Leyland Atlantean Open Top Devon General NBC 928 928GTA 

The well-known bus operator, Devon General, began operating regular open top bus tours of the Torbay area in the summer of 1955 using vehicles converted from conventional double deckers. However, in 1961 these were replaced by a fleet of nine specially built Leyland Atlanteans with Metro-Cammell bodies, each seating 75 passengers.

The nine were named after historical naval and maritime figures such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, and soon earned the nickname ‘Sea Dogs’; a term Devon General even adopted for its own marketing. In their distinctive cream and red livery, they became a familiar sight on the 12A-12D routes serving Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Babbacombe and Kingswear, and carried generations of holidaymakers for the next 20 years. They were built as convertibles, with detachable roofs, meaning that they could operate as normal double deckers during the low season.

Upon nationalisation in 1969 Devon General became part of the new National Bus Company (NBC) but was amalgamated with the Western National Omnibus Company (itself part of the NBC) two years later. Under NBC the Sea Dogs were repainted into a poppy red and white livery, and also converted to one-man operation. They initially carried Devon General branding, but this was later superseded by Western National and other NBC liveries as their duties took them further afield into Cornwall and Dorset. Gradually their names disappeared too.

Withdrawal commenced in 1982, and the Sea Dogs went their separate ways, finding use in places including London, Lancashire, East Yorkshire and Glasgow.

Our model depicts registration 928GTA ‘Sir Humphrey Gilbert’ in its post-1969 condition as fleet number 928, finished in NBC Poppy Red and White with Devon General branding, as operating on service 12 to Brixham. It also features period advertising on the original-style rear engine bustle and separately fitted destination banner boards on the body sides.

Like our 2025 ‘Sea Dogs’, the model comprises an amalgamation of new and refreshed tooling, with the enhanced lower deck benefiting from the addition of panel lines and round mirrors for the first time. The upper deck is fitted with metal handrails around the top edge and has the original high position front route blind; the first time this has featured on an EFE Road ‘Sea Dog’.

• Colours/details of final model may vary from illustration
• Authentically detailed die-cast model from EFE Road
• Complementary to OO scale model railways (1:76 scale)