Netherlands – UK – Gambia

Posted on May 7, 2013 by admin

When you get a photo like the one above, you have to start asking the age old questions;

Who? – Ashley Pearce
What? – Magirus Deutz 6×4 V10 ex German Army tractor units
Where? – The Netherlands
When? - Last week

Could have guessed Mr Pearce would be involved (it did come from his phone after all!). There’s a lot more to it than that but that’s a good start………..

These Magirus Deutz were being collected from the Netherlands on behalf of a very interesting man called Frank, who will be shipping them to Gambia for the next 20 years of their lives. They are ex German Army and of course are in excellent condition and have very very low mileage being in mind they were built in 1980. The main point behind it all is that they are basic. They can be maintained easily and can be repaired at the side of the road. Frank runs a business in Gambia that moves a lot of aggregate so he requires tipper trailers too. As I said the trucks were bought from a dealer in the Netherlands and Ashley and a couple of Franks henchmen went to collect them and drive them back to deepest Suffolk, UK to Franks hide away HQ. It just so happens that about an hour from Calais another dealer was selling a number of old tipper trailers that suited Franks strict requirements for African Trucking. After collecting the trailers it was back on the ferry from Calais to Dover. Did you spot them on their journey? I’d love to see any pics if you spotted the German invasion making its way back to Suffolk. Email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Franks love of the Magirus ex army trucks comes from the fact that they are German and they do as they say on the tin! As you can imagine trucking across Gambia requires something that can handle the many unmade roads and the rains that come in the wet season. Having a high ground clearence is essential and also the age old ability of being able to be repaired with a minimal amount of local faciities. Frank says that the Africans can fix anything or make any part that is required, all you need is some form of a donar part and some tools. How many modern day vehicles can say that?? Much like the golden days of Middle East trucking when trucks could be repaired with basic mechanical knowledge and not a dealership or expensive bill insight! One of the aging Magirus dropped a cylinder or 3 on one journey across Gambia. So the driver blocked off the 3 faulty ones and trucked back to the depot on just 7 of 10 cylinders, again with anything newer than 1990 you wouldn’t even think about trying it.

The trucks are 6×4′s with diff locks on each axle. They also come with spare wheel carriers fixed behind the cab with a small crane to lift and lower the wheels. Air cooled engines, steel sprung suspension and even gun holders (all removed before shipping to africa), a varied array of chassis mouted lockers and a dash board full of switchs and buttons labelled in German, mean these old girls really are top spec for trucking in Africa. Also in Franks conversion and pre-shipping yard were a couple of ex British Army 6×4 Seddon Atkinsons. These have turned out to be a labour of love and for the forseable future no more will be purchased. Since Gambia left the British Empire in 1965 all vehicles have to be Left Hand Drive, so the the first thing to do was to convert the Atkinsons from RHD to LHD, not to difficult but still a ball-ache when the German trucks are already LHD. Next the Seddons Atkinsons are standard road spec, so the air tanks and underslung exhaust have to be removed and redirected to a purpose built frame behind the cab, to try and improve the ground clearence. Again not a difficult job but one that can be avoided by buying the German trucks. Still the big Seddon looks great and ready for the African roads, in its natty orange paint work and illegal to use in the UK train horns!

I often wonder what will happen in the countries that recieve all of Europes old trucks when we run out of the correct vintage. There isn’t an endless supply of mechanicaly simple and computer free trucks to ship around the world, so whats going to happen? I have no idea what will happen in the future, but for now Frank says the value of the simple trucks is far greater than anything newer. In fact newer trucks are getting cheaper as they are unwanted in such countries as Gambia. The way forward for now is computer free trucking and what better place to find well kept, low mileage trucks than the huge supplies of ex military vehicles available. The Dutch dealer that Frank bought these 4 trucks from had 54 of these 6×4 Maggies for sale at Christmas, now he has none. 50 were sold in one go to a Nigerian buyer and then these 4 are bound for Gambia. Hopefully Frank is going to send some more pics as and when the trucks reach Gambia and also of some of the things still running around out there. For now it seems Africas roads will continue to be filled with older rather than newer trucks, but for those who love their trucks and enjoying doing repairs and tinkering with engines then perhaps its the place to be.

Not All Sunshine & Sand

Posted on March 26, 2013 by admin

Hello guys. Three years ago I wrote a book called ‘NOT ALL SUNSHINE AND SAND’, a series of tales about my time in road transport including the Middle East run in the 70s. Most have been very complimentary about it. However all copies were sold out and a new publisher said they were very interested on re-publishing, this time in paperback. So on April 20th, next month, the book is being released by Old Pond Publishing at the exorbitant price of £7.95. !!!

Email. Info@oldpond.com
Phone. 01473 238200

If you decide to buy it then I hope you enjoy it. The stories are mostly humorous, but some are serious and some almost life and death.

By
Paul Rowlands

Camiones Espanoles – Entonces Y Ahora

Posted on March 12, 2013 by admin

Recently at work we have been loading quite a few Spaniards back to Spain or back to Paris so they load from the french markets and then head back to Spain. Also recently I have scanned the next batch of 750ish photos from the David Scarff collection. What is the link I hear you ask?? The answer is that some of the haulage companies that Scarffy used to photograph back in the 1980′s are still the same firms that I am loading back to the continent. How many Spanish truck spotters can say the same for the British firms still running to the sun and back. Two Spanish firms that are still doing the run and providing our super markets with year round goodies such as Strawberries, Broccoli and of course those gorgeous Spanish oranges, are the names of Campillo Palmera and of course Transportes Caudete. I’ll start with Palmera.

The livery on the original Pegaso above has developed into the livery on the trailer behind the Magnum below. I think you can see how its developed. The Magnum has the trailer livery that I know and recognise as being Palmera, with the Palm Tree logo on the back doors. Where did the Palm tree come from?? Was it on the back doors of the Pegaso? I’m not sure.

But you can see the livery on the Magnum has moved on a bit and as an outfit the truck and trailer show the earlier livery and the newer livery. These days the new Campillo Palmera trucks still have the Palm tree on the side but the overall livery is much more of a European logistics company rather than a classic Spanish haulier. This doesn’t mean they don’t still look good! The new black cabs are smart and I guess these days with air conditioning, climate control and roof top coolers, the cabs no longer need to be white to reflect the sun and keep the heat down in the cab. Even so it’s still good to see the company are still going and are still coming to the UK for our enjoyment in all respects!

Now as for Transportes Caudete, they still have a fairly traditional livery that is very close to how its always been. Red tractor units and white Spanish looking frigo trailers. Much the same as British hauliers the Spanish used to favour using their own trucks, like the Pegaso, the Spanish Seddon Atkinson. But now due to the demise of these small manufacturers, the Spanish, like the rest of Europe, use the same as everyone else. Although Renault and Iveco seem to be the favourites for these 2 hauliers, we have had a couple of new Volvos come in for Palmera.

Most of the Caudete fleet nowadays are Iveco with a few MAN. This Iveco was only a week or 2 old as the tyres were still immaculate and had that look of brand new tyre about them (good description huh!). The driver was quite happy with it.

As you can see the Caudete trailers have remained very much the same. Old and new just having what they need to have on them, the company name and what they do. The older trailers do look more continental but again this is down to the improvements in modern trucks I think. There is no longer a great need to keep water and food on the side of the trailers as a modern truck cab has plenty of room for storage inside. I do still like the idea of a water tank on the truck some where, there’s nothing like a cold wash to cool you down or wake you up!

The one thing that is missing on the modern trucks is the 2 light up sign boards on the top of the cab. The yellow square one and the yellow triangle with the blue background. As I understand it these used to be some thing to do with the ferries, but I need one of you lot to tell me more please? Email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave a message below.

Hopefully more Then & Nows to come, thanks to David Scarff’s collection of photos. It’s possible to find photos of everything, so a big thank you to Mr Scarff and I look forward to the next batch to be scanned (the wife’s not so keen on the idea!). For those whho didn’t get it, the blog title is “Spanish Trucking – Then & Now.”

Somebody Knows This 111

Posted on February 24, 2013 by admin

As some of you know I am slowly scanning many of David Scarffs photos and let me tell you there are 1000′s! Quickly flicking through the latest batch, this Scania 111 stuck out like a sore thumb. Taken as it was approaching the bottom of Jubilee Way, Dover heading for a boat. What i’d love to know, like many other photos in Scarffies collection, is who’s was it and what happened to such a good old girl. Surely it was an Owner Driver? FOO 146T, a Scania 111, 6×2?, and what a paint job, very smart for its day. A roof rack full of kit and some super smart “Bus” trims on the wheels. A very clean and tidy frigo box behind, actually you could be forgiven in saying that both truck and trailer look fairly freshly painted. Unfortunately I can’t quite make out the drivers face, so it’s down to your expert knowledge. Leave your comments below or send me a quick email: ben@truckblog.co.uk and hopefully we can name who ever was in charge of such a good looking girl. According to the DVLA the truck ran out of tax back in 1990, so another lost to the big scrapyard in the sky. T reg vehicles were launched on the road in 1978 and the reg FOO was originally registerd in Chelmsford, Essex………..Over to you……….

Truck Detectives Required

Posted on February 16, 2013 by admin

Intrepid TB reported James Cartwright, spotted this Scania 141 in Navyard, Harwich the other week. One of you must know some more about this old bus. Remember that little saying, Who What Where?? James and I both agree that it has been imported from the East, could be anywhere between Harwich, Germany, Turku and Russia!! What we need to concentrate on is who has bought it. I’m sure it is now in the UK some where, heading for a restoration shed. Did you see it on the back of a lorry leaving Harwich or heading away from Essex?? Is it parked in a yard near you now? Has it crossed the Irish sea?? If you have any answers then please feel free to leave your answers on a postcard below. It will make a cracking restoration, I’m very much a fan of a 141 rigid. I hope to see it soon on the show circuit. Get detecting!!

Martins Moody Motor

Posted on January 14, 2013 by admin

Now there’s a beauty! As these are the days of modern classics in the trucking world, along with other well loved late 90′s models, Scania’s 3 Series Streamlines must be among the best. Whether or not it would be your choice, I think it fair to say we’d all like to restore our favourite Diesel Daisy if we had the time and money. So for those who have got the money (or not as they may claim), rebuilding a 143 500 just had to be done. What a good job too! But then again what did you expect from the combination of top independent Scania sales man, Mick Moody and top canal boat builder Guy Martin (apparently now and again he rides a bicycle with a motor on it too). The end result is some thing along the lines of a near on brand new truck, which I hasten to add is for sale if your interested, but be prepared for a nearly new price too. Justified in my opinion as where can you buy a virtually brand new 143?……Exactly. Any way after another of our little chats, Mr Moody told me of a little video of Guy, talking about the rebuilding of said Swedish beauty. I have put the video on here but if you search the YouTube for “Guy Martin” you’ll see what else he gets upto inbetween mechanic-ing for Mr Moody. Great truck.

Its Not All Grim Ooop North

Posted on November 13, 2012 by admin

Surely piloting a big Cummins powered Leyland Roadtrain can’t be a grim job?? Can it?? One of the UK’s last home grown truck talents. I love the big old Leylands, but there doesn’t seem to be many about now even on the show circuit, although I think I might be right in saying BH Cecil from Gloucestershire have one in restoration. The British Bulldog above was driven by top international heavy haulage pilot Stephen “Geordie” Pattison before his days of big red Scania’s. I have to say that Horns Transport from Tyneside is a new one on me, but some of you will no doubt remember them.

Geordie gave me the following info on his days at Horns Transport, apparently his 4th job but also the firm that gave him the long distance driving bug. Any hoo, Why-aye-Man and all that, here’s what you need to know about these few photos and Horns Transport, literally straight from the horse mouth;

“The orange anchors we loaded in Walker & took em 2 Peterhead.
The sheeted loads was 4m Caberboard at Cowie 4 Northsheilds.”

“It was run by Harry Horn & his sister Mavis. 6 artics & 6 rigids, 3 of which were tautliners, 2 rigid hiabs, 2 flat rigids and 1 fitter Terry! It was just Harry & Mavis runnin the trucks, Caroline was the secretary & that was it. We were quite well paid, all the trucks livery was hand painted & we were 28t gross in them days no limiters! The yard was at Wellington Road, Dunston. They were coal merchants originally, but when I was there (94-99) we mainly did waist paper 2 Purfleet, rubber 2 various places and steel castings from Charlie Taylors in Southsheilds (where I had me accident!). 2 London & 1 Scotch trip a week! Oh and their mam & dad started the business”.

“3 of us were classed as hurry up men (asap anytime anywhere) UK work only & mainly rope & sheet which is were I learned 2 do it (Handy for current HC Wilson work – TB) By the way there was a guy who worked there called George Horn, no relation, but he still drives at 74 & also his 2 brothers !! When we did wastepaper 2 Purfleet, if we ran on Sunday, u could never get passed the weighbridge at Sawtry on the A1, as it was always open & pulled every North East truck!! No phones in them days, u would find a payphone when emty and ring in. If no reload we’d wait by phone till they rang back. No fuel cards either we had 2 do whatever trip we had on the tank which was normally about 400ltr & that C reg I had had a belly tank on 200ltr maybe.”

A lovely little snippet into the ways of the North East, although to be honest it sounds to me the way all firms used to be. Those were days of hard graft and long days to make the next load. Also slightly less regulated must have helped! ;-) If you have anything to add about Horns Transport or you want to share some thing on the blog, just email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Scania 141 – HVF 520V

Posted on November 11, 2012 by admin

Back in August I reported on a Scania 141 cab I had delivered to Canacraft in Suffolk, if you missed it you can search for it on the blog by typing “Wrecked to Riches” and hitting enter. The idea is that Howard at Canacraft is going to put HVF 520V back to its original spec of a 4×2 tractor unit rather than a 4×2 recovery chassis. I have a fair history for this particular truck, but not through any effort of my own. As many of you know I have been lucky enough to be given album after ablum of 70′s and 80′s truck photos taken by David Scarff. HVF 520V is a truck that has spent a lot of time in and around East Anglia, having had a long career at MRCT (the chicken people!) and also a career before MRCT at local haulier DA Garnham. I have managed to find from the thousands of photos in the Scarff collection this right gem of HVF 520V in full MRCT colours at Scania in Stowmarket, I did think there was one of here heading down Jubilee Way into Douvres but its only a 111 not a mighty V8.

Any way having put up “Wrecked to Riches” up on the blog, as seems to be the way, I received an email…..This time a fascinating email full of info from an ex driver of said Scania 141. Now to me this makes the blog all worth while (although these days I don’t do the blog half as much as I’d like to!), I put stuff up on here purely what interests me and now and again what might interest some of you. What I love is the romance of trucking (as GW will testify!), I like the life story of a truck and these days a trucks history/pedigree can even increase its value on the 2nd hand market. So to find pics of this truck in its original guise, to seeing it in its current sorry state, to then hopefully seeing it in a few months time, back to a tidy decent truck, makes it all worth while. The only thing that can add to the icing on any cake is a few extra sprinkles, in this case an email from ex driver Gilbert McClusky. Mr McClusky said the following on his email;

“I have just seen the picture of HVF520V in its current sorry state!! and I’m glad that somebody has rescued it for restoration. I worked at MRCT for about 10years from the early eighties to the early 90′s and if you google “HVF520V” you will find a couple of pictures I took on the Thetford road near Garboldisham in about 1983. I also have a couple of others kicking about. The unit was originally new to DA Garnham and Sons of Diss and came to MRCT second hand. After being resprayed It was driven originally by Denis Carlton then Timmy Riches and finally by Melvin Farrow up to being converted to a recovery truck by Mick.. Garnham??? (Sorry surname forgotten) at the MRCT workshops in Stuston Road Diss, in about 1991 or 2. As a 4×2 unit it was a phenomenal machine compared to the 111′s that all the other lads were slugging around in. A lot is obviously written about the Scania V8 and how good they were / are. As far as I can recall we didn’t touch that engine in the 10 years I was there, and I doubt very much it was touched as a recovery truck!. As with most 140′s and 141′s The only weak spot when in the hands of “fleet drivers” were the gearbox range changes and especially half shafts which could break very easily if not treated with respect. The cab had 4 resprays from being in Garnhams colours when new then the cream and red in about 1982 ( As per my photo) Then it had a further respray into white and red in about 1987 – 1988, finally being done for the last time in the blue and white as you have in about 1992 or 3.”

So good to hear all this info directly from the horses mouth. All ex drivers are welcome to email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk , and tell me your stories, knowledge and what ever else. Photos to accompany any info is perfect then at least we can relate to what kinda trucks your talking about. Hopefully I’ll soon have some photos of HVF 520V restored and ready for another owner. Just to finish off, Mr McClusky mentioned all other MRCT drivers were “slugging around in” Scania 111′s, so to anyone who’s in the slugging gang, I found a photo of sister truck HVF 521V, which was in fact a Scania 111.

Hey What’s your Number…

Posted on November 6, 2012 by admin

Yes ok it’s another Scania but this one needs a bit more input from you. This dear old girl has been relegated to the corner of some ones yard these days but what secrets does she hold from her past. Was she once an international motorway pounder? Was she the pride of an English fleet when she was the newest in the yard? If any of you have any information about said wagon please leave your comments below.

What’s the reg number? My guess is D853 PKK or possibly PXK. The letter behind the greenery does seem to replicate the K at the end, does it not Mr Watson?! As I’m sure you know most truck regs come in batches from particular dealers…….I’ve just searched tinternet and it can’t be “XK” as it didn’t exist. On that style of number plate the last 2 letters of the 3 denoted the area code. If the reg is “KK” that is the code for Maidstone or “KX” is the code to Luton. As its a “D” reg she was new in 1986. This gives you a few clues, so see what you can come up with. Hopefully a few more pics if the old girl at the end of the week.

Broadly Speaking its a Crane

Posted on October 15, 2012 by admin

We need your help on this please bloggers. Spotted enjoying the peaceful surroundings of the Norfolk Broads, this old girl is now lifting few boats in and out of the water at Potter Heigham, Norfolk. Top blog spotter and these days blog reporter James Cartwright was busy enjoying a weekend away with the Mrs. Natrually photos of the local tourist spots soon make way for some top spotting! The only thing being neither of us have any clue what this is. Is it a truck with a crane or is it just a crane truck…..well I know what I mean! Is it an old Coles or Grove crane with a road cab?? Who knows, I clearly don’t have a clue what i’m on about this evening. It has a slight hint of a Foden cab although I know its not and James says Mrs Cartwright couldn’t find any type of plate! All suggestions greatly appreciated, leave your comments below or email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Coming Soon – LEV 701V

Posted on October 11, 2012 by admin

Here’s another old girl that has been saved from the scrap heap. This sleeper cabbed 4×2 Scania 111 has been nicely restored and when completed will be for sale, yes that right it will be for sale. This truck is LEV 701V, which was at one point part of the Brain Haulage fleet. Its been striped back to the chassis and the interior has been re-skinned and upholstered. I have to say that even in this condition it was beginning to look rather nice.

Just a plain red and white livery will adorn the truck, with the engine being painted in that Scania engine green. She will be a nice tidy motor when done and in my opinion will be good enough for shows as it is. Although the man in charge says its just having a “basic” job done! I have no idea what the price will be but if you are interested I can put you in touch but seriously no time wasters, if you haven’t the funds for such a purchase please leave it to those who can. More photos to come as and when she is complete and ready to roll. Have you got any photos of her in her Brain Haulage colors or any other colors?? Email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Now or Then??

Posted on September 7, 2012 by admin

What a cracking sight! If you were between Harwich and Halstead in Essex today there is just a chance you saw this classic combination on the road. N.C. Cammack & Son are a long standing family outfit based in Essex and have run all sorts of classic motors, including a load of old DAF’s that I will be showing you as and when I finally get the scanning finished. Any hoo this looks like it was taken back in 1993 when this truck would have been new, but it was actually taken today leaving Harwich docks. Sorry to say it wasn’t working, but Jim Cammack had to pick up the tilt that he bought over on the mainland. The delightful 450hp Swedish powerhouse is a recent addition to the fleet and has spent a fair amount of time in the restoration shed. The tilt has been bought to accompany a number of other restoration projects that are bubbling under in the Cammack workshops. Now luckily for me I’m popping over to see Jim tomorrow so hopefully I will have a few more pics to share with you……This isn’t going to help my cause as I’m still missing my 141, all this talk of trailers and classic motors. Perhaps as this combination will be based no more than 7 miles from Truckblog HQ, I may just get to see it a bit more and perhaps even a lget ittle bit of a drive one day?! Tell me honestly, if it wasn’t for the photos being quite so clear, you could have easily thought they were taken back in the day! Destination anywhere………

Piggy Backer Volvo – Now & Then

Posted on August 30, 2012 by admin

Trawling through the endless photos that appear on Facebook these days, there are always one or two that catch my eye. The other day my eye was caught by a photo posted by Gökhan Diler of a Volvo F88 Rigid cattle truck. Mr Diler posts plenty of photos clearly taken all over the place (I’d love to know where this one was taken??), so why did this Volvo stand out?….Well it just had that familiar feel to it. I mean how many rigid Volvo cattle trucks do you know of?? I have since been told that “UPB” on the head board stands for “United Pig Breeders”. A few years back I was busy buzzing about the Essex countryside in a tipper and I used to get everywhere. Not far outside Chelmsford on a main road, not visible from a car, I could just see over a hedge next to a shed on a farm, an aging Volvo in an orangey colour. I stopped in and enquired like you do. I was told that it used to do a lot of continental work with a cattle wagon body on which made sense as it was left hand drive. I thought at the time I took a couple of photos but as yet I haven’t managed to find them. Any way the photo above appeared on the Facebook and I was sure it was the same truck, challenge on, ask you my beloved bloggers for help……….

……BINGO!! A big thanks to blog reader Dan Edmonds, a driver from Chelmsford. He knew exactly where said Volvo was resting and managed to send these more recent photos of JWH 499P. As you can see she isn’t in quite as good condition as Gökhan’s photo and also not quite the same colour scheme. I love these then and now pics and I hope to bring you a few more over the next few months, as and when I can scan a few hundred photos I have here at Truckblog HQ. If you have any Now & Thens, please feel free to email them to me for us all to enjoy;

ACH – Photo Update

Posted on August 23, 2012 by admin

For those who aren’t aware I have a big affection for old Buckinghamshire family firm Aston Clinton Haulage. Why? My dad worked there back in the early 1970′s before I was born and so far I have only found 13 photos of his in my 33 years on the planet, so with the age on the tinternet I am now cashing in and have even set up an ACH Facebook Page for like minded fans. I think because I have so little of ACH from my old man that I want more and more. It turns out there are a few ex drivers following the FB Page and one man in particular, Dave Mortimer has kindly sent me 80 odd photos from his 30 year driving career with the Beige and Black from Aylesbury. I have to say some of Dave’s photos are just brilliant. Now I think I love ACH that little bit more! I have scanned all the photos and put them on the flickr page, so click HERE to see the set.

Along with the photos Mr Mortimer enlightened me with the following information;

“ACH was started in the 1960′s by Mr Les Fowler. The name came from an old Coal delivery company. It was bought for the A and B licenses. They never actually had a yard in Aston Clinton, the first yard was at Winslow, Buckinghamshire then they moved to a yard in Stone near Aylesbury about 1970. ACH ran a fleet of about 20 trucks. The fleet was increased when they bought out Howe European from Enfield. This was to gain extra European permits to do extra European work. Some of Howe’s trucks came with drivers such as Johnny Whitbread and Dave Coope. But most left again when Des Lacey (ex Howe European) started up Hercock London.”

“ACH started doing European in 1973 and I (Dave Mortimer) started with ACH in January 1974. My first year was UK work, then my first trip abroad was to Fiat in Torino, July 1975. Reloaded washing machines back to High Wycombe. I didn’t start doing regular European trips until about 1977 and then the rest is history! Back then it was all the old roads as the motorways weren’t built. Such good routiers we used to eat at; Footballers, Bakehouse, Monkey House – I could go on for ever about the old times! I think the only firm still doing European from the old days is EM Rogers. All the rest have gone; ACH, Leggetts, Ferry Freighting, Roba, Dow European, Murfitts…the list just goes on.”

What an insight into one man’s career. I just love em! If you know any thing, any one, have any photos of ACH then please get in touch. You can email me at ben@truckblog.co.uk and I will look forward to hearing from you. Just think if ACH had kept going and my parents had stayed in my home town of Aylesbury, ACH would have been my closest haulage firm. Thanks to Dave Mortimer for the photos, he has said there could be more to come, we’ll see….

Wrecked to Riches

Posted on August 11, 2012 by admin

A few days back we were pushed for time at work with a trailer we were doing for Mammoet, so to try and help out and get back on track I popped off to Needham Market to do the first drop. All the paper work said was “1 x Scania Cab”. Being ever hopeful I was hoping it would be an old one and really why would you put any type of new cab on a groupage trailer from Holland. For those locals who know, the delivery was to Canacraft, now becoming well know for excellent paint jobs of various trucks and also for an old Scania 143 that they restored to name a few. Have a look at the gallery and you’ll see some other you recognise. The 143 now gone they have got into 1 series Scania’s. On arrival there was an old 111 sat in the corner of the yard, that has definitely seen better days, an ex Brain Haulage one as it goes. For those of you who are thinking it, no I didn’t get the reg! Any way I naturally assumed the cab would be for that, but no I was wrong! After opening the trailer up it was clear it was going to take a little time to get it off. Sat on its back on a Euro Pallet. To be honest it had come all the way from Greece like it and there was hardly a mark on it. Being the helpful chap I am, I helped get the cab off and then we spent 10 minutes rolling it round off the pallet and sitting it on a frame ready for a bit of work. The cab itself is in good nick and doesn’t need a great deal of work. I was actually quite keen on the colours too. Anyone recognise the stripes??

As I said, I assumed that the cab was for the 111 on wheels in the yard, I was wrong. It turns out the 141 cab is going onto a 141 chassis…..

….The MRCT cab is rotten! Right through it is all rust and holes and really to far gone to save. In true Scania V8 style she still has life in her. If you can get into the drivers seat missing the holes in the floor and the door doesn’t fall off, push the key in and hit the glorious piece of mechanic romance that is the starter button and she grumbles into life. You may be wondering what Canacraft are planning on doing with the 141…let me enlighten you further. The old girl was originally a 4×2 tractor unit but at some point was stretched and had a wrecker body put on and was used as the MRCT breakdown truck for a number of years, before being retired and left to rust in the corner (MRCT should be ashamed!). The plan is to chop the chassis once more and put her back to her original set up as a tractor unit, then back to the show circuit. Surely all old trucks of this vintage should be given the chance to get old gracefully rather than rust away in the corner?? Nowadays all our aging trucks are exported so in 10 years time you wont be able to find an early 4 series or a tidy FH16 Globetrotter as they will have all gone to warmer climbs. Lets make the most of our veterans that we have left, afteral they got us to where we are today!

Does anyone have any photos of HVF 520V in any of her previous guises? Email them over and i’ll put them up here; ben@truckblog.co.uk be good to see her as a tractor unit. Canacraft plan to do both the 111 and the 141 up but will probably do the 111 up to a decent standard and then sell her on…..a little tip there! I look forward to seeing the 141 hit the shows next year I guess, having seen the 143 that came from the Needham Market stable, I’m sure that both these old Scania’s will be rather sort after.

Swains Super 141

Posted on July 15, 2012 by admin

This rather tasty Scania 141 was spotted by various people last weekend heading up and down between Church Stretton, Shropshire and Ayr, Scotland. Last weekend was the annual Ayr Road Run. These pics were taken by Tim Cotton in a very damp Lymm Truckstop as the truck was making it’s way North. A few years back I remember talking with Steve Swain and one of his drivers, Mick, about the whole 141 thing. At the time Steve Swain (son of Swains of Stretton) was buying a double bed cabbed 141 that had been stored on Norfolk Scania man, Geoff Warrens farm. As we were talking about his purchase my 141 was nearing completion and Steve told me about the project for a Swains of Stretton 141 drawbar. I also seem to remember talking about getting the drawbar trailer back from Germany. My memory is all a little sketchy, but if you can add any thing or fill in any gaps then please leave comments below or send me an email with your pics.
You can’t deny that this could be one of the most authentic looking 141′s I think I have seen in the last few years, it really looks the biz. Be good to hear a bit more about it….over to you….

Crowfield Classics

Posted on June 9, 2012 by admin

A rare sight in any ones book. These 2 classic Swedes were pride of place at yet another damp Crowfield Truck Rally, held last Sunday the 3rd June at the Orwell Truckstop, Ipswich. This event is organised by the East Coast Truckers and always attracts lots of visitors and entrants as it goes, but numbers are limited so the places fill up quickly.
The 2 trucks above are both well know in and around Suffolk. The H.C. Wilson Scania 141 was bought new and has been working with Wilson ever since and still does the odd days graft now and again. The Russell Davies Scania 110 is a bit rarer as it spends most of its days at the Ipswich transport museum, but does come out for the odd run during the summer. The truck was the first ever purchase for the Russell Davies fleet in 1974 and was sold on in 1977. The truck was bought again in 1985 and restored back to her original colours. She looks well, perhaps even better with a spread axle skelly trailer behind??? Just an idea.

This nice late DAF 3200 is in the colours of Suffolk haulier EJ Farrow. Nice, clean and simple, bearing the company details what more do you need? Although it does look a little small compared to it’s bigger younger brother parked alongside. While we’re on DAF, below is an earlier 2800, owned by another local haulier Neil Bomford.

Next up is Rowell’s Transport’s delightful Volvo F7 sleeper. I love this little Volvo, I used to see loads of them around the industrial estate’s of Braintree as a boy. A local haulier had quite a few and it was also the first truck I drove on my own across my cousins farm during harvest. Although my cousins version was an 8×4 tipper, but it still had the sleeper cab. This Rowell’s truck has been given plenty of love and care and now looks like new, a real credit to the owners. Traditional sign writing, original interior and even retro windscreen flags, I hope this little beastie got a trophy, it deserves it.

Finnaly we have Geoff Warrens customised Scania 142 with highroof and also another high roof classic in the shape of Terry Seaman’s big cabbed Foden. The Scania still works in the summer months but doesn’t tend to venture out to much in the winter. As for the Foden, that is still earning a crust and I actually saw it out on the road this week with a tipper trailer. It’s nice to see that a classic English truck can still earn a living and not be badly affected by the ever increasing emissions regulations. As far as I know farm yards are not yet under any sort of Low Emission Zone red tape!

I can’t say much about H.C. Wilson’s 2 classics as we all know they both enjoy a trip to a show, but are both very much thought of as working trucks. The 141 doesn’t do to too many days out, but N500 HCW still is called into action when ever required, usually for swapping with a break down or an MOT vehicle.

There were plenty of other trucks at Crowfield, but the increasingly popular classic’s that we see at our shows, need to be appreciated. If you click HERE you will go to my other photos from the show.

Scania’s Man Test

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

For those of you who missed it, last weeks Commercial Motor magazine inadvertently contained the ultimate man test (and a few half decent photos!). A while back CM magazine did a Volvo comparison of a brand new FH750 and an F16 470. I read with interest but it didn’t stir me as much as last weeks. A brand new Scania R730 V8 compared to a 141 V8 and how far truck technology has come. It’s fair to say that all makes of truck have changed beyond belief and I myself can relate to this test as I have driven brand new R620′s and I also owned a 141. Which of the 2 would I choose?? Honestly?? In my opinion I think it depends on what type of man you are;

- Are you the type who likes all the luxuries of life?
- Do you prefer the straight easy rather than working her up through some bends?
- Would you rather put a few pounds on rather than work up a sweat?
- Would rather just open the back doors or get a full workout stripping your trailer?
- Do you prefer a key to a push button?

If the answer to these questions is yes, your a 730 driver, If you answered all these with no then you are a 141 driver.

Having read through the Commercial Motor article, author Brian Weatherley says he’d prefer the 730, but I wonder how many of you agree. You can’t disagree the ride of a modern truck like the 730 is as good as if not better than any expensive luxury car, but I love driving for the “Driving” element. Changing gear, getting the revs just right, holding her back using the gears, feeling like i’m actually controlling the mechanical beast under my feet. As I said I have driven both but although the newer is far superior in the comfort department, for the love of driving you just can’t beat, the 10 speed gearbox connected to the V8. The noise of the earlier V8 burbling away, makes you head for every tunnel possible and I never never tire of it burbling away. The problem with newer more comfortable truck is that, in my opinion it makes life to easy. Now I probably wouldn’t be saying this after 40′c heat and clothes full of sand having just rebuilt my tilt trailer in Doha, but even so, give me the 141 any day. After All as my all time hero Dave Poulton once said; “Have a wash, clean the truck out and you feel as happy as a sand boy again!”

The other reason for me doing this blog, is to re-share the absolutely amazing photographs in this Commercial Motor article. We all strive to take good photos of our trucks on the move, but these seem to be in another league. Would Mr Mark Bourdillon stand up and take a bow! Just look at these pics, taken on a track, yes I know, but even so with the spray coming off both trucks, they just look brilliant! So amazed I was, that I emailed Mr Bourdillon to ask his permission to use his photos on the blog. Luckily for all of us and especially those who didn’t see last weeks CM, Mark said he would happily let me put them on here. Thanks Mark.

A few things left to say;
(1) Please Please don’t use the photographic genius Mark Bourdillons photos.
(2) I really would be happy driving a 141 every day (I’d be equally as happy in the 730!)
(3) I think all these principles apply to you Volvo lovers too. F88? F89? F16? FH750??
(4) Dear Scania in the next Special Edition, Please Please bring back the “Starter Button”.
(5) Yes I had to watch all of Part 2 of Destination Doha to get my quote right……What a shame!
(6) Did they do a little speed test of the 141 round the Millbrook test track?? Mine did 73 down the A14 (unit only).
(7) Sorry this blog should have come with a “Romance” warning.

Finally, thanks again to Mark Bourdillon for letting me use his photos. Also thanks to Commercial Motor.

Classic Volvo Heading for The UK

Posted on May 24, 2012 by admin

This lovely looking Volvo F89 was spotted this week, by HC Wilson driver Jon Pryke. Eagle-eyed Jon as they call him in Elmswell, spotted this classic Swede parked in Unaccompanied bays at DFDS, Vlaardingen ready to ship to Immingham….to its new owner?? By the way although it’s Wilson coloured I don’t think it’s anything to do with them!!

From these pics it looks to be in fairly good condition and well look after. The bodywork looks straight and the paint looks relatively shiny and the little pair of stacks, well…
Anyway does anyone know any thing about who’s it is? It is clearly heading to a new owner some where in the UK or Ireland. It’d be nice to know who the owner is so we can all keep an eye out for it with a new coat of paint! The lucky owner must know a bargain when they see one, judging by the price tag….

Truckfest Peterborough – 2012

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin

Where to start?? Well it started as a shambles really. I, in my wisdom decided to go round Peterborough so I could enter from the North side, as I have spent the last 15 years arriving from the South. My advice? stick to what you know. The main car park fields were waterlogged so we were all being stuffed into every available gap. Then we were all directed to the gate directly across the swamp like car park. Having waded across with a number families and countless others loosing wellies and shoes to the mud, we got within 100 yards of the gate only to be told we had to walk back round to the other gate passed where we had just come from. Approx 100 others did this exercise round to Gate 5 but then no one else joined the queue….I think we were had. We then queued on the main road into the Showground for 40 minutes then we were finally allowed to enter. Of course for this privilege of no one knowing what was going on I was charged £17 entry, what do you get for your £17 entry? a free cuppa? a free programme?? A voucher for a burger??? Nothing. I think it’s high time that Live Promotions re thought their pricing. £17 is more expensive than my local world class Zoo!

Enough moaning, its the same every year. Next up and one of my main targets was the New Mercedes Actros. I was not alone, by 0915hrs all doors on the available Mercs were open and rapidly filling with people and potential buyers, young and old! I lined up and got myself in the Gigaspace. Gorgeous. For those of you who are sceptical of the new Big German having seen it in the press then let me assure you that in the flesh you’ll be impressed. Now that Mercedes are trying to use more car components in the trucks, the interior is looking very plush and is very similar to the car range. I learnt this thanks to the very helpful Nigel in the cab; The Bigspace cab is the same space as the current Megaspace but the Gigaspace is bigger still than both the Current Mega and the new Big. Crikey i’m all spaced out!! On the outside the big grill is very imposing but very smart. I really look forward to seeing the smarter fleets getting these trucks in their liveries. Firms like Pulleyn, Stobart (we’ve seen these already) and the likes of the Formula 1 Teams I think these smart Mercs will excel in promoting the image of who ever they are pulling for.

As for the rest of the trucks on show it was very difficult to decide what was best. As well as a few new trucks and some old favourites, some of the best trucks on show were the increasing numbers of retro trucks. I know we now have Retro Truck Shows, but the quality of these old girls is pretty amazing and nice to see. A number of F12 and F16 Volvo’s, some glorious Scania’s, 142′s, 143′s and of course a couple of 141′s. As well as a very British and very very tidy Seddon Atkinson that was getting lots of attention. Well done who ever owns it.

The usual displays occupied the arena. Arrivals of soap stars, motorbike displays and of course the ever impressive monster trucks. Good fun although no roll overs this year (a little disappointed!).

Along with all the big boys, there were also a handful of my favourites, some little Tonka Toys. I found Lewis Blakeys stunning DAF LF from Frank Hudsons fleet. Also I came across 2 other Hatcher cabbed DAF LF’s. One from H. Askeys fleet from Sheffield and one from AAA Couriers of Bradford. This driver was looking forward to a trip to the Champions league final in his smart little DAF.

There were obvioulsy many others around the Showground. A few more stunning big Scania’s, including the James Bond 007 themed R730 that belongs to scrap metal firm J Davidson. Loving the bullet holes and surely the best number plate at the show! Davidson’s R730 traing vehicle was also very clean and attracted plenty of photographers!!

Possibly the smartest tanker you’ll ever see. The driver must have forearms like Popeye, with all the polishing they must have done to get a ladder to look that shiny!! A real credit to the driver and the company and all on an 08 plate.

Other than that it was an ok show. I did miss the lovely Lisa Kelly from Ice Road Truckers. The weather stayed nice on Sunday which made a change. The only thing missing or so I though was the customised fleet of Coles & Sons of Banbury. Unusual not to have any trucks at the show. Well I was wrong. The one truck I missed was this stunning new addition to the Coles fleet. Matching the coolness of the figure painted on the side, Marlon Brando, this Scania oozed class. I’ve long been a fan of painting trucks and parts rather than shiny shiny. So it was a pleasure not to see a piece of stainless steel in sight. I absolutely love it. Coles Custom is as cool as it gets in my book and I was told it’s not even a V8! Brilliant, well done Coles I hoped you got your reward.

This photo belongs to the worlds photo library of trucks that you’ll find on www.euro-wheels.com , the one and only Neil Jarrold doesn’t miss a thing so I have to thank him very much for letting me use his photo of the Super Swede from Oxfordshire. There will be more of my finds at Truckfest on the blog in the near future. For now if you want to see a few more of my photos then click HERE.

Truck Blog UK

email: ben@truckblog.co.uk

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