Burgundy and Black 8-Seater Ford Model T Charabanc Vintage Bus

This very rare 1914 Ford Model T Charabanc offers a genuine glimpse into the early days of passenger transport and makes a particularly unusual choice for a wedding.

The word Charabanc comes from the French char à bancs, meaning a “carriage with benches”. These vehicles became popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when they were widely used for group outings, sightseeing trips, works excursions and day trips before the modern coach and bus became commonplace. Early motorised Charabancs such as this Ford Model T continued that tradition, combining a motor car chassis with open-sided bench seating for larger groups of passengers.

This example can carry up to eight passengers, with boarding via the rear platform through a doorway approximately 20 inches wide. Inside, passengers sit on traditional sideways-facing bench seats, creating a wonderfully sociable layout that works particularly well for Bridesmaids, Pageboys and wedding parties.

The open-sided design is one of the Charabanc's most distinctive features. The side screens can be rolled up for open-air travel on a fine day, while in less favourable weather they can be lowered to provide additional protection for passengers.

Traditional American hickory wood-spoked wheels complete the period appearance and add to the character of this exceptionally unusual wedding vehicle.

Travel is very much part of the experience. With a comfortable cruising speed of around 20mph, this 1914 Ford Charabanc is best suited to shorter wedding journeys where there is time to enjoy the ride. Filled with the wedding party, it also creates some memorable and very different wedding photographs.