Volvo B58-H 1353

1353 was the 3rd Volvo Artic produced in the original order for the Brown and Cream Express fleet. It was assigned to Elizabeth Depot where it served for many years until it was eventually used at Hackney, Mile End with TransAdelaide, Aldgate depot with TransitPlus before returning to Mile End and Newton with Torrens Transit until it was withdrawn in 2006.

Leaving Adelaide in 2006, it made the journey down to Hobart to as a school bus for Wisby's Coaches where it operated for 8 years. In 2014 ‘Purple Party Buses’ of Perth, a company who purchased a large portion of Bomber stumpies, two doors and artics, purchased 1353 and 1352 and drove them all the way over to Perth to add to their fleet.

It also operated as a Party Bus for ‘Perth Bus Hub’ in its final years before going up for sale as the business was closing. After a quick visit and inspection in Perth in February 2023, the paperwork was signed on the 5th and payment was made on the 7th (the owners birthday). 

1353 on Currie Street facing west, commencing a 21W to the Showgrounds
📷Scott Mitchell

On Tuesday the 18th April 2023, Ex Adelaide Bomber Artic 1353 hit the highway out of Perth bound for Adelaide. The journey took 4 days and travelled more than half way across the country! 

The journey across was fortunately very uneventful as the bus had no mechanical issues nor did it encounter any wildlife whilst travelling the desert. The journey included crossing the Kalgoorlie Goldfields, the 90 Mile Straight, the Nullabor Plain, Great Australian Bight, Gawler Ranges and Flinders Ranges before finally reaching the Welcome to Adelaide sign outside Virginia. 

Since its return to Adelaide, paint stripper was used to remove the party bus livery as the original paint job was still underneath. With mixed success, the bus was returned to its STA/TA appearance below the window line. In time, the grey window bands will be applied over the remaining black paint. The interior, largely untouched after all these years, is currently still under restoration as many missing components need to be fabricated. 

Special thank you to BPASA member Damien Lewis for kindly driving all the way over to Perth to serve as a support vehicle for the journey home. 1353 will be restored in time to its TransAdelaide speed stripe appearance.