Leyland National Mk.1 Long 2 Door demonstrator FRM499K (Aberdeen). Service 5 to Woodend.

Pre-production chassis 010 was new in July 1972 and displayed in the demonstration park at the Commercial Motor Show at London’s Earls Court exhibition centre in September 1972. After the motor show FRM499K was trialled in service in Lancaster, Preston, Cardiff, Eastbourne, Aberdeen, and elsewhere.

Our model depicts FRM499K on loan to Aberdeen Corporation operating on long-established service 5 between Woodend (Hazlehead Gardens), Castle Street and Beach Boulevard. The trial produced an order from Aberdeen Corporation for three 10.3m 2-door Leyland Nationals delivered in February 1973. A further twenty followed for the corporation’s successor Grampian Regional Transport from December 1975 to March 1976.

The Leyland-owned vehicle was converted as a mobile training school for overseas customers by British Leyland Truck & Bus, and visited cities in Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Germany and France. It was equipped with a cinema, lecture area and demo engine.

FRM499K survives and is currently being restored to original condition.

• Colours/details of final model may vary from illustration
• Authentically detailed die-cast model from EFE Road
• Complementary to OO scale model railways (1:76 scale)