BDV 318L | Bristol LH | Fleet No. 1318

1318 is one of a batch of ten Bristol LH chassis  fitted with unusual Marshall 7'6'' wide bodies. Only ten of these bodies were ever built on standard length chassis. The reasoning behind these highly unusual purchases was the lack of companies willing to build 7'6'' wide coach bodies at the time and there was a need for them for tours of Exmoor and Dartmoor. All ten vehicles were intended to be registered in the BDV … L series but due to late deliveries in the event only 1316 and 1318 received these numbers the rest of the batch being in the NTT ...M series. Delivered in Royal Blue livery initially they were soon repainted into the new National White livery as dictated by the National Bus Company. 1318 initially worked out of Minehead Depot also spending time at Bridport.By 1979 new Plaxton 7'6'' wide vehicles had entered the fleet and the Marshall bodied vehicles were downgraded to local bus use.1318 was converted into a bus in February 1979, this involved fitting a luggage pen in place of the NSF seat fitting a drivers cab and a repaint into NBC green. It initially went to Seaton Depot but after a few short stints elsewhere it settled in Camborne where it stayed until withdrawal in 1986.

In June 1986 it was sold to Willis of Bodmin who ran various contracts in that area. In July 1996 it was withdrawn and parked up but a need for an extra vehicle saw it reinstated in August 1998. At the end of that year Dereck and Barbara Willis decided to retire and the vehicles were put up for sale. in July 1999 1318 was sold for preservation and over the next five years was restored to original Royal blue condition. It changed owners again in May 2013 but by 2017 was back in the hands of the previous owner. The LH is a regular on the rally scene throughout the year and again in 2023, took part in the annual Royal Blue Run in Cornwall in June.