I some times went to middle school on the London and country run ones of these from Dorking bus garage
Taking workers home from Fry’s chocolate factory in the 50’s , just one day shift back then 8 to 5. Went round that factory when a kid on a school trip and at the end we were given a tin box full of the products they made there, went to Bristol Zoo on the same trip, Buzzer
nmp
Plaxton-bodied Bedford VAL, but why does it bear a 1960 registration? The Val was first produced in 1965.
There’s no year identifier up to 1963 and think it’s illegal to put a younger reg number than the manufacture date or would obviously defeat the object.So if it was made in '65 registered in 66/67 maybe the council office told them it was easier to use an unused pre 63 reg number than to allocate a retrospective year reg number ?.
In fact, I think I was wrong! The Val must have been produced as soon as 1963.
One of Blue Bus’ REs (flat-front) is in preservation - TRY 118H
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bristol-re/2482155035
Makes a great racket too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR_MZD8mu6M
He’d be far less tired at the end of a shift he someone taught him how to use a steering wheel!
It’s Craig, he’s like that.
What on earth is that?
It’s a bus-bodied version of the Austin 25 / 30 cwt van. There were still quite a few of these about when I was growing up, though bus versions were rare. I think they were superceded by the LD 20 / 30 cwt van.
Thank you, I did peer at the grille and think “Austin?”
Austin. Xdrtvbhytfc
Ah! Now would that be the Xdrtvbhytfc with the left-hand thread wheel-nuts on the near side? 
Also known in the trade as minimum twenty characters. 
Think you only need 10 now-DD reset it 
It’s a VAL Jim, but not as we know it.
Caetano?