VDV 137S (937) is a 1977 Bristol VRT with convertible open-top ECW bodywork

VDV 137S is one of nine convertible open-top Bristol VRTSL3s delivered to the Devon General area of Western National in 1977/78: VDV 134-142S (934-942). They were named after Royal Navy warships, with 937 carrying the name ‘Victory’, and were intended to replace the 1961 ‘Sea Dog’ class of convertible open-top Leyland Atlanteans. Two more were delivered to Western National’s Cornish depots in 1978 (943/44). In all, 50 convertible open-top Bristol VRTs were delivered to NBC subsidiaries in 1977/78, the other customers being Southdown (30), Hants & Dorset (6) and South Wales (3). The idea of convertible open-top double deckers was to enable them to be used all year round, roofs on in the winter, and roofs off in the summer for use on coastal bus routes.

 

937 was based at Torquay depot until 1983, when the splitting up of Western National Omnibus Company into four operating companies saw it allocated to Western National Ltd in Cornwall. It was sold to Badgerline in 1990 for use on Guide Friday tours of Bath and gained the name ‘Minerva’, then was successively part of the First Bristol and First Somerset & Avon fleets. It was the last Bristol VRT in their fleet when First Somerset & Avon donated 937 to The West Country Historic Omnibus & Transport Trust for preservation in 2005.

DGOT acquired 937 from WHOTT for ongoing preservation in 2025.