking illustrations depict such films of the late 1980s as the Star Trek, Back To The Future, Batman, Superman, Death Wish, Crocodile Dundee and Beverley Hill Cop franchises as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Madonna and older favourites like Laurel and Hardy and Bambi.  
     
  A IS ALSO FOR AUTOMOTIVE  
     
  CAR FINDER  
     
  Before buying a new or used car it is well worth doing some research - and the all over livery of Park Royal bodied Leyland Titan GNV 6F was keen to tell people which newspaper to buy! Acquired by The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd second hand from the Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, this vehicle retains its standard red and ivory ends to highlight the bright yellow advertising content.  
     
  Before buying a new or used car it is well worth doing some research - and the all over livery of Park Royal bodied Leyland Titan GNV 6F was keen to tell people which newspaper to buy! Acquired by The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd second hand from the Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, this vehicle retains its standard red and ivory ends to highlight the bright yellow advertising content.  
     
  LEX TILLOTSON  
     
  Now for a rear engined Leyland Atlantean with front entrance double deck Charles Roe bodywork painted in the overall scheme of Lex Tillotson of Eastern Avenue, Gloucester and in particular the Terrier, Boxer, Mastiff and Super-Mastiff in their canine themed range of Leyland Vans and Trucks. The model is a conversion of the Dinky 292. Top picture by Andy Peckham.  
     
     
  Now for a rear engined Leyland Atlantean with front entrance double deck Charles Roe bodywork painted in the overall scheme of Lex Tillotson of Eastern Avenue, Gloucester and in particular the Terrier, Boxer, Mastiff and Super-Mastiff in their canine themed range of Leyland Vans and Trucks. The model is a conversion of the Dinky 292.  
     
  Now for a rear engined Leyland Atlantean with front entrance double deck Charles Roe bodywork painted in the overall scheme of Lex Tillotson of Eastern Avenue, Gloucester and in particular the Terrier, Boxer, Mastiff and Super-Mastiff in their canine themed range of Leyland Vans and Trucks. The model is a conversion of the Dinky 292.  
     
  Now for a rear engined Leyland Atlantean with front entrance double deck Charles Roe bodywork painted in the overall scheme of Lex Tillotson of Eastern Avenue, Gloucester and in particular the Terrier, Boxer, Mastiff and Super-Mastiff in their canine themed range of Leyland Vans and Trucks. The model is a conversion of the Dinky 292. Top picture by Andy Peckham.  
     
  MOONS OF GLOUCESTER  
     
  This Bristol VR Mark 1 with a Lowestoft built Eastern Coach Works body had something of an identity crisis when Moons of London Road, Gloucester, suddenly changed from a Chrysler dealership to Talbot Cars and Dodge vans and trucks. The model was also one of the first offerings in what is now the Pirate range of white metal kits.  
     
  This Bristol VR Mark 1 with a Lowestoft built Eastern Coach Works body had something of an identity crisis when Moons of London Road, Gloucester, suddenly changed from a Chrysler dealership to Talbot Cars and Dodge vans and trucks. The model was also one of the first offerings in what is now the Pirate range of white metal kits. Lower picture by Andy Peckham.  
     
  This Bristol VR Mark 1 with a Lowestoft built Eastern Coach Works body had something of an identity crisis when Moons of London Road, Gloucester, suddenly changed from a Chrysler dealership to Talbot Cars and Dodge vans and trucks. The model was also one of the first offerings in what is now the Pirate range of white metal kits.  
     
  TARGET TRUCK GLOUCESTER  
     
  The pictures above show the front and sides of G 223 ADG, one of two Alexander R type bodied MCW Metrobus PSVs in the all-over livery of Bristol Road based Iveco Ford dealers Target Truck, complete with colour illustrations of Transit and other famous vans and pick-ups. The destination blind shows that it is on a Cheltenham bound 250 service.  
     
  The pictures above and at the top of this feature show the front and sides of G 223 ADG, one of two Alexander R type bodied MCW Metrobus PSVs in the all-over livery of Bristol Road based Iveco Ford dealers Target Truck, complete with colour illustrations of Transit, TurboDaily, Cargo, Turbostar and pick-up variants. This vehicle retains its standard red and ivory ends to highlight the bright yellow advertising content and the destination blind shows that it is on a Cheltenham bound 250 service. Lower picture by Andy Peckham.  
     
  The pictures above and at the top of this feature show the front and sides of G 223 ADG, one of two Alexander R type bodied MCW Metrobus PSVs in the all-over livery of Bristol Road based Iveco Ford dealers Target Truck, complete with colour illustrations of Transit, TurboDaily and pick-ups. This vehicle retains its standard red and ivory ends to highlight the bright yellow advertising content and the destination blind shows that it is on a Cheltenham bound 250 service. Lower picture by Andy Peckham  
     
  TAYLORS OF GLOUCESTER  
     
  Also encouraging the travelling public to buy a one way ticket to Bristol Road - and drive away in a new car - was Leyland National Mark 1 GFH 615N in Taylors of Gloucester. Like the Alexander R type bodied MCW Metrobus PSV seen above, it carries the image of a yellow Ford Transit. In the distance is the other all-over liveried single decker in The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd fleet, Alexander Y type bodied B51F Bristol RELL RDB 889H in the markings of 388 Severn Sound Radio, which began broadcasting in the autumn of 1980.  
     
  Also encouraging the travelling public to buy a one way ticket to Bristol Road - and drive away in a new car - was Leyland National Mark 1 GFH 615N in Taylors of Gloucester. Like the Alexander R type bodied MCW Metrobus PSV seen above, it carries the image of a yellow Ford Transit. In the distance above is the other all-over liveried single decker in The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd fleet, Alexander Y type bodied B51F Bristol RELL RDB 889H in the markings of 388 Severn Sound Radio, which began broadcasting in the autumn of 1980. Lower picture by Andy Peckham.  
     
  Also encouraging the travelling public to buy a one way ticket to Bristol Road - and drive away in a new car - was Leyland National Mark 1 GFH 615N in Taylors of Gloucester. Like the Alexander R type bodied MCW Metrobus PSV seen above, it carries the image of a yellow Ford Transit. In the distance above is the other all-over liveried single decker in The North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd fleet, Alexander Y type bodied B51F Bristol RELL RDB 889H in the markings of 388 Severn Sound Radio, which began broadcasting in the autumn of 1980. Lower picture by Andy Peckham.  
     
  BUT B IS FOR BARCLAYCARD  
     
  Back in the days when pounds were notes and uncrossed cheques stalked the financial landscape, an innovation like Barclaycard demanded a special livery on this MCW rear engined PSV with a Liverpool style double deck body. KDB 465E is also unique in carrying the number 1 527 166 on the white section between the blue and gold bands. In fact every bus involved in this campaign had a different total! From the modelling point of view, this bus is another Dinky 292 conversion. Lower picture by Andy Peckham  
     
  Back in the days when pounds were notes and uncrossed cheques stalked the financial landscape, an innovation like Barclaycard demanded a special livery on this MCW rear engined PSV with a Liverpool style double deck body. KDB 465E is also unique in carrying the number 1 527 166 on the white section between the blue and gold bands. In fact every bus involved in this campaign had a different total! From the modelling point of view, this bus is another Dinky 292 conversion. Lower picture by Andy Peckham  
     
  Back in the days when pounds were notes and uncrossed cheques stalked the financial landscape, an innovation like Barclaycard demanded a special livery on this MCW rear engined PSV with a Liverpool style double deck body. KDB 465E is also unique in carrying the number 1 527 166 on the white section between the blue and gold bands. In fact every bus involved in this campaign had a different total! From the modelling point of view, this bus is another Dinky 292 conversion. Lower picture by Andy Peckham