English: Two Cardiff Bus buses, 407 (NDW 407X) on the left and 408 (NDW 408X) on the right. Both are 1982 (March) built Volvo Ailsa B55 double-deckers with Northern Counties bodywork, pictured in the company's depot.

For its size, Cardiff was a relatively large user of Ailsa's, having bought 36 from new in 3 batches over the period March 1982 to February 1984, all with Northern Counties bodywork, numbering them 401 to 436. Second hand batches followed in the mid-1990s, both from Fife Scottish and the Merseyside based group MTL Holdings, with Alexander bodywork.

Cardiff Bus were the last significant user of Ailsa's, with No. 436 being the last to operate in normal service, on Monday 3 December 2007. Buses 407 & 408 then took part in an official farewell service on Saturday 15 December 2007, operating a variety of routes around the city from 9am to 5pm, with fares going to the company's charity. They're pictured here some time later on 2 February 2008, still wearing the farewell messages used on that day's run, Cardiff's farewell to the Volvo Ailsa, 1982-2007, The End.

According to the Cardiff Transport Preservation Group, 407 had already been donated to them on 30 January. 408 was one of four Aislas (404, 409 & 419) that also entered preservation with the Rhymney Valley transport preservation society in their Oakdale site, however all four were then bought by Edwards Coaches of nearby Llantwit Fardre, for further use on school services. 404 & 419 never entered service however, being used for parts and eventually scrapped in 2011. 408 & 409 were still in service as of 2011, being operated in Cardiff colours minus the fleetnames.