808 was new to the Perth depot of W. Alexander & Sons (Midland)—then trading as Midland Scottish—in December 1984, as their MRM97 (for an explanation of Walter Alexander type codes, go to this page). When Strathtay Scottish was formed in May 1985, MRM97 was the youngest vehicle to be inherited by the new company. It became Strathtay’s SM8, and is seen here inside Perth depot, still in Midland livery but with Strathtay fleetnames (and one wheel in Strathtay orange!).
When Strathtay pulled out of Perth in August 1993, under heavy competition from Stagecoach, B97 PKS was transferred to Dundee along with Perth’s other Metrobuses and was used to replace Routemasters on the Tayway corridor between Dundee and Carnoustie. When the Strathtay fleet was renumbered in 1992, B97 PKS became 808—hence the nickname Bob. A few years before withdrawal, its seats were retrimmed in the then standard Strathtay moquette: the only Metrobus to receive this treatment. It remained at Dundee for the rest of its working life, working mainly on Tayway routes, and was withdrawn in June 2005 following the delivery of a batch of secondhand Volvo B10Bs to Strathtay.
Bob remains in as-withdrawn condition. He has an MoT. For more information, go to his website.
Information courtesy of Andrew Mac of TVVS.