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Felix Motors Ltd (Hatfield)
1953
AEC Regent III
Roe H31/25R
Felix motors was started in 1921 the company was named after “Felix the Cat” a cartoon character of the time, for some time the cartoon image was used as an emblem on the side of the vehicles. I have seen a photograph on the web somewhere of one of there vehicles showing the Felix logo if I find it again I will update with a link to it.
A full list of Regent III codes can be seen here.
The other Felix company in Derbyshire also used Felix as a logo but were recently threatened with legal action by the film company which owns the rights so it has now been dropped. Both Felix companies used similar liveries but the Derby one has as far as I know always used saloons
Chris Hough
Absolutely right Chris – you will find a Willebrew ticket from Felix (N Frost) of Stanley Derbyshire, on the tickets side of the website.
Stephen Ford
06/12/11 – 06:47
I wrote a book about the ‘other’ Felix a few years ago and it would appear that both of company histories shared a similar beginning. ‘My’ Felix started in 1921 and was named after a popular song of the day – Felix kept on walking. The first vehicle R 7831 which carried a cartoon cat emblem over the front window was sold to the above Felix in 1926 (it was suggested that this was why the Hatfield based company was named Felix but I never found any proof of this).
Sadly it has just been reported that Felix (Stanley, Derbyshire) is to cease on 29th January 2012 after being taken over by TrentBarton – the local large bus company. Hope this is of interest.
Paul D Chambers
30/10/12 – 05:57
Felix in Stanley Derbyshire are now showing ‘Black Cat’ on the side, but are run by Trent/Barton.
John Swan
07/10/13 – 17:38
I recall seeing Felix buses in Doncaster but had no idea of the origin of the name. I suppose I assumed it was the proprietor’s name or else the Latin for “happy”!
Early on Felix ran some Leyland Tigers but no others from the Leyland “zoo”, being mainly an AEC operator.
Geoff Kerr
08/10/13 – 07:39
Geoff – somewhere, in an article long ago, there appears a magnificent lady driver in WW2 just climbing elegantly into the cab of a prewar Felix Regent in Doncaster. She is dressed in a long white smock and sports a very chic 1930s hat and, if I remember rightly, a long skirt in lieu of the usual slacks.
Chris Youhill
08/10/13 – 12:51
She was clearly ‘doing her bit, don’t ya know! A change from driving the Rolls, what with the fuel rationing!”
Chris Hebbron
08/10/13 – 17:55
Nay Lad, not in them parts….
Actually, if you read Peter Gould’s potted history, its all there. www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/fleetlists/felix.htm
Notice, too, how buses from them parts seem to have two fog lamps…
Joe