I used to run a cafe. This cafe was put on the map by creating a classic car event that almost out grew the business itself. A few regular hikers, that used to frequent the business caught wind of my classic car and bus antics. One of the ladies once approached me and said “I saw a bus just like yours parked behind a pub”. I used to get people talking to me about buses all day long and I thought it was a nice story but didn’t pay much attention to it until…….

The kind lady showed me a picture on her phone that she had taken of the bus in question and there it was. A fully complete Routemaster bus looking a little sorry for itself. Before I could utter another word the Kind lady proceeded to tell me that she’d been in to speak to the landlord and it turned out the owner (some other guy) was now looking to sell it! ALARM BELLS WENT OFF IN MY HEAD! ;)

Having found out it was very close to me, I arranged a visit and agreed to meet its current custodian on location. On the day I pulled up to a pub in the middle of nowhere yet only 20 minutes away from home. Having lived in the area for 25 years (on and off) I’m amazed I had never seen or heard of this place before. By the time I walked through the door I realized why…….Not really my kind if establishment. (That is all I have to say about the pub and it’s clientele!) I met the owner of the bus at the bar, had a quick drink (At 2pm on a Tuesday, also not really my style) and then proceeded to the back car park. As we turned around the corner of the building I was greeted by the lovely face that only a Routemaster has. I knew then instantly that she was going to have to be mine!!

From what I’ve been told this particular bus (RML 2730) was sold to a private collector in 2005 with it’s sister, (2731 I believe) to be restored. During that restoration the owner ran out of funds after completing 2731. So he proceeded to sell 2730 (our number 2). A group of people decided to buy it together and it was to become a mobile radio studio for Suzy FM (a new local radio station that still exists today) Suzy radio was suddenly granted a full license so there was no need for the station to be mobile. With the failing health of the man in charge of the conversion and the conversion no longer necessary the bus sat there for nearly 7 years….. Not only that, it sat in a 20 mile radius of my own bloody house and I never knew!!

On several occasions people had offered the owner money to buy the bus but apparently it was never enough. The pub was going to change hands and the new owners were not so keen on having it in their car park so it was now time to get it shifted. Could my timing be any better? Armed with the following knowledge I knew she was going to be mine!

1. Why had people offered such little money? However poor Routemasters look on the outside they are merely dirty! They are constructed of high quality aluminum so don’t suffer any major corrosion and 99% of the time just need paint. As you all know, I’ve been there and done that!
2. With a finite supply of 1300 Routemasters in the world, they are in huge demand and values have increased ten fold since being relieved from duty in 2005.  Pay a fair price and you can not lose!

I had paid 25k for 2355 which seemed in better condition. However that was already 2 years ago and I had just seen a stripped out bus make 35k at auction and a fully restored bus made 60kplus  also at auction. In my mind (at the time) I valued 2730 at about 20/25k. I spent nearly half an hour looking around it and listening to the owner telling me how he was offered 15k and thought that was too little. In my naivety I said “They should’ve offered you 18000!” The gentleman turned to me and said “Yes, 18 would buy the bus” 

Call me naive, impatient or stupid… The words just came out of my mouth without even thinking. I said “Deal!”. He shook my hand and it was done. I was now the owner of 2370 or more importantly Routemaster Bus Bar number two!!