1995 NDNZ Scorpion #1232
1232 started life as a standard Scorpion in its YBC colour scheme, helping to raise the average fleet age before the sale to Stagecoach.
In the late 1990s, it would have seen the familiar Stagecoach stripes. With the sale of the business to NZBus, it saw Metrolink colours, which it saw out the rest of its Auckland career in.
With the sale of the business to NZBus, it saw Metrolink colours, which it saw out the rest of its Auckland career in.
In the early 2010s, 1232 was sold to the Bay of Plenty-based Bayline Group, where it served as a school and charter bus, also doing cruise ship work along the way. When Bayline was purchased by Madge Coachlines (Uzabus to most of us!) 1232 got a fresh coat of white and served until a soft retirement in 2022.
In early 2024, members Paul, James and Nathaniel went for a fact-finding mission to Whakatane, Opotiki and Edgecombe to have a look at some Scorpions that were for sale. 1232 just so happened to be the best of the bunch for what we wanted.
1232 was driven from Edgecombe to Tauranga, where we investigated the bus further. By pure chance, 1232 was parked next to 1812, which led to a 2-for-1 deal to secure two road-legal Scorpions.
Fast forward to early 2026, we piled into a car and drove down to Tauranga and brought 1232 home. After a flawless run, she now sits proudly with 1812 in the yard.
