Aston Manor

Road Transport Museum

208-216 Witton Lane, Birmingham, B6 6QE

MIDLAND RED C5

    Midland Red are well known for their revolutionary and innovative vehicle designs. With the opening of the M1 motorway on November 2nd 1959, Midland Red launched a service between Birmingham and London which used their custom built BMMO CM5 Coach. This vehicle was based on their S14 bus design, but with several improvements. Comfortable seating with adjustable head rests, and good sound insulation provided a very pleasant journey for the passenger. The engine was the standard 8litre unit, with a turbo-charger added, driving through a 5 speed gearbox to a high ratio rear axle. The vehicle was capable of cruising easily at 70mph, and usually higher, as there was no motorway speed limit then. All this speed gave the need for disc brakes to be fitted all round, including a disc hand brake on the propshaft. Suspension was the usual rubber suspension, independent on the front. All this produced a vehicle which ran down the motorway at speeds greater than most cars of the day could manage.

    They were superseded by the even faster CM6, which meant regular coach duties and even bus work for some C5s. After withdrawal, some were sold on, and probably the most well known was to Lichfield Speedway Supporters Club, who used their C5, 4819, to travel the country to Speedway matches. Eventually the club had no need for the coach and it was acquired for preservation in 1983.   

    Work began to restore 4819 to it's former glory. Mechanically attention was paid to a leaking radiator, a blown exhaust valve, and worn brakes. Bodywork included repairing the cracked one-piece fibre-glass roof, filling in a large hole in the front corner, and generally repanelling the few damaged areas. Paintwork started with removing all old paint back to bare metal. The vehicle was then brush painted, building the layers up, to achieve the finish you see in the photos. With up to ten coats of paint in places, no wonder people used to discuss whether it was brush or spray painted, it was difficult to tell.

    4819 entered the rally scene in 1986, and was a regular at many midlands allies, winning trophies at several of them. In 1989 we ran a commemorative trip to London, to mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of the M1. We ran from Digbeth to Victoria together with the newest of National Express' coaches at the time.

    The novelty wore off, and 4819 was sold, and moved to Wellington, Telford. It was still a regular on the rally scene for a few years, but was eventually sold on again. The weakness in Midland Red's design was the engine. Although 4819 had no turbo, there was a problem with internal water leaks in the engine. Further investigation showed a very worn engine, but you don't pop down your local spares shop for these parts. As far as I know 4819 is still off the road awaiting parts being found or made, so it can once again return to the road.