During the winter of 1986/1987 & 1987/1988 A701DDL [701] & A702DDL [702] were respectively converted to full coach specification as CH40/21F, the advantage being seen as increased passenger capacity compared with a conventional coach. However, they were never successful as such, as none of the coach passengers wanted to sit downstairs!

In March 1987 A702DDL [702] was reregistered to WDL142.

In June 1987 A701DDL [701] was renumbered to [101] and re-entered service as a coach in a Silver & Blue livery.

In October 1987 A701DDL [701] was reregistered to WDL748.

On 22 July 1988 A702DDL [702] was renumbered to [102] and re-entered service as a coach in a Silver & Blue livery.

In July 1988 A698DDL [698] was repainted into Emerald Green & Cream livery and featured a rear advertisement for "Esplanade Garages" - this advert was removed during the repaint in October 1990.

In October 1989 A697DDL [697] / A699DDL [699] & A700DDL [700] were withdrawn.

In May 1990 A698DDL [698] had the front upper window vents replaced with (non-opening) fixed glass.

In April 1991 A701DDL [701] was withdrawn and, at the same time, was reregistered to A110FDL.

In September 1992 A702DDL [702] was withdrawn and, at the same time, was reregistered to A295FDL.

During the autumn of 1994 A698DDL [698] was converted to DPH40/30F by having the bus seats replaced with coach-style seats.

Also around 1994/1995 A698DDL [698] was repainted into an experimental Emerald Green & Cream livery in that the Cream area extended up to just below the upper-deck window frames. The area around the upper-deck window frames was Emerald and not Cream. [per Jeff Lyons]

In November 1997 A698DDL [698] was repainted into Mushroom & Dark Green livery.

In August 2001 A698DDL [698] was fitted with Day-glow destination blinds. [per Gavin Rowney]

By 29 August 2002 A698DDL [698] had been withdrawn from service. [per Gavin Rowney]

Subsequent History

A697DDL [697]:

• In October 1989 it was transferred to Solent Blue Line and repainted into their livery as number [697].
• In August 2003 it was sold to Johnson Brothers of Hodthorpe.

A698DDL [698]:

• By 29 August 2002 it had been sold to Eagles & Crawford of Mold. [per Gavin Rowney]
• By 18 August 2005 it had been sold to P&O Lloyd Bagillt or Bagillt. [per Richard Hughes]
  By 18 September 2005 it had been repainted into School Bus Yellow livery. [per rglaisterr]

A699DDL [699]:

• In October 1989 it was transferred to Solent Blue Line operating as their fleet number [699]. It was subsequently repainted into Solent Blue Line livery.
  In April 2006 it was withdrawn due to a gearbox fault. [per Phil Stockley]
  By 5 August 2006 it was noted being partially cannibalised for spares (view photo 5-Aug-06, photo1 25-Aug-06 & photo2 25-Aug-06). [per Anthony Poulton]

A700DDL [700]:

• In October 1989 it was transferred to Solent Blue Line operating as their fleet number [699]. It was subsequently repainted into Solent Blue Line livery.
  At the start of September 2005 it went on loan to Wilts & Dorset operating on school contracts. [per Phil Stockley]
  By 2 February 2006 it had been withdrawn and was transferred to Ryde Depot, IW, (4/5 February 2006) for disposal. [per Phil Stockley]
• During February 2006 it was donated to the Isle of Wight Bus Museum for preservation. [per Marc Morgan-Huws]

A701DDL / WDL748 / A110FDL / XOD665 [701] / [101]:

• In June 1991 it was sold to Southend Borough Transport and operated as their number [256].
• Around November 1997 it passed to Arriva Southend operating as their number [5384].
  Around October 2000 it was transferred to Arriva East Herts & Essex still operating as their number [5384].
• In early 2002 it passed to Ensign of Purfleet (dealer).
• By April 2002 it had passed to Western Greyhound.
  By January 2004 it had been reregistered to XOD665. [per Gavin Rowney]
  In June 2006 - still with Western Greyhound - it was planned to withdraw it and use it as a store by removing the seats - it may be sold instead. [per Gavin Rowney]

A702DDL / WDL142 / A295FDL [702] / [102]:

• In September 1992 it was transferred to Solent Blue Line operating as their number [695].
  In May 1999, still with Solent Blue Line, the coach seats were replaced with normal bus seats. [per Gavin Rowney]
• By August 2002 it had been sold to Johnson Brothers of Hodthorpe. By 12 September 2002 it had been repainted into Redfern Green fleet livery. [per Steve Lee]

An offside-front view of A697DDL [697] in original NBC Leaf Green & White livery at Newport Bus Station on 14 August 1985.
[photo copyright of BusSpotter!]

Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs

An offside-front view of A698DDL [698] in original NBC Leaf Green & White livery at Newport Bus Station on 14 August 1985.
[photo copyright of BusSpotter!]

Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs

An offside-front view of A698DDL [698] in the experimental Emerald Green & Cream livery at Alum Bay on 11 June 1995.
[photo copyright of Ian Roberts]

A nearside-front view of A699DDL [699] in original NBC Leaf Green & White livery at Shanklin Railway Station during June 1986.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]

An offside-front view of A700DDL [700] in original NBC Leaf Green & White livery at George Street, Ryde, on 14 August 1985.
[photo copyright of BusSpotter!]

Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs

A nearside-front view of A701DDL after having been converted to coach specification during the winter of 1986/87 . At the same time it received a new fleet number of [101] and, in October 1987, new registration number of WDL748 . At Blackgang on 21 September 1988.
[photo copyright of BusSpotter!]

Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs

A nearside-front veiw of A701DDL reregistered to F110FDL with Arriva East Herts & Essex as their [5384] at Romford on 17 October 2000.
[photo copyright of Mike Penn]

A nearside-front view of A702DDL [702] in original NBC Leaf Green & White livery at Ryde Bus Station on 13 May 1986.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]