A second life for the 11-97

Imperial London Bus 11-97

Birth of a project

THE BUS TOUR

It was in August 2020 that Mélanie and Fabian found the bus on a classified ads website, located in Fribourg, Switzerland. After a visit and above all a big crush, they decided to buy it in order to give it a second life.

partner searches

With a clear idea in mind, they start looking for companies in Switzerland that can renovate the bus exactly the way they want.

As the bus was built in 1962 and has a rather special English mechanism, the best option is to send it directly back to England, where it covered more than 1 million kilometres as a public transport between 1962 and 1985.

The transport

a company specializing in Routemasters

While searching on the internet, Melanie and Fabian finally found a company specialized in the renovation of this type of old English bus. This company has been renovating Routemasters for 25 years and is able to carry out the desired transformations.

back to homebase

Then begins the complete organization of the return to England via a special transporter, paying attention to every road he has to take due to the height of the convoy reaching almost 5 metres.

The restoration

from head to toe

Then begins the total dismantling of this 60 year old bus to make it new again: mechanics, bodywork, installation of a generator, cutting the roof to adapt the height of the vehicle to Swiss laws, etc..

interior design

Mélanie and Fabian then thought about the interior design: choice of materials, color of the walls and ceiling, light fittings, 100% equipped and made-to-measure bar.

The finished project

back to Switzerland

After completion of the work, a special transport to Switzerland is arranged. Once back home, the custom-made bar is installed and ready to be used. Later on, the presentation to the SCN will take place in order to homologate the bus and to give it beautiful Valaisan plates.

presentation at the Foire du Valais

For its very first event, we were lucky enough to have a stand at the Foire du Valais in 2022 to present the project and make it known.

Tapas bar, cocktails, privatization of the rooftop and company aperitifs on the stand, the Foire du Valais allowed the Bus to be put forward at its true value while making the joy of young and old.