Originally No. 327 in the class of 25 Coronation cars (Nos. 304-328), this car followed a similar career path to No. 304 preserved by the Lancastrian Transport Trust until 1966.

The VAMBAC electrical equipment was considered to be too complicated and expensive to maintain and so in 1964 one of the class was fitted with traditional series/parallel ‘Z-type’ controllers from a scrapped Railcoach. This was considered a success and further Coronation cars were modified.

No. 327 had its VAMBAC stripped out after the 1966 season had come to a close and re-entered service in January 1967 with ‘Z-type’ controllers from a scrapped Railcoach. It was also repainted in the half green, half cream livery style adopted during the 1960s. In 1968, No. 327 was renumbered 663 as part of the general renumbering of the tram fleet to avoid duplication of numbers with the buses.

Thirteen Coronations were refitted with Z type controllers but reduced patronage on the tramway required a reduction in the tram fleet. Although the youngest trams in the fleet, the Coronations were considered to be the most expensive to operate and so withdrawal of the class began. Cars retaining VAMBAC were the first casualties. The Z type cars were gradually thinned down until by 1975 only 5 cars (655, 660-663) remained. They were withdrawn at the end of the illuminations.

No. 660 was retained by Blackpool Transport whilst No. 663 was purchased for private preservation by enthusiast Graham Oliver. After residence at Lytham Motive Power Museum and later Steamport Transport Museum, Southport, No. 663 was acquired by the West Yorkshire Transport Museum intended for operation at a museum in Low Moor, Bradford.

Although the museum, known as Transperience, opened to the public in the 1990s, it soon closed and the collection was dispersed. No. 663 passed into private preservation once again. Temporary residence at St. Helens Transport Museum (rejoining sister car No. 304) was secured but the tram later moved closer to the owner’s home in Richmond. In February 2002, No. 663 was offered to the LTT collection free of charge after its owner decided to dispose of the car. 

Storage of the tram at Richmond continued until April 2003 when 663 returned to Blackpool after an absence of 27 years - it departed in August 1976. It is also the first time since 1976 that there has been three surviving Coronation cars in the resort. 

No restoration plans are currently envisaged for 663, although we have been in discussions with commercial organisations to use the tram as the basis for an operating restaurant tram in Blackpool.