Bedford VAL Buses and Coaches

The Bedford VAL chassis was launched at the 1962 Commercial Motor Show. It was Bedford's first bus chassis that was not a variation on a truck chassis. It used twin-steer front axles with small (16inch) wheels. Only the VAL14 powered by the Leyland O.400 engine was sold in New Zealand. The VAL was only 2/3rds of the price of Leyland and AEC 11m chassis and weighed a tonne less. However the twin-steer front axle made it mechanically complicated and only 28 were sold in New Zealand - chassis 1205-1220, 1233-1240, 1301-1304. In 1990 an Australian chassis already converted to a movan was imported.

The buses on this site are actively tracked. The last registration record search was 1 February 2010

Original operators are:

Bonnici Motors	Days Motors	Dominion Coachlines	Edwards Motors
Gazelle Bus Lines	Greenhalgh Buses	H & H Motors	Billy Higgs
Jenkins Motors	McNeill Motors	Madge Motors	Midland Motorways
N Z Scenic Tours	Orrs Motors	Passenger Service Pahiatua	Pavlovich
Robertson Motor Services	Suburban Buses	Weld Motors	Imported Movan

Bonnici Motors Ltd

New Lynn Auckland. Photo Graeme Bennett.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
30	1212	2/3/64	EZ7990	Waikato Coachlines Ltd, Ohaupo	2	EZ7990	26/2/69	Hawke body ex-Artic
				Bonnici Coachlines Ltd, New Lynn	30	EZ7990	25/6/74
				St Pauls Maori Boys College, Feilding	.	EZ7990	24/7/74
				Pauline & Alison Costello, Waverley	.	EZ7990	25/7/96	Mobile Cafe
				Kim Thomson, Rahotu	.	EZ7990	7/9/98	Mobile Cafe; CoF exp 07/08

Days Motors Ltd

Christchurch.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
27	1208	4/11/63	DV1511	Edlin Motors Ltd, Rangiora	.	DV1511	1/7/69	MMB Body
				W & H Motors Ltd, Christchurch	.	DV1511	26/2/70	.
				Mt Cook & Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd, Christchurch	242	DV1511	8/4/75	.
				Murphy Buses, Kerepehi	.	DV1511	8/4/75	.
				Music Technology Ltd, Waihi	.	DV1511	7/4/94	.
				Garry Lambert, Henderson	.	DV1511	10/2/98	Movan
				Brian & Marilyn Parker, Waihi	.	KATIED	13/5/98	"Katie-Dee"; chg plates 7/7/98; CoF exp 12/02 Reg on hold; LTSA records show converted to 2 axle
28	1205	3/2/64	DV1512	Ian Hinton, Alexandra	.	DV1512	27/7/71	MMB body
				Central Motorways Ltd, Alexandra	5	DV1512	28/6/73	.
				Nelson Tourist Services Ltd, Motueka	.	DV1512	29/7/82	.
				Robert Barrett, Invercargill	.	DV1512	21/8/87	Movan
				Rosealla Squires, Stewart Is	.	DV1512	24/2/88	Movan
				Lincoln Schirner-Bade, Paengaroa	.	OO6348	27/6/89	Movan; chg plate 15/11/89
				Robert & Shirlry Stewart, Blenheim	.	OO6348	22/10/93	Movan
				Ian & Maureen Mosely, Hikurangi	.	OO6348	2/12/96	Movan
				John & Judith Galloway, Tauranga	.	OO6348	25/5/98	Movan
				Geoffrey Petersen, Matamata	.	OO6348	15/3/99	Movan
				Lloyd Petersen, Matamata	.	OO6348	15/3/99	Movan "Chubby Cheeks"
				Henry Ashdown, Te Awamutu	.	OO6348	17/3/04	Movan (HR & MM Ashdown Family Trust) "Chubby Cheeks"
				Geoffrey & Helen Chisnall, Matamata	.	OO6348	4/12/07	Movan "Chubby Cheeks"
29	1240	22/9/64	DV1513	Southern Service 1960 Ltd, Dunedin	.	DV1513	17/10/72	NZMB Body
				Strathmore Tours, Ohoka, Canterbury	.	DV1513	30/9/75	.
				Strathmore Coachlines, Christchurch	.	DV1513	30/10/78	Kinloch Cartage Ltd
				Solomon Tau, Woodend Caravan Park, Christchurch	.	DV1513	17/8/93	Movan
				Maree Deans, Mosgiel	.	DV1513	24/12/97	Movan
				Dawn Madden, Ettrick, Otago	.	DV1513	11/11/99	Movan
				Nelletta Moore, Blenheim	.	DV1513	21/2/05	Movan; CoF exp 07/05 reg on hold

Dominion Cosch Lines

E A Chandler, Wellington.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
6	1209	1964	EV1819	Kanes Motors Ltd, Oamaru	?	EV1819	?	Hale composite body; rebuilt as a coach by Kane
				Ritchies Transport Holdings Ltd	21	EV1819	?	Oamaru
				Jack Gibbs, Dunedin		MD5342	7/10/85	Movan?
				Childrens Permaculture Foundation, Dunedin		MD5342	20/1/92
				K A Feast, Lake Ferry, Wairarapa		MD5342	21/9/94	Movan
				registration lapsed				Movan; Owned by Lindsay Clark, Lake Ferry 2006

Edwards Motors Ltd

Auckland. This bus became one of a pair with McWhinnie bodies operated by Edwards subsiduary NZ Scenic Tours

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
11	1301	24/7/64	EZ9390	NZ Scenic Tours Ltd, Auckland	11	EZ9390	11/4/67
				Midland Coachlines Ltd	11	EZ9390	12/6/72
				Ritchies Transport Ltd, Temuka	31	EZ9390	1/8/75
				Manly Grove Hall Trust, Tauranga	?	EZ9390	17/11/83	Movan?
				Alan & Dani Banks, Picton	?	EZ9390	21/9/90	Movan
				Ian & Noelene Blackler, Riverton	?	EZ9390	21/9/90	Movan "Kauri Kipper" no longer with McWhinne body
				Alastair & Annie Neal, Christchurch	?	EZ9390	24/5/05	Movan

Gazelle Bus Lines

Kaitangata. This Midland bodied coach was used by Gazelle Bus Lines for services between Kaitangata and Dunedin. LTSA records show the initial owner as Tauwhare Transport Ltd (Cambridge Bus Lines. The move to Cambridge was no earlier than 1974.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
?	1214	20/12/63	DP5029	Cambridge Bus Lines	.	DP5029	?	Tauwahre Transport Ltd
				James Weeks, Napier	.	DP5029	11/10/94	Movan
				Chris Edmonds, Napier	.	DP5029	16/8/95	Movan; CoF exp 06/99 Reg on hold

Greenhalgh Blue Line Buses Ltd

Swanson Auckland. Some time during ownership of the VALs the company changed name to Greenhalgh Coachlines Ltd.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
10	1216	22/9/64	EW4655	Stephen Cartwright, Thames	?	EW4655	4/3/83	Glen Eden Motors Bodies "Blue Cruiser"
				Parawai Trust Travel	?	EW4655	20/4/92
				Peter & Sue Hartstone, Whatawhata, Waikato		EW4655	29/5/92	Movan
				registration lapsed			1/7/97
				Sheryl Wilson, Raglan		WU8859	12/2/98	Movan
				Lee Flavel, Nelson		WU8859	8/12/99	Movan "Rickielee"
				Richard Davies, Taupo		WU8859	29/6/01	Movan "Rickielee"; Reg on hold 10/05
14	1238	10/2/67	DE5295	Turley Motors, Te Aroha	7	DE5295	24/8/77	Hawke Body "Blue Mariner; Allan & Betty Turley
				Peter Hancock, Temuka		DE5295	12/1/98	Movan "Allowrs"
				Persons, Unknown		DE5295	5/3/08
				Stu & Kelly Glen, Auckland		DE5295	19/1/09	Movan "Honky Tonk Inn"; CoF exp 05/08

H & H Motors Ltd

Invercargill. Number 48 was supplied after the company became H & H Travel Lines Ltd

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
5	1213	10/9/65	CX34	H & H Travel Lines Ltd, Invercargill	5?	CX34	16/6/66
				Ian Watson Ltd, Otautau		CX34	9/11/82	Movan "Carinya"
				A A Eade & A R Kareopa, Wanaka		CX34	22/5/02	Movan "Yardik"
				A A Eade, Wanaka		CX34	20/12/06	Movan; CoF exp 09/04 reg on hold
				D J Wilson Ltd, Invercargill		CX34	20/3/08	Movan
23	1217	22/10/65	CX8054	H & H Travel Lines Ltd, Invercargill	30	CX8054	16/6/66	Midland B44F
				Mt Cook Group Ltd, Christchurch	223	CX8054	21/1/75
				Lewis Peterson, Riverton		CX8054	22/9/94	Movan
				Allan Kennedy, Gore		CX8054	23/3/04	Movan "Unhinged and Hippie"; to Alexandra 08. CoF exp 05/08
48	1219	24/4/67	DP2288	Mid-Canterbury Coach Services, Ashburton	?	DP2288	30/4/91	Midland B48D
				Nikola Davies, Kumara		DP2288	22/1/98
				Colin Crequer, Christchurch		DP2288	22/10/98

Billy Higgs & Son Ltd

Wellington. NZMB Body. Photo Graeme Bennett.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
?	1304	27/10/64	EV5975	Gisborne Motors Ltd	?	EV5975	15/3/77
				Te Karaka Bus Co	?	EV5975	30/3/77
				Kevin Cust, Gisborne	?	EV5975	6/6/97	Movan; CoF exp 08/96 reg on hold

O L Jenkins Motors Ltd

Gore. McWhinnie body

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
4	1303	25/8/64	CW2206	Torben Windelov, Alexandra		CW2206	19/8/87	Movan
				Torben Windelov, Nelson		CW2206	22/4/88	Movan
				Kevin Davies-Bourne, Tuamarina, Marlborough		CW2206	25/2/94	Movan
				Beverley Hobman, Tauranga		CW2206	16/3/98	Movan
				registration lapsed			9/9/02
				Wayne Simmons, Waihi		BSD478	10/2/04	Movan "Wharewake"

McNeill Motors

Cecil McNeill, Waianiwa Southland. MMB body.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
?	1239	1/10/65	DV9974	John Benfell, Invercargill	?	DV9974	1/7/77
				Colac Bay Buses, Southland	?	DV9974	3/12/84	Alan Molloy
				Murray Donaldson, Alexandra	?	DV9974	28/2/87	Movan
				Andrew & Judy Mitchell, Christchurch	?	DV9974	29/12/03	Movan; CoF exp 09/05
				registration lapsed			2/9/08	Still in Wigram?

Madge Char a Banc Motor Co Ltd

Palmerston North. NZMB B45F body. Photo Graeme Bennett.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
9	1235	9/7/65	ES1096	Allan Motors Ltd, Palmerston North	9	ES1096	29/3/78
				Madge Coachlines Ltd, Palmerston North	109	ES1096	23/10/91
				Paraparaumu Road Services	1	TD5171	26/1/95	Dennis Taylor; chg plate 9/2/95
				Omnibus Society Inc, Wellington	9	TD5171	23/7/03	Stored for restoration

Midland Motorways Services Ltd

Christchurch. The photo by Graeme Bennet shows number 61 at Nelson.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
61	1234	1964	DV9972	Newton Coachways, Dunedin	3	DV9972	1979	C48F
				Midland Coachlines Ltd, Christchurch	61	DV9972	1983	C48F
				Newmans Coachlines Ltd, Whangarei	122	DV9972	1983	C48F
				Reisen Line Ltd, Rotorua	122?	DV9972	1986	C48F
				Ranui Buses, Tologa Bay		DV9972		C48F
				scrapped at Ranui Buses, Tolaga Bay			post 1992
62	1302	23/12/64	DV3425	Newton Coachways, Dunedin	1	DV3425	7/9/79	C48F
				Midland Coachlines Ltd, Christchurch	62	DV3425	11/2/83
				Newmans Coachlines Ltd, Whangarei	121	DV3425	21/6/83
				Reisen Line Ltd, Rotorua	121?	DV3425	7/1/86
				Haeremai Coaches Ltd, Otara, Auckland		DV3425	1/11/90
				Kevin Jackson, Westmere, Auckland		DV3425	8/2/95	Movan
				Gavin Wall, Te Puke		DV3425	26/8/97	Movan
				registration lapsed			30/8/97	current location unknown may be in Hamilton or Ngaruawahia
67	1218	5/11/65	DW795	Newton Coachways, Dunedin	2	DW795	7/9/79
				Buchanan Motors, Invercargill	?	DW795	26/11/82	Allan Buchanan
				Buchanan Motors, Kingston	?	DW795	10/8/87
				Pioneer Rugby Club, Gore	?	DW795	18/5/93
				Te Anau Rugby Club	?	DW795	13/7/95
				Brendon Burgess, Invercargill	?	DW795	19/3/98	Movan "Miles Away"
				Lance Anderson, Blenheim	?	DW795	2/12/02	Movan "Don't fence me in"; To Thorbury, Southland 2008

NZ Scenic Tours Ltd

Auckland. At the time two McWhinne B52F VALs were purchased for Auckland sightseeing tours N Z Scenic Tours Ltd was owned by Edwards Motors. When the Midlands Group purchased Edwards Motors the coaches were rebranded as Midland Edwards. The coaches were painted pink and white and affectionately refereed to as The Pink Ladies. Photo Graeme Bennett

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
12	1210	16/12/63	EZ9405	Midland Coachlines Ltd	12	EZ9405	27/6/72
				Mt Cook & Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd, Christchurch	192	EZ9405	29/3/73
				Mt Cook Freightlines Ltd, Timaru	757	EZ9405	22/9/77	Stationed at Fairlie
				Tony Cooper, Karamea		EZ9405	30/5/86
				Karamea Motors		EZ9405	29/9/87
				John & Alison Robertson, Palmerston North		EZ9405	28/4/95	Movan "The Ark"; Reg on hold
				Trevor & Lizanne Boreham, Amberley		EZ9405	15/2/08	Movan; Reg on hold CoF exp 04/08

Orrs Motors Ltd

Invercargill

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
?	1236	9/8/65	DV8803	H & H Travel Lines Ltd, Invercargill	30	DV8803	16/6/06
				Edwards Passenger Service Ltd, Tuakau	6	DV8803	16/7/80
				Bible Baptist Church, Otara, Auckland	?	DV8803	17/2/01	Zane Edwards
				Vernon Hapeta, Weymouth, Auckland	?	DV8803	19/11/03
				McInnes Travel (M M Hiku), Pukekohe	?	DV8803	25/8/04	2-axle. CoF exp 11/05 reg on hold

Passenger Service Ltd

Pahiatua NZMB C49F bdy.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
8	1233	7/5/65	ER5246	Hawkes Bay Motor Co Ltd	61	ER5246	1979
				Pahiatua Passenger Services (1894) Ltd	61	ER5246	11/6/84
				White Bus Service Ltd, Dannevirke	?	ER5246	29/8/91
				Gerard Werie, Dannevirke		ER5246	2/2/96	Movan "Wanderer"

Pavlovich & Sons Ltd

Hamilton. McWhinnie Body

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
9	1211	9/10/63	FE9225	Cambridge Travel Lines (Tauwhare Transport Ltd)	2	FE9225	24/4/74
				Raymond Douglas, Oamaru		FE9225	23/7/96
				Raymond & Paul Douglas, Tokoroa		FE9225	17/4/98
				John Loye, Tokoroa		FE9225	26/1/99	Movan "Old Val"; CoF exp 10/02; Reg on hold

Robertson Motor Services Ltd

Raglan. Pomeroy body

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
12	1237	9/4/65	EJ1492	Marie Heale, Kaiapoi	??	EJ1492	2/4/74
				Strathmore Coachlines, Christchurch	??	EJ1492	4/11/77	Kinloch Cartage Ltd
				Roger & Lorraine Hagen, Nelson		EJ1492	4/3/94	Movan
				Carl & Christine Climo, Runanga		EJ1492	4/3/94	Movan at Punakaiki Motor Camp; CoF exp 01/05
				Simon Kirkwood, Barrytown		EJ1492	24/4/07	Movan; Reg on hold 05

Suburban Buses

Auckland. NZMB body.

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
64	1207	12/5/64	EX647	North Shore Transport Ltd	47	EX647	3/5/68	Converted to two axle and shortened DP41D
				Auckland Regional Authority	844	EX647	6/4/73	Isuzus 6BB1
				Roberts Transport, Albany	6	EX647	30/11/78	George Roberts
				Bayes Coachlines, Albany	6	JM6688	16/10/79	Bayes Bros Dairy Flat Ltd
				D C Gibb, Takanini, Auckland		JM6688	16/1/96	not reg. CoF exp 3/96
				registration lapsed			3/8/97	Stolen 01/97 not recovered
65	1206	4/9/64	EX648	North Shore Transport Ltd	45	EX648	3/5/68	Converted to two axle DP45D
				Auckland Regional Authority	845	EX648	6/4/73	Gardiner 6HLXB
				Hanham's Buses	7	EX648	9/12/86	Richard Hanham
				Hanham's Buses Ltd	7	EX648	13/6/00
				Graeme Clydesdale, Henderson		EX648	13/2/04	(JAR Family Trust) Movan
				Dick Thompson & Pauline Hagerty, Massey, Auckland		EX648	27/8/06	Movan; To Chch 08

Weld Motors

Palmerston North. NZMB body. Photo Graeme Bennett

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
7	1220	11/10/65	ES2194	Buchanan Motors, Invercargill	?	ES2194	3/2/88
				Robert Thytherleigh, Oamaru	?	ES2194	19/8/91	Movan
				Ross Mailman & Lyn Yates, Tauranga	?	ES2194	3/2/95	Movan "Our Joy"
9	1215	13/11/64	ER8696	Buchanan Motors, Invercargill	?	ER8696	3/2/88
				Five Rivers Motors Ltd, Lumsden	?	ER8696	8/5/89
				Ron Hart, Christchurch	?	ER8696	20/8/97	Movan "Albatross" CoF exp 04/05 Reg on hold

Imported movan

VAL14 imported as a movan from Australia in 1990

#	Chassis Nbr/VIN	Year	Original Reg	Later Owner	#	Later Reg	Date	Comments
?	18865	1968		Eric Maddocks, Orewa		PO1984	20/11/90
				Steve Simpson, Sunnynook, Auckland		PO1984	5/11/91
				Allan Faith & Joan Terrell, Kaiapoi		PO1984	22/3/02	"Chosen Destiny"
				Brian Densley, Oamaru		PO1984	22/4/03	"General Lee"?
				Anthony Myers, Dunedin		CMYBUS	21/11/05	chg plate 25/11/05
				Peter Crosbie-Solomon, Invercargill		DHY437	6/6/06	chg plate 24/5/06

Last updated 14 January 2013