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Coventry Corporation Transport Society

Midland Red Buses of the 1960s


The BMMO S16 was the first 36 feet long, Midland Red single-decker to enter service.  Essentially, it was an S14 with an increased seating capacity of 52.

Model BMMO S16
Details Single deck with front entrance and Carlyle or Plaxton bodywork
Under-floor side-mounted BMMO K-type 8.028 Litre diesel engine
52 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
1 1962 S16 prototype with BMMO bodywork
84 1962


The BMMO S17 was introduced because the S16 was underpowered for its size and the crews did not like the four speed manual gear box. The S17 was fitted with the BMMO 10.45 litre engine and an SCG semi-automatic gearbox that was used for the D9.

Model BMMO S17
Details Single deck with front entrance and Plaxton or Willowbrook bodywork
Under-floor side-mounted BMMO 10.45 Litre diesel engine with SCG semi-automatic gearbox
52 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
66 1963 Fitted with disc brakes front and rear
100 1964 Second batch fitted with rear drum brakes
96 1965 Third batch was identical to the second batch except 6 of the batch received Carlyle bodywork. In total, 99 vehicles were built but 3 were used for S21 development and classified as S21A.
 

The BMMO S19 was an experimental version of the S17 built with experimental rubber suspension

Model BMMO S19
Details Single deck with Carlyle bodywork
BMMO 10.45 Litre diesel engine with 4-speed semi-automatic gearbox
52 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
1 1964
 

The BMMO S21 was a dual purpose bus/coach based on the S17, but with bodywork based on the C6 coach.

Model BMMO S21
Details Dual purpose with Carlyle bodywork and front entrance
BMMO 10.45 Litre diesel engine and semi-automatic gear box.
49 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
1 1966 S21A with 48 seats and experimental seating livery. Reclassified as S22 in 1967.
30 1967
 

The BMMO S22 was a dual purpose bus/coach based on the S21, designed specifically for one man operation on long distance stage coach operations.

Model BMMO S22
Details Dual purpose with Carlyle bodywork and front entrance for one man operation
BMMO 10.45 Litre diesel engine and semi-automatic gear box.
45 seats with luggage area behind driver's cab.
Total Number Introduced Notes
37 1967
 

The BMMO S23 was a single decker based on the S22, designed for one man operation as a service bus. It was the last model designed and built by Midland Red.

Model BMMO S23
Details Single decker with Carlyle or Plaxton bodywork and front entrance for one man operation
BMMO 10.45 Litre diesel engine and semi-automatic gear box.
51 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
76 1968
 

There were two motorway versions of the CM6, the CM6 with no toilet and the CM6T with a rear toilet compartment.

Model BMMO CM6
Details Coach with Carlyle bodywork
BMMO 10.45 Litre diesel engine
44 seats plus toilet compartment
§ 46 seats  No Toilet
Total Number Introduced Notes
1 1962 C6 Prototype
24 1965 CM6T
§ 5 1966 CM6
 

The BMMO D9 was the final production double decker designed and built by Midland Red. The original design was fitted with disc brakes but the second and third production batches reverted to drum brakes all round.

Model BMMO D9
Details Double deck with Carlyle or Willowbrook bodywork and rear doors
BMMO 10.45 Litre diesel engine and semi-automatic gear box.
Upper saloon: 40 seats		Lower saloon: 32 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
1 1959 Prototype with Carlyle bodywork
94 1960 First production batch with Carlyle bodywork
100 1961 Second production batch with Carlyle bodywork
105 1963 Final production batch with Carlyle bodywork
45 1965 Final production batch with Willowbrook bodywork
 

The BMMO D10 was a prototype double decker with an under-floor engine

Model BMMO D10
Details Double deck with Carlyle bodywork and front doors
BMMO 10.45 Litre diesel engine and semi-automatic gear box.
Upper saloon: 43 seats		Lower saloon: 35 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
1 1960 Mk I Prototype
1 1961 Mk II Prototype with front entrance and stairs and rear exit and stairs
Upper saloon: 37 seats		Lower saloon: 28 seats
Later converted to front entrance only.
 

The Daimler CRG6LX Fleetline was initially purchased to increase the number of double deckers over and above the supply of in-house D9s.  After the completion of the D9 contract, no more BMMO designed double deckers were commissioned.

Model Daimler CRG6LX (DD11 - DD13)
Details Double deck, rear engine with Alexander bodywork and front entrance
Gardner 6LX 10.45 Litre engine with fluid flywheel and four-speed Daimatic, semi-automatic, direct selection, epicyclic gearbox.
Upper saloon: 44 seats		Lower saloon: 33 seats
§ Upper saloon: 45 seats		Lower saloon: 30 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
50 1963 DD11
149 1966 DD12
103 1969 §DD13