1897 is an M.A.N SL200 bodied by PMC in Adelaide for the State Transport Authority. It has a normally aspirated 11.4L diesel engine coupled to its ‘musical’ ZF 4HP500 transmission. It has planetary hub reduction axles which contribute to the unique sounds of this vehicle.

1897 entered service for the STA at Port Adelaide depot and still wears its ‘P’ (for Port Adelaide Depot) sticker on the driver’s window to this day. Under TransAdelaide, this bus also saw service at Morphettville and Lonsdale depots . After privatization occurred, it was allocated to Serco, who numbered it as 926 (Morphettville Depot) and then 148 (Currie Street and Elizabeth Depots). When the contract transitioned from Serco to Southlink, 1897 stayed at Elizabeth depot and became 2451. During its twilight period of revenue service, it was once again allocated to Lonsdale depot.

It managed to wear its silver livery, in which it was delivered, for its entire life of Government service. This meant that it avoided being painted in both the STA corporate and Adelaide Metro liveries, which much of the SL200 fleet ended up wearing.

Once its government service had ended, it was acquired by Rawson’s Electrical and was used to transport employees and clients for excursions to events such as Tour Down Under. It was covered in Rawson’s Electrical vinyl advertising all over, however underneath this it maintained its iconic silver livery.

A BPASA member purchased this bus from Rawson’s Electrical on the 11th of February 2016. After purchasing it, Bodie found in an old diary that he had once driven this bus in service when he worked for Serco. The fleet numbers were changed back to 1897 along with the STA decals that represent the earlier part of its working life. It has seen many hours on the road since then and has been part of his family and friends weddings, enthusiast tours, and has even starred on TV! Check out the video below, where it stars in Good Afternoon Adelaide: