Lot 538: 1952 Austin Venturer 14-Seat Coach
Coachwork by F W Plaxton

The vehicle offered here consists of a Plaxton Venturer 14-seat coach body on an Austin K8 extended ambulance chassis, which is powered by a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine driving via a four-speed ‘crash’ gearbox.
Noted commercial coachbuilder F W Plaxton, of Scarborough produced a mini luxury coach during the 1950s by shrinking their then standard body - the Venturer - onto extended, commercial small van chassis sourced from Austin and Commer, some 12 of which were built up to 1959.
This example was built in July 1952 for R Dickson (Jnr) of Dundee to add to his UK and Continental fleet. The Continental destinations appeared on every coach in the fleet but the Austin never went overseas with Dicksons. Its prime use at that time was on local trips around Dundee and special events such as weddings and Mayoral functions. Due to its limited capacity and modest speed, holiday tours were less frequent and even then it only travelled on narrow Highland roads - it is only 6' 6" wide. Trips were to the Highlands and Islands, Skye in particular.
Research has shown that various celebrities used the ‘Wee Terror’, as the coach was known to its drivers, including rockers Bill Haley & The Comets, Greek chanteuse Nana Mouskouri, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Austrian tenor Richard Tauber and actor John Laurie when he was filming ‘Whisky Galore’.
In 1956 the coach was sold to Hardie, of Melrose who kept it until 1958 when it was acquired by European Motor Services, of Torquay. The owner, a Mr Watson, ran Continental tours with small luxury coaches until 1965. The company was sold in November of that year and the coach was bought by Timewell, of Maghull near Liverpool, soon returning to the West Country with Ruse, of Mabe near Penryn in Cornwall. Dawlish Coaches bought the Venturer in June 1968 before selling it to Symes, of Monktorr near Honiton in April 1969. It was then used on contract work with Stockland School until August 1971 when increased pupil numbers necessitated a larger vehicle. Shortly afterwards the coach was bought by George Nightingale, of Nightingale Coaches at Knowle near Budleigh Salterton in Devon.
George Nightingale had a habit of buying such unique vehicles but rarely touched them. The coach sat at the rear of the garage for 17 years, under cover and gathering dust but remaining complete. Half-hearted attempts were made to start restoration, new brake shoes being fitted and the cylinder head removed for overhaul, but nothing was ever finished.
The immediately preceding owner got to know about the Venturer and succeeded in buying it from George Nightingale in February 1988. Restoration commenced immediately and would occupy the next six years. The coach has been rallied regularly since the completion of its renovation in April 1994, its first outing being the HCVS London to Brighton Run in May of that year, when it was placed 1st in class for coaches of under 20 seats. In 2002 it won the Silver Jubilee award at the Showbus Rally for the best bus/coach of 1952 and has continued to be rallied for pleasure each year.
This Venturer is an ideal period coach most suitable for film/television work or hospitality at prestigious events such as Goodwood, Henley, The Derby, etc. Driven to the sale, the vehicle is offered with current road fund licence, fresh MoT, Swansea V5 and a substantial quantity of spares.