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Since I was a lad, I have always wanted to buy an old coach and convert it into a camper - sadly, I have never had the time, nor the money, and in truth they are a bit of a handful to store (especially where I live now). Maybe one day, I will be able to afford a half-decent camper van.

 

This is the sort of thing I would like to have used as a base - Vehicle Details: 1986 Leyland Rpyal Tiger - +44 (0)1925 210220 - Used Coach Sales

Trouble is, even the emissions standards now means it is getting harder and harder to keep these old girls running. Shame, because they are lovely old motors, and generally run really well.

 

They do, but they need to be a lot older than that, and even then they pose problems around here as I live within the M25. Ironically, I work in the bus industry, but if I drove one of those from my house to my work, I would get hit with massive emissions charges (around £100 a day from memory) and that is barely within the London boundaries.

Even diesel cars here, as of next year, will need to be virtually new to be able to drive even part of the way into town and not get clobbered by a £25 a day charge. Ironically, an old 4-litre Jag would have no charge as long as it is outside the Congestion Charge zone, despite needing shares in Shell to run the thing.

They say these rules are about the environment and air quality, but in truth it is all about making money.

 

There have been a few double deck conversions done, but not open top as far as I am aware - but then, the usually wet weather we have means that an enclosed roof is probably better.

A popular one to convert is the MCW Metrobus - Gardner engined ones are just lovely, and sound like buses should sound (have a listen on YouTube to Gardner 6LXB engines, and you will see what I mean) - but, like many vehicles now, they are being prematurely forced off the road purely because they don't meet the emissions standards.

Of course, it is more environmentally friendly to scrap perfectly working vehicles and build new ones............