Class C licence for retro motorhome

[bigalan]

Just spotted this for sale on gumtree:
edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/35/58432735.html



For some reason I quite like this but only have class C1 and D1 on my licence. What is involved in upgrading it to class C and how much is it likely to cost?

What other retros could I drive on class C?

[knobstar]

Dude you can drive what you like on a class B license provided it's over 30 years old and can't seat more than 8 people. The actual quote is:

"Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:

-a passenger carrying vehicle manufactured more than 30 years before the date when it is driven and not used for hire or reward or for the carriage of more than 8 passengers"

Found here: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022619

I used to drive bendy-buses around Bath as a student so, to comply with manifesto rules, have some retro bendyness:




Good luck with your search; go buy the massivest thing you can :-)

[waveman1500]

May 12, 2010 7:48:43 GMT knobstar said:

I used to drive bendy-buses around Bath as a student so, to comply with manifesto rules, have some retro bendyness

Lol, those old Volvos are still in service in South Australia! There's not many left though, they've mostly been phased out. Which is definitely a good thing, as they're desperately slow, especially as a bendy bus. Even the non-articulated ones can only do about 40km/h flat out up Cement Hill near my house. I'm glad that I rarely have to take the bus anymore. Funnily enough, my neighbour from across the street used to build the bodies for them at PMC before they closed down. As far as I know, the new buses are fully imported with the bodies.

Edit: And whilst I was typing you took down the image of the bus I was rambling about! It was this one, but the photo is a bit big...

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Volvo_B10M_Articulated_PMC_Adelaide.jpg

[knobstar]

May 12, 2010 7:59:39 GMT waveman1500 said:

Edit: And whilst I was typing you took down the image of the bus I was rambling about! It was this one, but the photo is a bit big...

Sorry dude - I just thought that it may scare a few people with it's size!

[mortcars]

I keep wondering what the biggest bus you can get that has a max weight of 3.5 tonnes so i could buy summit to poss live permenantly in.

[Adam]

May 12, 2010 7:48:43 GMT knobstar said:

I used to drive bendy-buses around Bath as a student so, to comply with manifesto rules, have some retro bendyness:

Those bendy bus drivers have some skill! Bath is less than well suited for bendy buses as far as I can tell... ;D Hurtling down Bathwick Hill about 3 inches from the parked cars, another bendy bus coming towards you leaving a gap around 6 inches wider than the bus.... and they don't even slow down!

[jonw]

May 12, 2010 13:36:56 GMT Adam said:

May 12, 2010 7:48:43 GMT knobstar said:

I used to drive bendy-buses around Bath as a student so, to comply with manifesto rules, have some retro bendyness:

Those bendy bus drivers have some skill! Bath is less than well suited for bendy buses as far as I can tell... ;D Hurtling down Bathwick Hill about 3 inches from the parked cars, another bendy bus coming towards you leaving a gap around 6 inches wider than the bus.... and they don't even slow down!

They don't slow down for much though.... Have to contend with the mad Bah bus drivers every day.

[Deleted]

I'd have to check at work.

But i think once it gets converted into a motorhome, it then becomes LGV rather than PCV. If it came in at over 7.5 Ton you would need a "C"

You'd need to do your theory test, Practrical test and CPC to get ya license now

[Rich606]

I remember reading somewhere that going up Bathwick Hill they average about 4mpg

Erm, here's an old bus in Bath to keep it vaguely on topic....

[Retrojunkie]

No waaay the missus has been bugging me to buy that ol' bus when she was on Ebay.

She is a lot of work though!

The story behind it is great, that's why the missus wants her

It's not happening though, we've far too much on at the moment.

If I was going to, this would be more my bag...

[knobstar]

I'm with weblefeck on the licensing laws - I think that's why directgov mention the "8 passenger seats" so as long as you're under that re how many people you've got on board I'm not even sure the 7.5t rule comes into platy.....

Retrowagen has the coolest pics so far though

And as for the rest of you; I drove nothing but responsibly during my 5 years service to First and under no circumstances did I encourage surfing of the turntable nor help fresher rugby playing wannabees with verses to their sing songs over the tannoy ;D:D

[Adam]

May 12, 2010 21:07:33 GMT knobstar said:

under no circumstances did I encourage surfing of the turntable

;D The perfect ending to a night out.

Sorry, have a retro-modern bus....

[Brian Damaged]

If you passed your UK Driving Test before 31st January 1997 you can drive one weighing up to 7.5 tonnes on your car licence. if it's heavier than that you'll need to upgrade to a Category C LGV.

If you passed your UK Driving Test after 31st January 1997 you can drive one weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. You'll need an LGV Category C1 licence for anything between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes, and an LGV Category C licence for anything heavier than 7.5t.

Remember you'll also need to find a local MOT station that can handle it, and that even with that legendary Gardner engine (which is actually NOT 3999cc as stated in the advert....the 6HLXB is actually 10,450cc) you'll struggle to better 15mpg with it. 12mpg would be about what I'd expect.

More retro coach loveliness required.