1987 MAN SL202 #1729

Our 1987 MAN SL202, fleet number #1729 started life in 1987 as a part of a 69 bus order, carrying on from the MAN SL200 buses that came into service between 1981 and 1985. 

Like #1662, our MAN SL202 is a German designed with a VOV-style body and assembled at Coachwork International in Takanini, South Auckland. Auckland Regional Authority’s Swanson Depot was where most of its service years were spent, serving the extensive West Auckland network through the ARA, YBC, Stagecoach and Go West days. In the late 2000s, it spent some time based out of Shore depot, where it ended its service life. 

After an extensive service life, the bus was retired from active service with NZBus in July of 2010, it was parked up in what was dubbed "Rotten Row" at the back of Swanson depot, awaiting its fate. From here, the bus was purchased by New Zealand Coach Services (NCS) of Wellington, where it operated Rail Replacements, charters and other work for many years. Around 2016, the bus was purchased by Coachways New Zealand and was painted in the companies recognizable green livery. It saw a repaint and rebrand in 2017 to the new Coachways livery, however in 2018 it was sold to Bromells Coachlines of Nelson. 

Bromells operated the bus on regular school and charter work in the Nelson region right up until the end of 2023, when it was retired for newer vehicles to take its place. We were able to broker a deal and have been able to return this vehicle to Auckland, with #1729 returning in October 2024.