The Gardner diesel and petrol engines have powered many UK public transport buses throughout the years.

When I was a boy in the 1950s, blue was my favourite colour and I loved blue buses, especially this type. I longed to have a ride on one and I hoped that one day it would happen. But it never did. We weren’t allowed to board the blue buses where I lived.

This tough-looking tow truck was on show at the recent Scottish Vintage Bus Museum’s Open Day. It looks like its Gardner 6LX engine could tow anything - but can it?

And what did it look like before?