Central SMT

Central operated a total of just 30 Ailsas, bought in two batches in 1978 and 1979. The Scottish Bus Group had considerable influence over the development of this vehicle, in a double attempt both to rebel against Leyland's stranglehold of the market in the 1970s and to return to the relative simplicity of a front-engined design. The Ailsa combined this latter objective with the need to allow one man operation, by squeezing a small, turbocharged Volvo engine onto the front overhang, between the driver and the entrance. The engine's whistle was one of the characteristics of the type.

In SBG terms, the Ailsa was pioneered by Alexander's Fife and Midland companies. 1978 saw wider adoption of the type, as it made its debut with Central, Eastern Scottish and Western SMT. Outside the bus group, Tayside and Strathclyde both proved to be enthusiastic users of the type. All new SBG Ailsas were Alexander-bodied. Two characteristics of the design were the external peaked dome and internally, the fact that the forward-ascending staircase delivered passengers right to the front of the bus. They then had to walk past the front windows and round to the main seating area.

Although separated by only a year, Central's two batches of Ailsas were of two different types. The 1978 batch were Mark Is and the 1979 batch Mark IIs, with a noticeably higher driving position. The Mark IIs were initially delivered in a less than successful creamier version of the livery, but thankfully were later repainted into standard colours.

Having served at East Kilbride throughout their Central careers, the Mark Is eventually moved to Eastern Scottish to assist in that company's deregulation campaign in the capital. The Mark IIs were originally split between Wishaw (where they were regular performers on the lengthy 240 Glasgow - Lanark) and East Kilbride, but soon gravitated towards the latter. They passed naturally to Kelvin Central on formation of that company. On closure of East Kilbride, they were transferred to Cumbernauld and Airdrie, mainly for continued use on East Kilbride services.

The Ailsas were Central's only new highbridge buses and, being highbridge vehicles, they carried the type code AH.