One of the South East’s leading coach operators has added three Mercedes Sprinter 516 CDi minicoaches to their modern 40 vehicle fleet.

Buzzlines Travel Ltd appointed Stanford Coachworks to carry out the conversion of its Mercedes Sprinter long wheel base coaches and is delighted with the result.

The high-spec conversion included aperture bonded panoramic windows, Fainsa Stel reclining M2 tested ‘City Jeans’ seats, subtle LED lighting and  Eberspacher Moscow air conditioning. Safety and convenience features include parking sensors, central locking, Bluetooth connectivity and iPod docks. To maximise luggage capacity the vehicles have been specified with Mercedes van rear doors with 180 degree opening and a full height luggage hold, incorporating a fold down shelf to allow double decking of luggage and enhanced boot space lighting.

Much of the work carried out by Stanford was bespoke and all vehicles comply with the Road Vehicle Construction & Use Regulations 1986 with C.O.I.F. certificate supplied. The final coach was delivered on 7th July.Buzzlines customers have also been impressed and the vehicles and all three have been immediately commissioned for use by a pharmaceutical client, where the enhanced luggage capacity proved invaluable when transporting corporate clients to the British Open golf championship.

Buzzlines Contract Manager Mark Drury said: “We are really impressed with the quality of Stanford’s work. The specification was a little bespoke and it’s refreshing to know they can handle it.

“The Mercedes Sprinter is an excellent product. Being an automatic was important along with the luggage capacity of the bus. The end result is exactly as we hoped it would be.”

Buzzlines offer luxury, air-conditioned coaches and minibuses for hire, with capacities ranging from eight to 53 seats. The Kent and Surrey based company has been running high-quality UK and European coach trips, holidays, day excursions, theatre and golf trips as well as conferencing travel and air and cruise packages.for over 20 years. Stanford has provided a three-year guarantee on spare parts and labour in respect of the conversion work.

Stanford Coachworks operates a customer partnership ethos, generating a quiet confidence with reliability, safety, and superior quality as principal elements underlining their whole business structure; they call it the Stanford Distinction.

“This is Buzzlines’ first order and hopefully the start of a longstanding relationship,” said Jess Rider, Stanford Co-Director. “We are pleased that they benefited from the Stanford Distinction.”

Buzzlines Bus Conversion

Transporting prestigious clients to high-profile events requires a luxury vehicle to ensure they arrive in style.

And Colt Minibuses are able to offer high-end travel courtesy of a top-of-the-range Mercedes Sprinter Coach converted by Stanford Coachworks. Both companies are based in Essex and have known each other for five years.

The 16-seater Sprinter 513 coach has an extra long wheelbase with O/s side load door, automatic gearbox  and a 62mph speed limiter. It is carpeted throughout with leather recliner seats, comfort driver’s seats, panoramic tinted windows, air-conditioning, subtle LED lighting and a high-end multimedia system for the comfort of travellers. It attracts attention wherever it travels, with passers-by admiring its livery and frequently asking to look inside.

Colt owner Charlie O’Neal is delighted with the conversion, which has been extremely popular with his clientele. It is booked up almost every day three months in advance.

He says: “I had a previous 16 –seater Mercedes; my biggest mistake was buying it and the second biggest mistake was getting it converted by a company other than Stanford Coachworks.

“Stanford is always on top of their game with legislation, they provide industry C.O.I.F. certification to ensure the end customer has everything they need for the safety of the vehicle.

“In life you have to trust people, my customers trust me as their driver and I trust the guys at Stanford, they know what they are doing.

“It’s all about perception with the Mercedes and it is having a real impact.”

In the future, Charlie is considering bringing another luxury vehicle into the business to meet growing demand.

Colt provides coach travel to race events, golf trips and theatre trips, as well as special occasions and luxury airport transfer. They have transported clients to world-class venues such as the Savoy and Royal Albert Hall. Celebrity clients include international dance sensation Diversity who were transported to Heathrow Airport.

Even in tough economic times, people are willing to pay for top quality and conversion and mobility specialist Stanford is successfully meeting that demand.

Co-Director Jess Rider says: “We are delighted that we were able to meet Colt’s requirements. We always ensure our work is of the highest quality and are continually expanding our client base.”

The company, founded in 1994 and a member of the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association, supplies over 350 buses a year and have just completed a handover to supply a further three Mercedes Sprinters to well-known London operator Buzzlines.

Stanford Coachworks offers a Vehicle Improvement Programme as part of its services, enabling clients to extend the life of their vehicles and bring them bang up to date.  The company operates a customer partnership ethos, generating a quiet confidence with reliability, safety, and superior quality as principal elements underlining their whole business structure; they call it the Stanford Distinction.

Mercedes Sprinter Luxury Coach Conversion