Description
The Devon General Bus Company, in its familiar red and cream, started operating in 1919, covering the South Devon area. They had their headquarters in Torquay and later Exeter, operating buses and coaches. Nationalisation and subsequent mergers over the years saw the company’s individual identity disappear and today it is part of Stagecoach Devon.
The AEC Matador was manufactured by the Associated Equipment Company for Allied use during WWII. After the War ended, many ware sold on for civilian use as recovery trucks, showman vehicles and general contractor use. Oxford have already released several examples of these and this latest introduction in Devon General livery represents an AEC Matador Wrecker that the bus company would have very likely used to rescue broken down fleet vehicles.
This model is decorated in the familiar Devon General red and cream colour scheme. The graphics in gold show it as belonging to the Engineers Department. The vehicle carries trade plates 199TT in red out of white on the front and the back. Also printed in white on the offside front bonnet section is a TOWING notice, alerting other road users to the job in hand. The fuel tank, door handles, tow bar and lights are masked silver. The rear flatbed section has realistic brown ‘planking’ – an area that also houses the crane, complete with hook and our detailed model is finished with a roof beacon on the top of the cream cab roof.
