Category Archives: SCOOP!!

SCOOP!! Cargo Undercover

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Turkish Ford Cargo

Did you know this is a Ford Cargo? In an undercover guise obviously. The Ford Cargo is still produced by Ford in Turkey. This one was spotted in Portbury Docks on the back of an HC Wilson truck. Apparently it has come to the UK for crash testing. Judging by the  undercover livery and disguised panels my detective skills hint towards this having been on road trials in Turkey or some where else. Looking how dirty it is, plenty of road dirt and covered panels mean it has been running about but without the public being able to see the finished truck. Now the road trials have finished this poor truck must have been short listed to come to the UK for crash testing R.I.P.

Turkish Ford Cargo

I have to admit that I have really struggled to find a great deal out about these Turkish built Ford’s. All I can tell you is what I have found on the Ford Media website. I’m guessing that this particular truck is a new version of the current range of Ford Cargo’s. It must be a new cab or at least a heavily face-lifted cab and likely to have a new engine or mechanical set up, as the last version was released back in 2004. I don’t know if the last version had adblue but this prototype has the tank, so perhaps this is a new engine to meet Euro emissions regulations. The Ford website says of the current range of Ford Cargo’s;

“Ford Cargo Tractors cover a range of 18 to 40 tons with different axle configurations, payloads, and chassis lengths. There are three different cab styles that enhance the versatility of Ford Cargo. These variants make it suitable for wide variety of customer needs. Ford’s heavy truck manufacturing experience dates back 40 years in history. The current Ford Cargo was launched in 2004 model year and was developed in 5 years.”

Then interestingly enough it goes on to say all about how much testing the 2004 released truck went through, including a trip to the UK for testing at the same place where this new version was being delivered too;

“The Ford Cargo Tractor was tested for 15 million kilometers (8 million kilometers road test, 4 million kilometers structural durability test, 3 million kilometers cab durability test) in total before it was launched. Besides the durability, noise, vibration, harshness and safety tests completed entirely in the virtual environment, actual field tests are also conducted. The durability tests were carried on Ford’s Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium. The durability of the Ford Cargo cabs was tested in Istanbul Technical University. Ford Cargo Tractor proved its durability and reliability after this long period of stringent tests. Ford’s reputation in designing vehicles with superior driving dynamics and comfort is also valid for Ford Cargo trucks. Ride and handling performance evaluations were done in MIRA test track in England in comparison with the products of other European heavy truck competitors.”

I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for anymore undercover trucks. Thats 2 within a couple of weeks, as some of my Twitter and Facebook followers will know, I spotted an undercover new Volvo here in Colchester, Essex. These things come in 3′s so what will be my 3rd?? Can you tell or show me? then send me an email or leave a comment with your undercover spots; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Turkish Ford Cargo

SCOOP!! HC Wilson 1/50 Scale Scania 141 Now Available

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It’s finally here!! After many months of planning, fine tuning and waiting this WSI 1/50 scale Scania 141 model is now availble in limited numbers. It’s available to buy direct from Search Impex or direct from HC Wilson. I think I am right in saying that there are about 300 models in total, so you’ll need to be fairly sharpe with your ordering. If you are interested they will be sold first come first served. You can email me at work, ben@hcwilsontransport.com or here at the blog, ben@truckblog.co.uk and title your email “Wilsons 141 Model”.

HC Wilson Transport Scania 141

HC Wilson Transport Scania 141

HC Wilson Transport Scania 141

HC Wilson Transport Scania 141

HC Wilson Transport Scania 141

HC Wilson Transport Scania 141

As you can see the tractor unit is as per the real life version, down to every detail and I mean every detail, including all stickers!! A single air horn, correctly mounted flashing beacons, wheels are painted right, GB sticker on one side of the rear chassis cross member, the livery is spot on and there is even a satelite dome on the roof. The trailer is the same as one of Wilson’s fairly standard Nooteboom 3 axle step frame trailers. It was discussed about having an original 2 axle step frame as the truck would have had when it was new back in 1979, but WSI couldn’t provide such a trailer without designing a totally new one. It certainly looks the part.
The models will be for sale at £138.00 from Search Impex and £144 from HC Wilson, plus the appropriate postage and packing costs. If you want to but from Wilson’s direct you will be encouraged to collect the model in person. This is a cracking model and I look forward to seeing the 1st one in the flesh at work tomorrow, don’t forget if your keen on buying your other half a great and different anniversary gift, then email me, ben@hcwilsontransport.com.

SCOOP!! Mystery New DAF

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I’ve been sent these pics of a brand new smart DAF XF105 but i can’t tell you who’s it is………… well not yet any way. The truck is a Super Space cabbed 510hp with twin air horns and the shinest black paint you’ll ever see and i can only imagine it will stay like that when it enters service. It looks like these pictures were taken at the DAF factory in Leyland, Lancashire, where, i think i’m right in saying, all right hand drive DAF’s are made these days, please correct me if i’m wrong, ben@truckblog.co.uk  . Hopefully in the not to distant future i will have some pics of said truck in full livery on the road. Untill then please feel free to comment below with your thoughts on who’s truck it is.
Mystery DAF
Mystery DAF
Mystery DAF
Mystery DAF

SCOOP!! Mercedes Actros Giga-Space

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This is a good one people, a very reliable source who works as an employee for Mercedes Benz some where in Europe slipped me the secret info. He is so worried he will get into trouble for leaking the new name, he didn’t even want me to say which country he is from! There is lots of chit chat about the new Mercedes truck range, but i have been told the new big cab will be called the “Giga-Space” instead of the current “Mega-Space”. The idea is that the new cab will have more space inside than DAF’s Super Space Cab. I wouldn’t surprised if the new Giga Space is inspired or even has some of the ideas from the SPACE MAX Concept truck you can see here, after all you can’t get much bigger than this!
Space Max-2.jpg

SCOOP!! Astran Tekno Model

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This is a bit of a SCOOP for truckblog. This model has only been advertised on the Tekno website and through a small email list from Kevin at Astran. 

Tekno are building the model and there are only 350 being built, with Tekno keeping 150 for their model clubs. When TEKNO put it on their web page, it sold out in 12 hours becoming their quickest seller EVER!!!! This is quite surprising considering the flash modern stuff they do. It just goes to prove that Astran has a massive following. The model has been spec`ed up by Mr Astran himself, Ashley Coghill, so you can be sure of its authenticity!! It was decided that as Astran never ran any 140 Scania`s that were in the best red/yellow sign written livery, we have made the model as a 111.

The model will become collectors’ items due to the rareness and will only appreciate in value, delivery wil hopefully be in July with a guide price of £150.00 per model, which will come with a numbered certificate and a picture of the original truck.

If you are interested in one of these highly highly collectable models, in 1/50 scale, then be quick to get your name on the list. Email kevin@astran-cargo.com and make sure you mention truckblog when you do.

New Email Address

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For some reason my email @truckblog.co.uk isn’t working and i’m struggling to work out why. So for now if you have stories, pictures or any thing else you want to share  please email me at:-   truckblog@hotmail.co.uk hopefully then i will be able to share your stuff. If you have ried emailing the truckblog.co.uk address recently please resend to the new truckblog@hotmail.co.uk address.