The first new Elite arrives at SHOWBUS. The Volvo B12BT chassis is bearing Plaxton's new prestigious body. The model was announced shortly before SHOWBUS 2008, unfortunate timing with the British economy in its worst recession ever. The number of Elites is thus still small, but the body is impressive and will hopefully build in numbers when the economy improves. A sign of good times ahead: Plaxton was able to bring a model to SHOWBUS, which had been ruled out earlier in the year.

In sharp contrast to Johnson's OB is this, their brand new doubledeck Ayats coach, 8JBT. The johnsons entries journeyed down to Duxford on Saturday late afternoon and parked temporarily before being displayed between the VC10 and Trident on Sunday morning. Care was needed to avoid the plane wings when postioning!

A trio of late entries from West Midlands operator, Coniston Coaches made a neat display. Obscured by the Mercedes Vito are a Plaxton Cheetah Merc and a full size Plaxton coach, which should have been in the full Plaxton line up, but somehow Dudleys Coaches' Jonckheere bodied Volvos had swapped places with them.

There was an impressive line up of around forty Plaxton coaches, the newest being Richardson Travel's Volvo B12M, 534 (YN09DXR). There were probably fifty Plaxton vehicles on site - 10% of the display. At least two appeared in the Stagecoach area with a tri-axle Megabus coach and the Western Welsh liveried commemorative coach. Others included the Black Diamond Centro and a selection of Pointer bodied Darts.

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