732 traces its roots back to the early 1950s, when cities were moving away from trams and looking for something that could carry just as many people, just as efficiently.

Built specifically for the Municipal Tramways Trust in Adelaide, buses like this were part of that shift. With an underfloor engine and a large three-door layout, they were designed to keep people moving — whether it was the morning rush, the trip home from work, or a busy Saturday in town. They quickly became part of everyday city life as tram routes were replaced and expanded.

But 732’s story didn’t stop there.

After its time in Adelaide, it found a second life with Linsley’s Motors in Wallsend, near Newcastle, where it became fleet number 4. Like many buses of the time, it was adapted to suit new work — the extra doors were removed, seating was increased, and it settled into a different kind of routine.

Instead of city streets, it spent its days moving workers to and from industrial sites around Wallsend, including services connected with Commonwealth Steel and BHP. It was a quieter role, but just as important — part of the daily rhythm of shift changes, early starts, and long days.

Ex. Brisbane City Council

Benny might be the “baby bus” of the fleet, but it carries many of the same features as the larger buses — just on a smaller scale.

The Nissan Echo microbus concept was developed in 1959 at Shin-Nihon Kogyo’s Kyoto plant, using the chassis of the 2-ton Junior/Caball light truck. It featured a stressed-skin body and a distinctive design, with extensive external mouldings. The company behind it began as an aircraft manufacturer during the war before transitioning into vehicle production, later becoming Nissan Shatai.

Buses like this were built for practical, everyday work — from local transport to supporting industry — and were also offered in Australia through Nissan Datsun distributors alongside vehicles like the Nissan Patrol 4-wheel drive, Nissan Cedric station wagon and Nissan Caball truck.

Ex. Brisbane City Council

Built in Brisbane by Denning in 1989, this Landseer entered service with Doyle’s Bus Lines as No. 217, 217 APO and was displayed in Doyle’s colours at the 1989 Bus & Coach Show at Warwick Farm before beginning a long working life on charter, school camp and other duties from Camira and later around Springfield. When Kev and Beryl Doyle retired in 1998, #217 passed with the Westside Bus Company operation to the Pulitano family, later becoming 08WBC and finishing its working life as a school bus around Ipswich. After many years off the road, it was generously donated to HBA by Bus Queensland and the Pulitano Group in 2026, with the long-term goal of returning #217 to service and seeing it carry passengers once again.