A 63-year-old bus that managed to find its way from Bedwas to South Africa is coming home to Wales.
Cardiff Transport Preservation Group has raised £20,000 to transport the vehicle to The Bus Depot, Barry as part of its collection.
The bus is just one of four left that were built at Bruce Coach Works in Cardiff, and is the only surviving single decker.
It was used by the Bedwas and Machen Urban District Council, travelling across what is now Caerphilly County Borough.
The bus is one of 45 Regal III vehicles left in museums and heritage collections around the world.
The majority of these have luxury coach bodywork rather than a service bus body like the Bedwas vehicle.
The number seven bus was built in 1951 by Bruce Coach Works, which was owned by famous aviator Mildred Mary Bruce.
She flew solo around the world in the 1920s and was one of the first women to be given a speeding ticket in the UK.
When the vehicle was taken out of use it was bought by an enthusiast who took it to South Africa when he went there to work.
It was bought by the Sandstone Heritage Trust museum in Orange County, who have agreed to sell it to the Welsh heritage group.
Mike Taylor, Chairman of the Heritage Vehicle Collection at The Bus Depot, said: “It’s around 1,000 miles from the coast and nearest sea port and I am pleased to confirm that a transporter is being arranged to bring it to the Port of Durban.
“The bus will then go aboard a Ro-Ro ship via Zeebrugge, Belgium to Southampton.
“It has special significance, as it was the last single deck bus built by the Bruce Coach Works in Cardiff, at the former Pengam Airport, back in 1951.
“This bus represents a special piece of Cardiff’s history and, almost uniquely, one of the few remaining Welsh built buses that still exist. It’s a very special historic vehicle that should be in Wales.”