Once free from the ownership of Duple, Willowbrook began its move into the coach market in 1972 with the 002 Expressway semi coach. At the 1974 Commercial Motor Show held at Earls Court, Willowbrook shook the British coach industry and tore the rule book up, when it launched the radical and futuristic 008 Spacecar coach. Gone was all the bright metal-work, that Duple and Plaxton coaches carried, the Spacecar was bland, but futuristic. The name Spacecar was thought up by the Director of Willowbrook, who loved cars and the TV series Star Trek. To drum up interest at the launch, Willowbrook showed two Spacecar coaches, both on the Bedford YRT chassis, one was built to full executive specification, with Bunny Girls on hand to create more interest. Both coaches were never registered as a PSV and had plastic side windows. The State owned National Bus Company placed an order for 20 Spacecar bodied Bedford YRTs to be delivered to the National Travel subsidiaries. The coaches were leased, rather than purchased, indeed, the NBC did lease a large number of vehicles over the years. Only 13 out of the 20 Spacecars did actually get delivered. The NBC placed a second order for Spacecars to be delivered during 1976, most on the Bedford YMT chassis, although National Travel South East took 10 Spacecar bodied AEC Reliance coaches. The final batch of Spacecars for the NBC was the largest order, with 40 all on the Leyland Leopard chassis and delivered during 1977. Out of the final batch were two Spacecar bodied Leopards PSU3E/4R for National Travel West/Midlands. These two coaches were built to full executive specification, featuring 28 diplomat reclining seats, toilet, galley, as well as TV, radio and stereo cassette system. Both of these Spacecars were operated by Midland Red for use by West Bromwich Albion amd Wolverhamton Wanderers football teams. Both of these coaches were later fitted out as standard coaches for normal coaching duties. I caught up with VDH 244S at the 1978 Blackpool National Coach Rally. Just look at the clean, but futuristic styling of the Spacecar, it would still look modern today. The achilles heel of the Spacecar, was the use of light gauge metal and the dependency of fibreglass, hence the nick-name of a plastic Leopard, the drivers called the Spacecars the Tonka, which was a popular make of toy at the time. Notice that this Spacecar is fitted with square headlights, there must have been an option to have round, rectangular or square headights fitted to the Spacecar. Another point is the two piece windcreen with the destination display mounted behind the top of the screen. The first batch of Spacecar coaches for the NBC had one piece front windscreens, with the destination display below the windscreen. Notice how the front bumper come spolier looks part of the body, rather than an after thought. The rear of the Spacecar was also very stylish, with a one piece rear window and the tail lights mounted horizontal in the rear bumper. The final part of the Spacecar design worth mentioning is the rear most side window on each side, which is shallower than the rest, due to it being the emergency exit. In all, the Spacecar was very modern and stylish, it was a shame, that Willowbrook had to cut corners in the construction of the Spacecar. After the saga of the Spacecar, the next coach Willowbrook built was the 003. Now much could be written about the 003 bodies that the NBC was forced to order in a politically motivated instruction from the James Callaghan's Labour Government in the winter of 1978. I shall save this for my next photo which will indeed be of a Willowbrook 003.

Forward into the Future....The Willowbrook Crusader was an enticing way to squeeze a few more years out of that tired old Bedford or Leopard..the idea found few buyers,a Solitary AEC and a handful of Leyland Leopards and Bedfords recieved second lives with the durable as cardboard Crusader..the brochure offers such marvels as Toilet/Washroom,Heated Mirrors,Plug Door and weight saving seating...most of the few built have long since crumbled into extinction...though I know of at least two survivors...which as a percentage is far higher than for the contemporary Duple and Plaxton products