Preserved bus:

Guy Arab III (2 unidades)

Present owner:    Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid (EMT)

Registration of nº 19: M-79688

Year:  1948

Manufacturer:  Guy Arab

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• HISTORY
• TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
• PHOTOS

Photo: CAP

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One of the main features of Madrid's bus fleet of the 40s and 50s was the presence of double deckers imported from Great Britain. Among those imports we can find 30 units of the model Guy Arab III, which would be bodied at Seida bodyworks in Zorroza (Bilbao). They constituted the main bulk of double deckers in Madrid, being numbered 18 to 47, and entering on service during 1947 (1). During that period they worked simultaneously with other single decker Guy Arab and Leyland Titans from the first version. Later on they would share the streets with Leyland Olimpians, Pegaso Z-404 and Leyland Titans from the PD2 version (2).

Its behaviour can be qualified as excellent, which is proved by the fact that they would not be withdrawn and scrapped until the Leyland Titans arrived towards the end of the 50s, one of which is currently preserved (EMT 685, click here). Definitive withdrawal would arrive in year 1964, with seven of them being kept for either driver training or auxiliary tasks. Time lapsed and only two of them would survive forgotten in Fuencarral, they were nºs 19 and 36. During the 70s the decision was taken to preserve both, but finally nº 19 would be the only one restored with spare parts coming from nº 36, the latter being abandoned (3).

Restoration of nº 19 would be finished in year 1996 and it has been operational since, although the only service carried out for a long time was the transport of children from the schools paying visit to Fuencarral's depot (1). Only recently, with the increase of interest in preservation, nº 19 had the opportunity to take a part in different events and exhibitions, such as the meeting of historic buses at Plaza de Castilla in November 2009.

The restoration of nº 36, which was reported to be in a derelict state inside Fuencarral, was decided in year 2007 and it lasted until 18 September 2010, when the restored vehicle was shown to the public. Period adverts have beed added just as it was done with nº 19, and it must be said that this is the only difference between the two.

(1) text from César Ariño Planchería published at the magazine Carril Bus nº3 June 1998.

(2) Details supplied by José A. López.

(3) Information provided by Guillermo Deike.

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Photo: Unknown. Collection: Guillermo Deike

Fuencarral Workshop - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

Fuencarral Workshop - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

Fuencarral Workshop - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

Fuencarral Workshop - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

First stage - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

First stage - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

Second stage - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

Second stage - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

Driver cab - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

Dashboard - 18/11/2006. Photo: Josep Pretel

Nº 19 exhibited during a meeting of historic buses at Plaza Castilla - Nov. 2009. Photo: Guillermo Deike

Restoration of nº 36 started in 2007. Photo: Guillermo Deike

 Nº 36 is shown to the public at Entrevías bus depot- 18/09/2010. Photo: Guillermo Deike

 Nº 36 is shown to the public at Entrevías bus depot- 18/09/2010. Photo: Guillermo Deike