From 1960 to 1965 Ford imported 21 Thames Trader 30 and 36 bus chassis into New Zealand. I believe these were the first British built Ford buses in New Zealand as the earlier V8 chassis had all come from Canada. All these vehicles pre-date permanent registration plates in New Zealand.
Also included are some buses built on Ford Thames truck chassis
The buses on this site are actively tracked. The last registration record search was 4 March 2010.
Original operators are
Masterton
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | 510E 45023 | 8/61 | ET578 | No LTSA record | NZMB B32F |
Bucklands Beach, Auckland
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 510E 34935 | 12/60 | EW2085 | No LTSA record, exported to Tonga | c1979 | Hawke DP36F; Bedford petrol motor fitted |
Hawera
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | 510E 35416 | 16/11/60 | CT8365 | L J Todd, Stratford | CT8365 | 3/12/70 | Thames 30 w/b 5450 coachbuilder unknown | |
Midhrst Motors | CT8365 | 3/3/78 | Alan & Irene Gooch | |||||
J T & J M Grant, Dunedin | CT8365 | 15/1/87 | movan? | |||||
A G Taggart, Christchurch | CT8365 | 31/10/00 | movan | |||||
R O Smith, Culverden | CT8365 | 6/10/04 | movan; Reg on hold 04; To Chch 2008 |
Te Awamutu
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 510EB 87320 | 1/1/63 | EH9847 | A G Brougham, Pukekohe | EH9847 | ? | NZMB B35F | |
A G Brougham Buses Ltd, Pukekohe | EH9847 | 3/3/87 | NZMB B35F | |||||
L G Brinkley, Pukekohe | EH9847 | 17/5/93 | LTSA chassis 58EC2025 | |||||
H Tamarapa, Whangarei | EH9847 | 1/10/93 | ||||||
registration lapsed | 11/10/97 | |||||||
12 | 510E 35029 | 29/6/60 | EH9843 | Murphy Buses, Thames | EH9843 | 22/5/86 | NZMB B35F | |
C W Capper, Katikati | EH9843 | 18/12/91 | Movan | |||||
R & S M Darroch, Putaruru | EH9843 | 28/4/95 | Movan | |||||
L P Hodge, Te Kuiti | EH9843 | 21/2/01 | Movan | |||||
R D Milner, Ohura | EH9843 | 10/5/04 | Movan; Reg on hold 04; To New Plymouth 08 |
Gordonton
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 518578 | 8/61 | EJ1426 | No LTSA record | Hawke B40F |
Thomas Marshall, Dunedin. Midland B36F ex Bedford WLB adapted by Emslie & Flockton
Green Island, Dunedin
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 510E 45059 | 1/6/61 | DK3898 | Alan McLister, Winton | DK3898 | 15/5/70 | MMB B33F | |
George Spencer, Winton | DK3898 | 30/6/72 | ||||||
Graham McDermott, Winton | DK3898 | 2/8/74 | ||||||
McDermotts Coaches Ltd, Winton | DK3898 | 23/12/76 | ||||||
Alan Katon, Balclutha | DK3898 | 30/6/78 | ||||||
Fletcher Coachlines, Clinton | DK3898 | 21/11/84 | ||||||
C M Powell, Dunedin | DK3898 | 11/4/90 | ||||||
R L Wilson, Orari | DK3898 | 1/9/93 | no CoF | |||||
K J Flannery, Timaru | DK3898 | 13/6/95 | no CoF | |||||
R L Wilson, Orari | DK3898 | 2/8/95 | no CoF | |||||
registration lapsed | 9/9/02 | |||||||
11 | 510EB 87241 | 21/12/62 | DK3899 | John Oldham, Rangiora | DK3899 | 3/9/79 | MMB B33F | |
Batchelor Coachlines, Kaiapoi | DK3899 | 10/9/81 | B D & T M Batchelor | |||||
M B & E B Thomas, Oxford | DK3899 | 29/7/86 | movan? | |||||
D M Spicer, Marton | DK3899 | 14/10/97 | Movan; COF exp 05/06 | |||||
J A Bannerman, Rotorua | DK3899 | 14/12/09 | Movan | |||||
12 | 510EB 87232 | 4/3/63 | DK3900 | John Oldham, Rangiora | DK3900 | 21/12/79 | MMB B35F | |
Batchelor Coachlines, Kaiapoi | DK3900 | 10/9/81 | Brian Batchelor | |||||
Rangiora Coachlines Ltd, Rangiora | DK3900 | 21/1/83 | ||||||
M E & L E Power, Upper Hutt | DK3900 | 5/7/86 | Movan | |||||
M E & L E Power, Upper Hutt | XR7559 | 20/1/99 | Movan VIN 7A86G041098650277 | |||||
D J Shone, Masterton | XR7559 | 15/1/01 | Movan | |||||
M W Honey, Masterton | XR7559 | 16/3/04 | Movan | |||||
Registration lapsed | 22/5/06 |
This company was acquired by Hawkes Bay Motor Company in 1979. In 1984 the Pahiatua services were sold off by the Motor Cook Group and re-established as an independant company Pahiatua Passenger Services Ltd.
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 510E 45015 | 12/7/61 | ER5245 | Hawkes Bay Motor Co Ltd | 82 | ER5245 | 1979 | NZMB C36F |
Pahiatua Passenger Services (1984) Ltd | ?? | ER5245 | 11/6/84 | |||||
M P Hill, Halcombe | ?? | ER5245 | 31/12/86 | movan | ||||
P J Haimona, Auckland | ?? | ER5245 | 22/1/03 | Movan; CoF exp 10/07 | ||||
registration lapsed | 29/5/08 |
The LTSA records for this bus show a wheelbase of 12ft 6in (3860mm). If this is correct then the bus must have had the chassis shortened at sometime.
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 510E 45063 | 10/7/61 | ER9708 | N Z Bus Sales Ltd, Takanini | ER9708 | 17/11/66 | NZMB C36F | |
Hawke Bros Ltd, Takanini | ER9708 | 19/9/67 | ||||||
Timmins Buses Ltd, Waiuku | ER9708 | 19/9/67 | ||||||
I F Runciman, Mangere | ER9708 | 12/6/69 | ||||||
T R Lowrie, Waitakaruru | ER9708 | 24/9/71 | ||||||
E D Bryant Ltd, Waitakaruru | ER9708 | 20/11/78 | ||||||
Todd Buses, Kerepehi | ER9708 | 27/2/91 | ||||||
Stuart Page, Kaiata, Greymouth | ER9708 | 7/10/93 | ||||||
B L Charles, Blenheim | ER9708 | 11/2/02 | Movan | |||||
J S & B Bryan, Greymouth | ER9708 | 28/11/02 | Movan |
Wanganui
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 510EB 88950 | 11/62 | EQ4745 | No LTSA record | Hawke C23F |
Taranaki
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | ? | 10/62 | EP2631 | No LTSA record | B40F |
Te Puke
These were both Thames 30s initially with the 6D motor and two speed rear axles. Both were later converted to the 6P motor and one lost the two speed axle.
Hawera
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19? | 510EC 116254 | 1964 | CT8361 | Kaikohe Bus Co Ltd | 10 | CT8361 | 28/1/71 | Midland B44F |
Newmans Coachlines Ltd | 283 | CT8361 | 3/11/79 | acq Kaikohe Bus Co | ||||
Redwood Coachlines Ltd, Christchurch | 8 | CT8361 | 1985 | No LTSA record | ||||
Movan | CT8361 | 1993 |
Wanganui
Tauranga. The registered first owner of this bus is shown on LTSA records as Travelwide Bureau Service Ltd of Greerton, Tauranga.
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 510EC 117199 | 19/5/65 | EK7004 | Travelfar Coaches Ltd, Fernside, Rangiora | 9 | EK7004 | 19/5/76 | Hawke |
Holiday Tours & Travel Ltd, Christchurch | KP3946 | 15/4/82 | ||||||
Rangiora Coachlines Ltd, Rangiora | KP3946 | 17/5/84 | ||||||
Leopard Coachlines Ltd, Darfield | 11 | KP3946 | 8/11/85 | |||||
Coachwork International, Palmerston North | KP3946 | 5/12/89 | Also reported as AJ Brougham 17 in late 80s | |||||
Rosetown Buses, Te Awamutu | 17 | KP3946 | 5/12/89 | (G M Greaves) "Silver Bird" | ||||
Murray Ramsay, Kopu, Thames | 17 | KP3946 | 10/6/92 | |||||
Taverner Motors, Hamilton | KP3946 | 30/3/94 | Brian F Taverner | |||||
Valley Charters, Rotorua | KP3946 | 30/3/94 | G R Hawker | |||||
B N Kiff, Taupo | KP3946 | 15/1/00 | Movan | |||||
B R & S J Vickers, Taupo | KP3946 | 3/4/03 | Movan |
Thames Trader 20
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
80 | 503E20696 | 25/10/61 | DK3258 | Kurow Te Aha School Bus Syndicate | 1 | DK3258 | 13/11/68 | DCT B15F body |
C D O'Brien, Oamaru | DK3258 | 19/10/81 | Movan | |||||
R A Henry, Timaru | DK3258 | 17/12/87 | Movan | |||||
G A Clarke, Geraldine | DK3258 | 25/2/10 | Movan |
Thames Trader T55
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 660ED12642 | 29/7/65 | DZ7442 | Rogers Motors Ltd, Whangarei | 7? | DZ7442 | 30/5/67 | Hawke Clipper B33F |
Tutukaka Passenger Services Ltd, Whangarei | ? | DZ7442 | 15/8/72 | |||||
Dorset Motors, Kamo | ? | DZ7442 | 9/9/75 | James Dorset | ||||
Bowmans Buses, Kaitaia | ? | DZ7442 | 5/4/76 | Dennis Bowman | ||||
R Bell, Te Kopuru | ? | DZ7442 | 7/1/80 | |||||
A G Shield Ltd, Whangarei | ? | DZ7442 | 12/4/84 | |||||
Warmans Passenger Transport, Te Kopuru | ? | DZ7442 | 23/3/89 | R G & G M Warman | ||||
P A Serkin, Fordell | ? | DZ7442 | 5/8/99 | No CoF | ||||
D P Dempster, Hikurangi | ? | DZ7442 | 14/12/99 | No CoF | ||||
J M Campbell, Hikurangi | ? | DZ7442 | 23/11/01 | No CoF | ||||
E S Johnson, Whangarei | ? | DZ7442 | 16/2/04 | Reg on hold 98 |
Kinleith
# | Chassis Nbr/VIN | Year | Original Reg | Later Owner | # | Later Reg | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
? | 528E1377 | ?? | EI3424 | N Z Bus Sales, Takanini | EI3424 | 18/6/69 | ||
A J Cave, Helensville | ? | EI3424 | 10/11/69 | |||||
sighted without plates | . | . | 6/5/00 | |||||
? | ? | ?? | EI3402 | Rosetown Buses, Te Awamutu | 10 | EI3402 | NZMB B30 | |
? | 528E2963 | 27/6/58 | EI3425 | Hawke Bros, Takanini | ? | EI3425 | 20/2/68 | Perkins 4.108 engine |
O L Byers, Manurewa | . | EI3425 | 6/3/70 | |||||
C N Ross, Hinehopu | . | EI3425 | 24/4/78 | |||||
M S Smith, Rotoiti | . | EI3425 | 5/12/86 | |||||
B L Dickson, Whitianga | . | EI3425 | 22/3/89 | Movan? | ||||
J D May, Te Puke | . | EI3425 | 20/6/89 | Movan? | ||||
P G Jones, Mt Maunganui | . | EI3425 | 4/7/91 | Movan | ||||
H R Calver, Rotorua | . | EI3425 | 7/6/94 | Movan | ||||
B M Rennie, Otahuhu | . | EI3425 | 6/12/96 | Movan | ||||
registration lapsed | 8/9/03 |
Last updated 13 March 2010
Initial New Zealand list courtesy of Anthony Greaney