Delivered new to the Brisbane City Council’s Department of Transport in June 1948, this historically significant vehicle entered service at a time when the council acquired 20 private bus operators each operating services into Brisbane City. Between 1947 and 1948, the Council began consolidating bus transportation in Brisbane into municipal ownership – ultimately becoming the largest operator in Queensland which remains the case today. The rationale behind this municipal takeover was the improvement of services by operating modern, diesel-powered buses as well as the coordination of city-bound services. This vehicle was one of 12 built by Commonwealth Engineering in Sydney on British A.E.C. (Associated Equipment Company) Regal III chassis. The chassis cost £3,415 while the body cost £1,695, making a total of £5,110.

Bus 80 was assigned to Light Street depot in Fortitude Valley. Route number destination boxes were retrofitted to the front and rear of the vehicle, as the Council introduced route numbering for the first time from 31 October 1949. Bus 80 remained in service for over 20 years until it was withdrawn in September 1971. It was later donated to the Brisbane Tramway Museum at Ferny Grove for preservation on 11 November 1976. In August 1985, the vehicle was refurbished back to original condition by the Brisbane Transport Workshops at Toowong which included fitting of original lights and removal of side window trim (which had been fitted in later years as additional structural support for the roof line). The bus then passed to our club in April 2000 for continued preservation.

Between May and July 2020, the vehicle was restored to original condition by Coachworks courtesy of a $19,000 Queensland Government Community Benefit Fund grant.

Vehicle Specifications

Year	1948
Chassis	A.E.C. Regal III
Engine	9.6 litre, 6-cylinder A.E.C. A208 diesel engine, 125bhp at 1800rpm
Transmission	Wilson 4-speed pre-select, compressed air operated gearbox with worm-drive differential
Brakes	Compressed air brakes and spring handbrake
Steering	Conventional (non-power steering)
Body	Commonwealth Engineering Co. Ltd, Granville, New South Wales
Construction	Steel frame with 20 gauge steel panelling
Colour	Aluminium with dark blue sign writing
Seating	65 passengers (39 seated, 26 standing)
In Service	June 1948 to September 1971

These photos were taken as part of a publicity shoot for Commonwealth Engineering in Sydney. Bus 80 is pictured here outside the Treasury building at North Quay on William Street in March 1949. **Photos: Brisbane City Council**

Bus 80 is pictured here in service on 29 April 1957 having been retrofitted with a route number box. **Photo: W. John Webster**

Bus 80’s official Brisbane City Council fleet record.

Bus 80 was donated by the Brisbane City Council to the Brisbane Tramway Museum Society on 11 November 1976. You can see the side window trim which was fitted in later years as additional structural support for the roof line. **Photo: Robert Thomson**

Bus 80 leads a procession of Brisbane City Council buses past Brisbane GPO in Queen Street on 21 November 1981 as part of Transport Week. **Photo: Robert Thomson**

Bus 80 pictured operating a joy ride for visitors to the Brisbane Tramway Museum at Ferny Grove. **Photo: Bill Blannin**

Bus 80 at the 2005 HCVAQ Show at Cleveland Showgrounds under QOCS ownership. **Photo: Paul Garred**

Restoration of Bus 80

Between May and July 2020, Bus 80 was restored to original condition by Coachworks courtesy of a $19,000 Queensland Government Community Benefit Fund grant.

This involved replacing a number of body panels and attending to some other minor rust repairs, plus undertaking a complete respray of the Council’s original Aluminium-colour paint scheme.