This year, the company will use the iconic Routemaster as a promotional tool.
Morgan announced its next project as a bus, but it is not building one. Instead, it announced it will be bringing back the Routemaster bus for an array of public events in 2018.
The company’s bus will be the last to be removed from London’s streets. It received a special farewell on December 9, 2005, after years of service. It is believed to have covered more than 1.5M miles (2.24M kilometers) in its time as a London workhorse.
The London Bus Museum at Brooklands currently has the last traditional London bus that will be retired from service. It is identical to Morgan’s newly acquired bus, down to the 7.7-liter Iveco diesel motor.
Morgan bought the bus because it was built the same year as the original Plus 8 – 1968. The engineers at the company have begun work on a “sympathetic conversion” to make the bus ready for public appearances.
These changes aren’t too drastic. The company claims that the bus arrived at Malvern headquarters in “incredible shape” and many of its original characteristics and features will be retained. Morgan mechanics will do all the work on the bus in the true spirit and company spirit.
Morgan MD Steve Morris said that the Routemaster bus is undoubtedly one of Britain’s most famous vehicles. He also stated that it is part of Britain’s national identity. It is a great pleasure for us to keep the bus in use as our event space.
Morgan has an exciting year ahead of it, and we cannot wait to use the bus at events around the U.K. Morgan customers and fans alike will love the bus’s potential as an event space.”