Central SMT had previously bought Guy Arabs (Marks I to III) in modest numbers, both single and double-deck, but the advent of a new monarch also saw a new marque on which Central put a unique twist.

As the new decade dawned, the Wolverhampton manufacturer had developed an underfloor-engined version of their Arab brand, the UF. In keeping with the events of 1952, Walter Alexander introduced the stylish Coronation body for Guy’s UF chassis. Like most of the other nationalised Scottish companies, Central placed an initial order, for 10 of these modern-looking and handsome vehicles, on 41-seat coach bodies with central single-door entrance. They were allocated fleet nos. K35-44, K being the company’s code for Guy single-deckers.

Less than two years later, the Traction House hierarchy decided to buy another batch of Arab UFs, but instead of maintaining the trend, they opted to turn back time and requested 10 on bus bodies. That was fair enough – but they asked Alexander to supply traditional cut-away rear entrances for stage-carriage use, albeit with a manually-operated folding-door for some kind of weather protection. Of course, Central SMT had already purchased single-deck Arabs with bus bodies by Guy between  1948 and 1952 (K1 – K34), and with their last rear-entry single-deck Leyland being T162 back in ’49, the decision to go rear retro with the new Arabs in ’54, fleet nos. K45-54, must have raised a few eyebrows among the other group companies, none of whom followed Central’s example!

The ten tribesmen didn’t exactly lead nomadic lives with Central, being split mainly between Hamilton and Carluke depots, and used on Hamilton locals, Carluke / Lanark area services, and the occasional sojourn into the big city on a trunk route, usually as a duplicate.

They all gave Central more than ten years service, and most journeyed on to new oases. While some may liken the rear-doored Coronation body specification to wearing a suit with a semmit and no shirt, the company bosses appear to have been vindicated in their choice. In the decade which saw the 78 give way to the 45, these Guys remain unique in the transport revolution(s).