Restorations
Vehicles such as RT8, that was found derelict in the USA, took over four years and approx 15,000 man hours to bring ‘back from the dead’. At any time we can have up to three major projects being worked on, as well as undertaking all our own routine maintenance and MOT management that a fleet of this size requires.
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We also acquire vehicles that are derelict but historically interesting and at risk and if we are not able to plan the work into our already hectic schedules we will often endeavour to find these vehicles a home that offers them a secure future.

We are very proud of what we do and the number of historic vehicles we have and will continue to save, and believe this pride shows in not only the detail on the vehicles themselves but also in our detail in making every hire a special one. That our vehicles are returned to the highest condition for the road and thus allowed to carry fare paying passengers, allows us to continue to restore other vehicles that would otherwise be lost.

Feel free to browse this section, see what is being worked on and what is waiting its turn, and have a look at our blogs and past restoration documents showing just how much goes into each of these vehicles.

Previous restoration projects are now part of our Hire Fleet, for example our superb RT8 and nostalgic RLH61. Follow the links below to read how they were brought back to life.​

RT8 and RLH61 links here
Leyland PD2 – RTW335

London’s buses were normally built to 7ft 6in wide until, the suburban 8ft wide RTWs arrived. Initially banished to the suburbs for fear of their width causing accidents they were allowed into the Central Area following Met Police/London Transport trials.
As only 500 were ever built and just over half of these were exported to Ceylon in the 1960’s there are not to many RTW’s left in preservation. RTW335 was recovered from Germany in 2004 and after gradually fading in storage in the UK was acquired by Ensignbus in 2009. The vehicle was despatched to Blackpool where the vehicle was contracted to be returned to fully restored condition.
Estimated
Completion Date:
Easter 2013
We are proud to not only operate but also to restore many of the buses we own, in many cases having saved them from an uncertain future.
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In recent years we have repatriated a number of buses from Australia, Canada and the USA and are always seeking out rarities, wherever and whatever the condition.​
Currently under restoration
Leyland Titan - TD161

​TD161- New in May 1930 to Maidstone & District as fleet number 321, the vehicle was compulsorily passed over to the newly formed London Transport in 1933, where it became TD161. Working out of Northfleet and then Windsor, the vehicle later passed to Liverpool Corporation. Sold for use as a caravan the vehicle lay on the Scottish Isles for many years before being saved. It now awaits its turn for restoration in what will be a hugely ambitious project.​
Estimated
Start Date:
TBC
Awaiting restoration
RMF - 1965 – 2120

New customers outside of London were hard to come by, in 1963 an order from Northern General sent 50 of the front entranced style of Routemaster to Gateshead, where they lasted until the late 1970′s. 2120 is one of the batch and whilst in scruffy condition does not require a major rebuild to put it back on the road.
Estimated
Start Date:
TBC
Metroliner - 1984 – A667XDA

One of the impressive Metroliner coaches built for motorway express work, it was new to Midland Red Express in 1984, it passed through Shamrock & Rambler and Ambassador Travel before passing to London Pride, which was part of Ensignbus and convertyed it to open for London sightseeing work. It returned to Ensign from Arriva to be preserved as an example of these impressive open tops.
Estimated
Start Date:
TBC
Metrobus MK2 : 1988 – F292 NHJ

New to us here at Ensignbus in 1988, the vehicle has been with us pretty much ever since. A survivor of the very early days of privatisation in the London market it reprsents our aim to preserve vehicles both old and new that tell the story of Londons buses. Currently off the road, it is however in good condition.
Estimated
Start Date:
TBC
Leyland Tiger TS2

New in 1931 to Maidstone and District as a coach, the vehicle was rebodied in 1943 with a utility body made by Burlingham. Acquired by Ensign in 2006 it has had much work done to the chassis, but still remains a major project and requires an extensive restoration program to put it back on the road.
Estimated
Start Date:
TBC
AEC Regal IV : 1953 – MLL735

Heathrow Airport and the airlines once always looked towards London Transport to provide it with vehicles to get people to and from the airport quickly. It was for the extra under floor luggage space and for standardisation reasons that the normal RF design was modified into a half decker for airline BEA, resulting in what was known as the 4RF4.
Estimated
Start Date:
TBC
STL2093 : 1937 – DLU92

The iconic wartime London double deck that features in so much film footage of London of that period is the STL class. This bus was new in 1937 and was extensively damaged during the war. Receiving a different body in 1949 it was eventually withdrawn from London in 1955. It is now the property of The London Bus Museum, who have it on long term loan to Ensignbus and where it is hoped to be one of the next projects tackled by the team.
Estimated
Start Date:
TBC
GLX913 : 1944 – D27 (263)

London like the rest of the country was forced to take very basic, very standard ‘Utility’ buses in the war years. One such class was the D Class, of which this vehicle was D27. The poor construction of the body meant that their lives were reduced, so a number of them still having good chassis were rebodied. Acquired in 2011, it is hoped to return it to the road relatively quickly as it is in reasonable condition.
Estimated
Start Date:
TBC
AGX517 : 1933 - 739J

New to General in 1933 as a double deck STL type, it was converted to a breakdown tender in 1950, where it served South London. Eventually withdrawn in 1975 it went through a number of owners before eventually being exported to the USA in 1994. Acquired by Ensign in a poor condition in 2011, it is hoped to have it returned to the UK in late 2011 or early 2012.
Estimated
Start Date:
TBC
RCL2226

​One of London's famous Routemasters that was built to a higher specification as Green Line coach for the popular commuter services, RCL2226 was converted to a film industry catering vehicle from 1985. recovered by Ensignbus in 2006 it is now in the final stages of being returned to the road fully restored.
Estimated
Completion Date:
Summer 2013
Scania MD60 – KJD60P

London Transport’s need for a new double deck led them to look overseas and eventually teamed up with Scania in Sweden and the result was the Metropolitan. Initial mechanical problems were largely overcome, but corrosion became an issue that was less easy to solve. A short eight year London life meant few survived into preservation and MD60 will be one of the only left of this short chapter of London’s Transport history.
Estimated
Completion Date:
Summer 2013
