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DENNIS LANCET J3 (980)

Dennis Lancet J3
Dennis Lancet J3 1948 with a 32-seat Strachan body This is hopefully what 980 will look like in year or so.

Dennis Lancet 980 (GAA 616) was used on the London Express service from the late 40's on its journey from Farnham to Victoria Coach Station and back.

PROGRESS REPORT

Dennis Lancet J3
Vehicle arrived in 1994

Work has progressed very slowly since this vehicle arrived in 1994. Not much was done in the first 18 months apart from a few tidy up jobs. She was towed to the Guildford running day in 1995 and to Woking in 1996.

Up to now quite a few major jobs have been completed. A lot of rotten wood has been replaced. And a new boot floor has been installed. Lino laid on the floor, new ceiling and a lot of interior woodwork. Extensive work in the cab area has been completed.

The new boot floor of 980 Refurbished radiator grill of 980
The new boot floor and refurbished radiator grill

Some minor jobs that have been completed are all the parts for the Clayton heater have been acquired and have been re-chromed, as have the wheel trims. The driver's seat has been re-upholstered and the radiator grill refurbished. We have had two major set back's first our tarpaulins were destroyed in a storm and we had to spend several weeks recovering the vehicles. Recently we have discovered some serious rot in the window pillars. Apart from all that we are plodding on slowly but surely.


Update 10th August 2008
by Brian Aris and Les Smith
All pillars have been replaced as have the body panels. The coach has been stripped and primed ready for painting. At present the boot doors have been rebuilt and work is well under way on the passenger entrance door. The rear dome has been repaired and filled and stripped ready for painting. We have acquired seats from a Bedford SB with Duple Vega body, which was on the Channel Islands and as this vehicle was 7'6''wide they are the correct size for our coach. They are in the process of being re trimmed with the correct A&D moquette.

The cushions are now completed and the backs are being worked on .All windows are now back in place except the windscreen which has to be re chromed. When this has been done we will be starting work on the interior ,ceiling and ceiling moquette. All this work with the exception of the re trimming of the seats is being done by the Sunday work parties at Normandy every other Sunday throughout the years regardless of the weather.

Four of the completed seat cushions with the new moquette
Four of the completed seat cushions with the new moquette
 
Mr. Paul Andrews working on the boot doors
Mr. Paul Andrews working on the boot doors


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