The Devon General Bus Company, in its familiar red and cream, started
operating in 1919, covering the South Devon area. They had their
headquarters in Torquay and later Exeter, operating buses and coaches.
Nationalisation and subsequent mergers over the years saw the company's
individual identity disappear and today it is part of Stagecoach Devon.
The AEC Matador was manufactured by the Associated Equipment Company for
Allied use during WWII. After the War ended, many ware sold on for
civilian use as recovery trucks, showman vehicles and general contractor
use. Oxford have already released several examples of these and this
latest introduction in Devon General livery represents an AEC Matador
Wrecker that the bus company would have very likely used to rescue
broken down fleet vehicles.
Our 1:76 scale model is decorated in the familiar Devon General red and
cream colour scheme. The graphics in gold show it as belonging to the
Engineers Department. The vehicle carries trade plates 199TT in red out
of white on the front and the back. Also printed in white on the offside
front bonnet section is a TOWING notice, alerting other road users to
the job in hand. The fuel tank, door handles, tow bar and lights are
masked silver. The rear flatbed section has realistic brown 'planking' -
an area that also houses the crane, complete with hook and our detailed
model is finished with a roof beacon on the top of the cream cab roof.