The Restoration Of The Bodywork
Below are photographs of the work as it progressed on the rebuild of 680
damaged side panels nine panels were damaged
all the seats ripped out and there was a centre exit here (to be replaced)
The Isle of Man registration number N875 MAN will be removed and her original registration number
GBB 516K will be reinstated
The job of stripping begins
The new number plate and destination blinds
The nine damaged panels nearly all removed
680 shows off with Linda at the wheel The new number plate with the original registration
All of the nearside damage is now repaired
The lower deck has nearly all the seats replaced but need to be
reupholstered in the original black leatherette
( thats linda my daughter a member helping to restore GBB 516K )
The upper deck as it was no seats. The upper deck now has a full compliment of seats
one of the upper saloon windows still needs to be replaced when we find one
A new nearside windscreen fitted and the damaged one goneWhat we have been waiting for the first coat of primer
That damaged panel is going to be removed as this is where the centre exit will go again on the nearside
Hopefully a Mot test will be passed on the 17th of June, sadly it failed on a few minor problems but after having these defects repaired it PASSED on the on the 27th of June
the work can continue now and hopefully the first rally it will be seen at will be Seaburn in August
What a wonderful sight nostalgia returns the front with a full undercoat.
680 being washed possibly for the first time in years
here in a bus wash at a major bus depot in Newcastle
Stopped at a bus stop on Chillingham Road for a photo call 680 would have stopped at this stop many
times in her life on the Westmoor services
further cosmetic paintwork is now taking place
The advert panels were too difficult to rub down so they have been stripped back to the metal
the doors and the panel above are the start on the nearside to receive the same treatment
sporting a new numeral glass and the lower panel glossed
680 will be painted in the original colour specified to Alexanders by the Tyneside PTE which was Sunrise yellow lighter than the later colour Cadmium yellow which was later adopted by the Tyne and Wear PTE
And now with the proper shade of yellow and her new Spotlights
as time goes on the changes are not so dramatic
The big day has arrived 680 goes public!
on our way to Seaburn
At the Seaburn Rally on the 25th August 2003
Photo E Tweddle
GBB 516K travelled down to Manchester to take part in the Trans Lancs Rally on September the 7th 2003
here she is seen on the rally field where she drew quite a number of enthusiasts
Photo Ian Roberts
A further two single seats added to the lower saloon
Now that the show season is over 680 will have extensive work carried out over the winter months
the first of which is the replacing the centre doors and the cylinder heads removed and overhauled. Then all the glossed panels will be rubbed down before it is professionally painted
Above the panels removed to reveal the chassis and step base
the step was then installed
The doors were repaired and fitted and the surround was then painted
We have decided to remove all the lower panels and replace them with full panels removing the lower skirt which was fitted by bus companies to reduce the cost of replacing a full panel in the event of minor accidents.
The offside is now fully stripped of lower panels and Linda was given the job of cleaning the body
struts and rust treating them
After celebrating xmas the work continued and on the 27th of December the offside was finished
all of the offside panels fitted
The nearside now taking shape with panels in place and waiting to be fixed after which the nearside
will be be completed
Barry Blackett has also joined the ranks as a member, and as a time served coachpainter Barry has taken charge of the painting of GBB 516
the engine looking like new and now both the nearside and offside are rubbed down. The interior is now getting more attention to bring that in line with the rest of the restoration work The upper deck and lower deck seat frames have been painted. The water pump was found to be worn and has now been replaced. The painting is scheduled for April the 4th. A new upper saloon window is on order and should be with us shortly. Now there is just a few minor body filling to be done before the painting goes ahead
As you can see Barry is not wasting anytime in the preparation for the painting of GBB 516
just a small amount now to be primed on the nearside
Barry puts the finishing touches to the primer and we are ready for the glossing
The upper panels glossed and the wheels painted and a new upper saloon window now fitted
After being painted all she needs now is the lines, decals, body fitments and the fleet number 680 put in place
How she now looks after the work
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