GM Buses Leyland Atlantean 8701.

A commission was recently made to have several bespoke period advert boards made for the upper deck. Now installed they look brilliant, adding a little bit of nostalgia will definitely make the finished look feel more realistic and themed.

‘Two down- Seventeen to go’

The first two upper deck seats have today been collected from the powder coaters, the rest will be completed in stages. Mainly due to the time it’s taking to remove the chrome handrail from each seat.

‘Prep time’
Some spare time at home has seen me making a start on polishing some of the chrome bits that were removed from the upper deck. Hand breaking work, but necessary in redness for the saloon refurbishment.

‘Powder Coating Obsessions’

Quite a few items have now been boxed off at the coaters. The new fabricated cab radio bracket, finished in black gloss. This has now been assembled and fitted with a genuine GM Buses FM1000 control module.

A steady start has been made with the removal of the upper deck seats, an absolute nightmare! The plan will be to have the seats treated in batches, that first batch was the frame legs and anchoring mounts.

The powder coaters have done a brilliant job, considering their condition, the legs have returned like new, definitely beats messing around with a wire brush and paint.

The metal fabricators have now finished making the new in cab radio fixing bracket for the FM1000 screen along with the fixing plate for the microphone. Both items will now be sent for powder coating, finished in black gloss, matching the cab area.

As 2025 draws to a close, I just wanted to say thank you for all of your comments, messages and likes over the past twelve months.

I actually cannot believe where 2025 has gone, however it’s definitely been a year where significant achievements have been gained with 8701’s continued restoration.

Hopefully 2026 will gear up to be the year that will see 8701 become a preservation project, completing her restoration. Having said that ‘shortcuts’ are not my thing, so we shall see!

The two visuals, taken in earlier in the year gives you a little glimpse with some of the progress made. Admittedly not fully finished, but like I’ve mentioned, a glimpse and hopefully of what’s to come in 2026.

All the very best for 2026 and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.

‘Bedtime reading’

A fantastic Christmas present landed on the doorstep recently, courtesy of The SELNEC Preservation Society. When opened, a full A4 binder revealed 8701’s mechanical history dating back to its commercial service days.

The binder systematically references its MOT history, including repairs, service and maintenance reports. With some documents dating back to its ownership under Greater Manchester Transport. Such a fantastic read and priceless to have such historical insights.

My thanks once again to SPS for something truly unexpected.

‘The radio sticker’ fixed to the windscreen wouldn’t be authentic without the actual Phillips FM1000 radio.

A great little finishing touch for the drivers cab area, a genuine GM Buses spec radio control unit.

A nice little job for the New Year will be to get a cradle fabricated, covering the hole left by First when the original equipment was removed.

The original left side engine pod that was fitted to 8701 was in a particularly poor condition, and something that got overlooked during the main rebuild of the bus.
Recently a near perfect fit replacement was donated to 8701s restoration project, with only the hanging hinges requiring repair. The pod has now been fitted to the bus, drastically improving the ‘rear-end’.

The exterior ‘Radolarm’ panel has now been overhauled, the rear metal backplate was recently blasted and powder coated. The panel has been equipped with a new working light and push test button, allowing the panel to be fully functional again.

Passenger door fitting preparations have also begun, Reliance Bus Works of Stoke have manufactured two new door pivots for the bus. The two step holding brackets have been blasted and finished in a brown powder coat, matching the floor seat brackets. My thanks go to the SELNEC Preservation Society for providing the template of the deans door pivot.

‘Detailing’

A recent start has been made on neatening up the cab area, such works have allowed the removal of the drivers’ heater box. The box was stripped, blasted and treated in a black powder coat finish. The box has been assembled with a replacement Smiths motor, along with a new internal fan blade.

A new Smith’s manufacturing label was sourced for the front of the box and ‘just for fun’, a spare Cab heater vinyl has been noticeably placed.

As the lower saloon rebuild pulls closer to completion, a few supplementary items required a touch of ‘powder coating’. Firstly, a recoat of the heater matrix panel, previously red and the three rear bulkhead seat brackets. All intentionally finished in brown, echoing the seat frames.

The redundant radolarm panel electronics were also recently removed, allowing the back plate to shot blasted and powder coated. This will now be recommissioned using a ‘new’ original light fitting and microswitch, resolving the only outstanding electrical fault on 8701 (fingers crossed).

Sticking with electrics, the bus now ‘starts off the button’ and as I write, the Wayfarer 2 ticket machine is currently in transit, after receiving a full electrical overhaul as a standalone machine, soon printing on genuine POTM rolls.