This document uses factory provided Body Numbers (and original Serco fleet numbers for the AP numbered buses) to allow us to speak about the same vehicles over multiple fleet number changes. This should help provide clarity.
Buses noted in this document as preserved are only buses owned by BPASA members.

In 1992 4 MAN NL202 MK I’s were ordered and produced over late 92 / early 93. These were intended to test the NL202 chassis, and were considered successful. However, the State Transport Authority and TransAdelaide (which took over the STA in 1994, subsequently receiving the remainder of the SL202 order) were not planning to shift to low floor buses any time soon.

In 1995, while TransAdelaide were still receiving the last quarter of the SL202 order, they saw a need for smaller buses to serve tight developments and lower patronage areas.
These were envisioned to take after the existing High Floor MIDI buses the STA had ordered previously,
however a local disability action group lobbied the State Government to make all new buses wheelchair
accessible. So the order for MIDI buses was modified to get low floor variants.

Fast forward to the middle of 1996 and the last MIDIs were being delivered. MAN’s primary offering
at that point was the NL202 MK II, so the State Government placed an order of 75 with the same
5-speed ZF as in the MIDIs and SL202s, and a body built by PMC Adelaide.

Above: The original NL202 schematic, with some changes yet to be made, and some in red pen.
Below: VWU692, Body No. 5701 on trial with Hills Transit, weaving through the hills.

One of the High Floor MIDI buses previously ordered by the STA

The first NL202, Body No. 5701, rolled off the production line in November of 1996 and after undergoing trials by PMC to ensure its safety, it was delivered to Aldgate Depot, Hills Transit, in Jan 1997 to gauge the viability of this chassis on the steep hills under a two week trial.

Body No. 5701 then went to Serco upon completion of its trial, where it was numbered 366 and entered service out of Elizabeth depot, with 5702 and 03 quickly following.

TransAdelaide Mile End Depot then received 5704-09, numbered 1735-40 (1736 was 5704 and 1735 was 5705). They would later receive 5747, numbered 1741.
1735 to 1739 were painted in the yellow CityFREE livery, while 1740 received TransAdelaide Swoosh, a livery only worn by one other bus, and 1741 became an AOA bus. While the latter two did not receive the CityFREE livery, they were still largely confined to those routes.