The AEC Regent V was a

front-engine In automotive design, a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout, or FF layout, places both the internal combustion engine and driven roadwheels at the front of the vehicle. Usage implications Historically, this designation was used reg ...

double-decker bus A double-decker bus or double-deck bus is a bus that has two storeys or decks. They are used for mass transport in the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and also in cities such as Sydney; the best-known example is the ...

built by the

Associated Equipment Company Associated Equipment Company (AEC) was a British vehicle manufacturer that built buses, motorcoaches and trucks from 1912 until 1979. The name Associated Equipment Company was hardly ever used; instead it traded under the AEC and ACLO brands. ...

between 1954 and 1969. It was the last AEC Regent series double-decker model, and was the successor to the AEC Regent III (not to be confused with the AEC Regent IV underfloor-engine double-decker bus, which never entered production). The Regent V had AEC's own frontal design and concealed radiator as standard, although some were supplied with the radiator exposed at customer's request. It was fitted with an AEC engine or Gardner 6LW engine, coupled to a synchromesh or AEC Monocontrol semi-automatic or fully automatic gearbox. It was purchased by a number of bus operators in the United Kingdom outside

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

(London Transport bought the

AEC Routemaster The AEC Routemaster is a front-engined double-decker bus that was designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) and Park Royal Vehicles. The first prototype was completed in September 1954 and the last one ...

during that period). The chassis was also sold to Ireland, Portugal, South Africa, Iran, Iraq,

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

and Hong Kong.

Kowloon Motor Bus The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB) is a bus company operating franchised services in Hong Kong. It is the largest bus company in Hong Kong by fleet size and number of bus routes. It is a subsidiary of Transport International. ...

, the sole operator of AEC Regent Vs in Hong Kong, received a total of 210 Regent Vs with extra long wheelbase in 1960s. They had bodywork (longer than contemporary British standard of ) supplied by

British Aluminium Company British Aluminium was an aluminium production company. It was originally formed as the British Aluminium Company Ltd on 7 May 1894 and was subsequently known as British Alcan Aluminium plc (1982-1996). History In the late 1880s and early 1890s, ...

or Metal Sections. In 1968, Britain's Labour government introduced the Bus Grant, which encouraged the introduction of one-person bus operation. This led to the country's front-engined

es being phased out, as rear or mid-engine designs allowed the passengers to pay fares directly to the driver. The last AEC Regent V entered service in 1969.

References

* * {{AEC range Regent V Double-decker buses Half-cab buses