Buses readers have voted for the Bristol Lodekka as their most iconic bus of the last 75 years.
In the Buses January anniversary supplement and a Buses February article, readers were asked to vote online for what the felt was the most iconic bus through the 75 year Buses has been in print. More than 750 votes have been counted, and the results are in.
The clear winner in the Bristol Lodekka, with more than a quarter of the votes. The 13ft 6in high halfcab double-decker was first covered by Buses way back in issue 2, when a prototype appeared on the pages of Buses Illustrated in 1949.
The vehicle was produced in volume from 1953 to 1968, and is most significant for offering the layout of a full height double-decker while still being capable of passing under certain low bridges. It was also ahead of its time in offering a step-free entrance.
Second place is the Leyland Atlantean, with just over 15% of the vote. It made its first appearance in issue 29, and is also seen as a revolutionary vehicle, being the first rear-engined double-decker.
Developed partly as Leyland’s answer to the Lodekka, it’s curious to see these competing vehicles topping the poll after all these years.
Third is perhaps the most …
