Author Archives: truckbloguk

Retro Show ‘22 – The Roundtrip

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The Retro Show ‘22. I thought I’d give you a break from how good it was and you clearly aren’t in the club if you didn’t go. As you will know by now this was the Gr814’s first UK show outing and we made the trip there and back in good company. 1st leg was from Ipswich to Elmswell to meet up with James with EGV and Mat with Jim Cammacks 143. We decided that Elmswell would be a good meeting point as I had an early finish and James couldn’t finish until 1730hrs at the earliest. I also had a couple of jobs to finish so needed a few tools and a couple of nuts, bolts and screws.

First job was to fit the CB in the Gr814, fairly simple ax there is already an aerial and a cable, so I just needed to connect up the power (also already there once I’d looked) and mount the bracket up on the sunroof surround, so it was well out the way. Much to my delight, once it was all in, it worked a dream, good range and clear sound with no effort. Just how I like it! Second all important job, although a temporary fix until he’s painted, was to replace the broken Mercedes-Benz badge on the back. I couldn’t turn up at the show with a broken badge.

Once my jobs were done, Mat had had a good wipe around to try and degrease and JC had finished the day job, we just had time for a roll call photo before hitting the road. The 4th member of the convoy was already flying along to the sound of Karen Carpenter and her siblings, so we decided to meet up at Rothwell Truckstop on the A14, just west of Kettering. After a pasty and a bottle of Coke, we left Rothwell with Brian Potter leading the way in his drop dead gorgeous Swedish beauty. Sadly MDF soon realised why I was in front on the way up. Sadly unlike my hero the Duck, I did have everyone following me, I wasn’t just in front as the Gr814 is somewhat relaxed about speed. I think a sound investment maybe a new diff to give me a little more than 50mph. Although it wouldn’t have been to much of a problem if JC had driven EGV rather than trailered. Anyway a steady 50 is good for the fuel gauge

Once on the way to Gaydon, we planned on A14, M6, A46 and M40. Sadly as already of a Friday evening the authorities had better ideas and we were diverted off the A46 into Coventry. Amazing although a royal pain in the ass, it did provide some awesome memories of perhaps a time when dual carriageways were few and far between and we would have regularly been followed through towns by gorgeous old Scania and Volvos. It provided some great photos of the mind of nothing else. Once back on the A46 it was a simple run down to Gaydon. As the time was getting on we were a little unsure if we could get in the gate or not. But we didn’t need to worry as Lee Herbert and his team were more than accommodating and let us all in, unload the 141 and park up ready for the morning. Perfecto.

As for the run home, a real lovely run back in the sunny Sunday afternoon sun. Although I did manage to leave the show and drive up the little hill past all the photographers with my fuel cap dangling on its chain. Bugger. A change of route to go home, down the M40, A43, A421 to Buckingham, Milton Keynes and onto Bedford. We then picked up the A428 back to Cambridge. A nice run and chosen as we all potentially needed fuel on the way home. Once nearly back at Cambridge we headed our separate ways as JC wanted to get back to Elmswell and get EGV unloaded. I then headed down the M11, across the A505 and then down the A1307 to Haverhill and the back roads back just bear Colchester where I live. May was going to follow me but day dreamed on to Bury St Edmunds and then back down to Sudbury and Halstead.

The little Gr814 didn’t miss and beat and to be honest is a real pleasure to drive. It’s actually not any where near as bouncy as you’d think and by the time I got home, I’d proper settle in and it looked like I’d been away for a week towel hanging up to dry, bags on the top bunk, bedding on the bottom one, music on and CB there incase I needed a road report Roger. 300 plus miles covered and I’d happily do it all again, perhaps a little more speed and few less revs would be nice but you can’t have everything! Hopefully way before the Retro Show ‘23 I’ll have the paint done and the other bits and bobs and he’ll be finished. Top round trip, top show and top mates.

PETERBILT LAUNCHES SPECIAL EDITION MODEL 389X

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Peterbilt Motors Company announced today the launch of the limited-release Model 389X. The 389X celebrates the iconic status of the Model 389 with a new, distinctive special edition.

The 389X embodies the heritage of the Model 389 with its bold styling and bright exterior features.  The 389X includes a highly polished hood crown surrounding a classic-style, louvered grille sheet inspired by the first 1939 Peterbilt. The hood features a brightly polished centerline trim, exclusive side-hood chrome accents and polished hood fenders. Other bright features include cowl skirts, battery box, fuel tanks, sunvisor, bumper and large, 7″ chrome exhaust stacks. The 389X also includes an elegant and distinguished exterior lighting package, with LED amber color light strips that provide stunning lighting in the air cleaners and under the rocker panels. In addition, the truck features 389X exterior badging on the mud flaps as well as on the cab or sleeper. 

The interior of the 389X is as bold as the exterior. The dash panels feature a new Black Pearl burl woodgrain.  Special black-finish trim accents can be found throughout the cab and sleeper. Additional special features include bright chrome grab handles, a 389X emblem on the shifter plate, embroidered 389X badging on the headrests and badging on the sleeper backwall. Each 389X includes a serialized, chrome dash plate with the production number of the truck to commemorate each special edition vehicle, as well as a kit of custom 389X merchandise. 

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“The new 389X is superior in every detail. From its classic design and high-quality craftsmanship to its exclusive chrome elements and details both inside and out, the 389X will quickly become the most desirable truck on the road,” said Robert Woodall, assistant general manager of sales and marketing. “I look forward to seeing this great truck and its proud owners on road across North America very soon.”

The Model 389X can be ordered as a day cab or in a 72″ or 78″ Sleeper configuration. The 389X production will be limited to only 1,389 trucks and is available for order now through Peterbilt dealerships.

TB Hits the Big Time

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Sad times when one of Englands best known hauliers and most followed on social media, calls time and decides to close the gates for the for good. I am pleased to say that it’s due to retirement rather than anything else, although it could be a timely decision the way things are heading at the moment. Hopefully one way or another you have followed Pete White on his trip to Italy and back over the last 8 days, I think I have shared them all on the TB Facebook page. Much like many a transport manager, you might know all the routes, all the deliveries and collections and you might have even done trailer changes in France, but so often transport managers don’t get the opportunity to do a full round trip. Pete White wanted to not be one of those and took the opportunity to do one of the firms last runs to Italy. Great idea. Please read all of the daily updates on the TB Facebook page or the Whites Transport Services page as they are well worth the read. More importantly than all that, Jase who used to drive the red Scania that Pete took on his trip was a lucky recipient of a TB sticker and I was most chuffed to have featured in one of the daily updates this week. As you will see in Pete Whites photo above, the TB sticker has clearly been on the move with one of the best. It’s an honour to have served you Whites Transport and I wish you all well for the future and I wish Ray White a happy and long retirement.

Heinrichs Thermoliner

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It’s a similar colour as the last one I got all gooey about, but look at it…. The Danish Soleen trucks and the VOWA truck from CH, all similar shades but boy does it look good on them. Just incase you think it’s just a Scania thing, then I can prove you it’s not. Take yourself off to the Heinrichs Thermoliner Instagram and you will see it’s suits the flat top DAF just as well. It’s a mega colour.

Once again this truck has it all in a Super subtle way. I almost want to say less is more, although it’s quite close the physically being more than less, know what I mean?! All the custom parts that are currently in fashion are present, not all to my taste, but I can appreciate them 100%. Bull bar, Speedline wheels on the front axle, full chassis infill and tank-look side skirts, Danish square rear lights on both tractor and trailer, 2 series Scania top side lights, double twin air horns, short air deflector kit to allow for a flat panel on the back of the cab and a smart set of exhaust stacks. To finish the complete rig off, the new fashion for your matching trailer – mudguards to match your tractor. Heinrichs Thermoliner have got it all spot on, apart from the spots on the roof. Seems the Europeans still like this fashion trend but I can see it fading out in favour of nothing or something smaller and smarter.

You can see the Scania mud guards on the trailer and they look awesome, this was noted by my truck show wingman James and once he mentioned it, we saw plenty more. Full infill round the trailer with skirts and toolboxes. Finally to finish off the back end, I’m guessing that is a cartoon of Germanys own version of Lisa Kelly, the one and only Frau Heinrichs. Much to James’ disappointment we weren’t able to find Frau while we were round the truck, but it’s her who missed out on him not the other way round!

Everything colour coded.

Another plush master piece from Special Interior, this time in my favourite, dark brown leather. When you stand and look in to these sumptuous cabs, you are greeted by two scents. First is what ever flavour of air fresher the driver has chosen, usually a Poppy type or similar. The second smell for most is the delightful scent of real leather, actually something most factory finished trucks don’t have much of these days. Browns and creams go very well together, complemented by traditional red lighting. The rear cab wall in this one is of course finished off with Frau Heinrichs cartoon embossed with a red back light surround. – think I need a job narrating Master Chef!

Fordham Vehicle Show 2022

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The most local vehicle show to near where we live. A fantastic little village show that took place for the first time since 2019 and bearing in mind it was a scorching hot, humid day there was still a decent turn out of vehicles. One of best things about the show is the variety of vehicles. Yes I’m a truck man, but everything from bikes, cars, vans, a few lorries, tractors, racing cars, buses, Land Rovers, Americans and a Harley Davidson club. Something for everyone, literally a lovely assortment of what every takes your fancy. Sadly there were also a large numbers of dropouts due to the heat, lots of classic owners are keen on risking overheating their pride and joy, which I understand. Hopefully next year it’ll be back to full steam. I’ll try and post the details more next year as it would be great to see a few more commercials there.

Ok so it’s a pick-up TRUCK, but I’ll allow it on the blog this time, as for me it was the best looking vehicle in the show. The owner saw it for sale in Virginia, USA in exactly it’s cute t condition and decided he just had to have it. With Patina on vehicle Mrs being the latest craze, this has all the natural rust patches you could want. I think it just looks the nuts and I’d have happily taking it home myself. Perhaps a Chevy needs to go on the lottery list.

Pallet Plus were the only actual working trucks on show but two new MAN’s looked great in their red paint and sunshine. The Scammell below is a regular and I have a feeling it comes from a local railway museum at Chappel near Colchester but I could be wrong. It’s a proper old-timer and isn’t over cleaned or polished, it just looks tidy and original.

As for the Flatman Bedford, well if you like a classic British truck, this is the one for you. Flatland are a local egg company and the owner has a huge collection of classic sorts cars, but this was the first time I have seen the Bedford. Again like the Scammell, this was very tidy but not cleaned and restored to within an inch of its life. Genuinely it looked like it had just finished a days work collecting empty boxes. I think it looks perfect in the black and white photo below. Anyway, mid August next year, get yourself up to the Colchester area and come visit the show. You never know the Gr814 might have had a kick of paint by next years show!

Finnish-ed Power

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The summer holidays can be a long drawn out affair for some kids, always restless by the 3rd week, not enough things to do, etc, etc. Not for me though as you lot are on your jolly holidays and it pleases me that you think of me while you’re away. I get a few photos sent in every year of your holiday findings and I have to say that Suomi has not disappointed. My sons friend and parents are on holiday in Finland with family who live there. Dad, Mark, sent me these photos whilst they were out exploring last week;

“So these worked for the Finland electricity board and were parked outside an old power station. The HIAB looked like it would be a little top heavy when rolling, the other had a pretty plush interior for its age and work intention.”

I did wonder whether the 1413 had been restored a little as it really does look in very good condition. The Unimog looks in good condition but looking at the wheels and tyres, it looks more like it’s just been parked up after it’s last shift.

Thanks Mark and family. If you have any holiday photos to share (not those ones!), please email me with a brief description and tell me where you found your findings.

Email: ben@truckblog.co.uk

A Real Swiss Sweetie

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For me the best in show and I’m glad to say that the people at Truckstar agreed. This Swiss beast was voted best in show by the judges and I couldn’t agree more. There are a good few reasons why I shouldn’t like it, as we all have little things with our taste in trucks that we aren’t that keen on. For example I’m not a fan of gold paint work, I’m also not so keen on additional spot lights or bull bars anymore, but just like Jerry Maguire, this truck had me at hello.

Despite my pet hates, I think I’d only need to remove the 7 spot lights on the roof, the rest just works. Nestled between Paul Cecil’s jaw dropping XF and matching Schmitz trailer and the crazy artwork on Ristina’s latest Scania offering, this Swiss gem appeared like an oasis in the desert.

Oh what’s this…. Ooooo it likes quite tidy this James….. Oh crikey, I think I like the look of this…. This could be my best in show…. And the interior…… And it’s an R cab…. This is my best in show.

That’s pretty well how things went when we came across it at Assen. When it comes to the new Scania, I’m an R cab man, you all know I love the smaller cabbed trucks, the R for me is far better looking than an S cab Scania. There were a few trucks with Speedline super singles on the front axle and I really like it, a trend started years ago by the Prince of Somerset Tim Rigby. I also absolutely appreciated the gear shift pattern being the focus for the LED lighting above the bunk and also on the pa em on the rear of the cab between the stacks. I feel this is a real ode to the demise of the manual gearbox. Those new to driving but are real drivers at heart, there is nothing more secretly satisfying than getting the gearbox working and making your way up through the box all of your own doing. This is pre-mortem tribute to the no doubt soon to be obsolete mechanical masterpiece that is a multi-geared gearbox.

This burgundy, antique red, colour touched me in more ways than a 1980’s TV presenter. The Heinrich’s frigo and the Dansk Soleen trucks all wearing g a similar shade, just suit the truck. I can’t say if it suits all trucks as sometimes paint colours only work on certain trucks but it c retail y works on Scania’s. The different shades of deep red, gold and black also used compliment each other and go with the theory of top paint jobs need 3 colours to really stand out from the crowd. even the red rear wheels on the twin tag fit in with the rest, big bumper, square lights, good size straight stacks, just enough lights, full flat metal chassis infill and side skirts, I can’t go on otherwise I’ll need a moment.

QJust when I’ve had a full walk around the outside and just about stopped dribbling, I get to the drivers door and boom, the pink, salmon pink, bubblegum pink, who knows what colour pink but I love it. James and I can fully appreciate trucks and lairy interiors, although often they would not be our personal choice. I love the deep brown leather interiors again like the Heinrich’s truck, but once again this just works for me. I’d not have chosen it myself but I love it. It’s just sumptuously gorgeous and one step to the left of the custom truck normal. Special Interior have just raised the bar another notch.

I genuinely can’t say any more about this truck, I just hope it has a well matched trailer doing what ever work it does. If I wanted to build a custom truck I think I could just be a carbon copy of this Swiss sweetie. As we all know the Swiss are the kings and queens of sweet treats and chocolate and this truck sits perfectly in that bracket……. I’m off to have a word with myself.

Italia Man’s MAN

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I might as well write about it again otherwise the photos will keep stacking up. Once again Mr Neil Jarrold spotted #littlebigcabclub member, Biondo, from Italy, a few weeks back sitting in Dover. Yes I have blogged him before and probably with a few of the same photos as below, but as long as Neil keeps sending me the photos, I’ll keep posting them. We have quite a collection now, from probably the last 4ish years. Can anyone tag the driver? The company perhaps? Would be good for him to see he’s regularly papped while in the UK. I’d even send him a #littlebigcabclub sticker if I could get a few messages to him.

I am sure that when I last posted about this little Italian MAN, one or two of you said that he brings in furniture and tips in South London somewhere, somewhere like Croydon perhaps. Let me know what you know and let’s see if we can get hold of the driver. Great looking truck, love the wriggly tin sides, the old school Italian look right there.

Please tag the driver, the company or someone linked to either.

Greek Express by Mat Ireland

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Ah Greece. Greek salad, sunshine, Mythos beer, and of course, classic trucks! So many reasons to love the place! My girlfriend and myself have a once yearly job where we take two dogs down to Athens to go onwards to their owners residence on Mykonos island. Being a transport historian and enthusiast (I much prefer this to anorak!) means that I always arm myself with my camera before the trip, as you never know what you will find, but you will always find something old!


For this blog, I have decided to stick to the #littlebigcabclub stuff so beloved of Ben and myself. My first ever ‘truck’ was a Mercedes 814, followed by a rocket of a 817, so seeing these brings back many good memories. An awful lot of petrol stations seem to have one stationed there, even in the bigger towns, so I guess they are used for bulk deliveries to customers locally, I will have to try and find out.
Anyway, I present to you, some of my findings from our Greek trip, enjoy!