Majorcan Mystery Motor

Posted on August 27, 2012 by truckbloguk

Hands up all those who take photos of trucks while your on holiday??? Most of us then. Dodgy Dave, H.C. Wilson’s top escort van driver recently had a break in Cala Bona, Majorca. All the little streets and bars need stocking with plenty of booze for all the holidaying Brits and this little mystery motor is one of the trucks doing the job. Dodgy Dave says it had no markings on what so ever but did seem to be struggling along with it’s heavy liquid load! Who can tell us what it is? My guess is some sort of Pegaso, but I may be wrong. Leave your comments below of what you think it may be. If you have any holiday trucks that you want to share, then email them over and tell me where they were and I’ll put them up on the blog. Email address is; ben@truckblog.co.uk

ACH – Photo Update

Posted on August 23, 2012 by truckbloguk

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….

Wilson Wednesday

Posted on August 8, 2012 by truckbloguk

“Finally another blog” – Twas the cry from the depths of the Internet. I know, I know and once again I apologise. Been so busy with work, baby prepping the house and everything else, mixed in with a serious lack of blog content. But as usual in the next few weeks the blog content is likely to go completely the opposite way, lots coming up so hopefully it’ll become a little more regular once again, so please please keep checking back.

A quick Wilson Wednesday this evening, just so you can keep an eye on what those H.C. Wilson boys are upto. As it goes the above photo is a good place to start and it’s not even officially a Wednesday job, but I didn’t think you’d be too fussed about a days difference between friends. Each year H.C. Wilson and top Wilson customer, Portcentric Solutions have to do a delivery to a large estate in Sussex. For no real reason other than it’s a nice little jolly out for the directors of both companies, it has now become a little outing in Wilson’s legendary Scania 141. So loaded up and ready to roll, drop a larger machine at Tilbury dock on the way and then onward to the country lanes of Sussex. Thanks to top retro, Yorkie bar eating trucker, David Baker for the photos.

Next up below is Jon Pryke with X300 HCW. Loaded with crane parts from Germany to London. I see that Jon’ photographic skills are still the same! 😉

Next, H.C. Wilson driver, turned office boy, now day relief driver James Cartwright was out and about today in V8 HCW, a Scania R580, delivering a load to Leamington Spa that he loaded in Felixstowe yesterday. An office boy having a night out??? (wait til next week – its not only happening at Wilsons!).

The gorgeous Scania R560 V8 of Owner Driver Mike Tasker is also keeping busy backwards and forwards to the continent. This time having loaded a cable drum from Koln, Germany heading back to the UK. Looking good pulling a 2 axle Nooteboom low loader.

Last but by no means least 4 of Wilson’s were busy loading some 16.50 metre long storage tanks from South West Germany today in the 34’c heat. That’s 16.50 metres in the well of the trailer, not overall. These tanks are all night moves out of Germany heading to the ferry out of Rotterdam. So a long night ahead for drivers; Richard Arnold, Mark Blunt, Dave Knappett and top geordie driver Steve Pattison. Great photos, thanks Geordie…Don’t worry the German Rozzers are there to help!

Manton European Freezer Freight Part 10

Posted on July 29, 2012 by truckbloguk

Part 10 and its a bit of a belter to be honest!! For those of you who might not have done a search on the blog for Mantons, it all started back on the 21st February 2011. I posted up a photo of a nice Manton truck I took a photo of in Braintree when I was a boy and since then it’s just rolled on and on. In fact it probably is worth a search to read a few of the posts. This latest installment of pics is from Rich Tilford, the man responsible for spraying all the Manton vehicles.

I first heard from Rich when he contacted me via email. The email read as follows;

“Hi Ben’ just browsing on me phone these trucks look very familiar. I used to paint them!… Got all sorts of reg no.s running through my mind! I remember K414! Is that sad? K14 NTL was ridged fridge driven by Mark Bussey , who previously drove M396 JRH a 7.5t Renault Midliner. I think there was a few Magnums (4?) N830 DAG rings a bell! They where a bit of a twat to paint due to height and fibre glass cab attracted dust (static elec) etc. I have a few photos of there later vehicles 1995> ie. Late 3 series first 4 series N682 JWT? P65. .. etc. Currently running DAF 95/ 105/ but plain white or yellow livery (boring) not seen Dave Manton in long time hope he and family are well”

I think its fair to say that Rich qualifies as a reliable source of Manton info. Having posted me a batch of his photos for me to scan (as Rich can’t work anything unless it runs on diesel), Rich also added a small note in the envelope with a few notes on each pic. For example, Rich says that the 4 Series Scania above was part of a batch of 4 trucks and P657 RYG was badly damaged in an accident just 2 weeks after he took these photos. On one of the earlier Manton posts on the blog, we talked about there being a Renault Magnum on the fleet. Not just one according to Rich and we have a bit of evidence to show that they did exist as we have a couple of Tilfords photos showing the before and after of said Magnums.

Some of you may recognise the spec of the 3 series in the foreground as I did. Rich said that there were 3 or 4 of these 3 series Scania’s with the side skirts. They were a cancelled order from MacFarlanes Transport and were already painted in the familiar green and yellow livery of Macfarlane. It wasn’t just tractor units that Rich had to paint. Trailers were a regular in the paint shop too. Most of the fridge trailers were painted in the same livery, apart from this one trailer below. For a reason that Rich has told me, just one fridge was given this livery, I rather like it! Perhaps some one can enlighten the rest of us??

Rich also hasn’t said whether he was a dab hand with a paint brush as well as the spray gun. Some smart sign writing on these trailers, especially on the tanker. Next up we have one of the tankers being pulled by a Volvo Globetrotter. Apparently the only FH Volvo Mantons had. This one was also the first truck that Rich painted when he started at Mantons, so good was the paint work the truck also made it to the Volvo truck stand at the Pickering show.

There are plenty more of Rich Tilfords pics on my Flickr page for you to see. Click HERE to have a look. A couple of nice rigids for different uses, but all in some form of yellow and green.

Last but by no means least, K414 KNW. This is the 143 that started all this off and it wasn’t even a from-new purchase by the looks of it. That is unless it was an ex demonstrator, they do look like Scania stripes don’t they. A few days in the paint shop with our man Tilford and she soon looked like part of the fleet, soon to be on regular runs to Moscow. Freshly painted waiting to leave the paint shop, just imagine the turning that key! All I can say is that I am very pleased that Rich managed to browse the Internet on his phone even though it doesn’t run on diesel! Thanks Rich, here’s hoping that you find some more photos one day.

Funnily enough in the middle of Rich contacting me, I had this comment on a Mantons blog post, from K414 KNW’s owner when it left the Manton fleet. Mr Lee Windle said;

“Just looking through the Manton story and seen a photo of K414 KNW. I was the owner of this truck for 4 years after Manton traded it in at Scania Normanton in West Yorkshire. It was working round trip to Germany every week and never let me down. I had it repainted white cab red chassis when I first bought it. Sold it to a chap in Wakefield then saw it a few years later for sale on ebay. I added the spot lights, air horns and alloy wheels.. that gave me the bug for the V8’s, had them ever since current truck Scania R580 4X2 OPTIC CRUISE……”

The one thing with this blog is how these things all lead onto some thing else. Any one got a photo of K414 in its life after Mantons??

One Mans Scania is Another Man’s Dream

Posted on July 23, 2012 by truckbloguk

Not so long ago I was the owner of a very nice Scania 141, but all good things have to come to an end. So the time came and she was sold. The problem was before I made the decision to sell her I was thinking of selling and buying a 143 and having some change. This didn’t quite go to plan due to starting a family, so the 143 plan is hold for now. The thing that made it so hard was that I found this truck for sale in Holland. Looks lovely although in need of a wash! Anyway this idea had to be put on hold.

A few months went by and this black beauty had disappeared from the various used truck websites I keep tabs on. Then one day it appeared back, at a new dealers and for sale for quite a bit more, but at least it had had a wash! It was still very appealing but I had to stay strong! The chance came and went and to this day I still live in hope of finding a lovely old 143 that needs a home when I have the time and the money. Then by one of these increasingly weird coinsedances on Facebook it appeared once again, well it looked like it and how can you really mistake it. It’s now been touched up, shown a bit of love and had a good polish as well another wash or 2!

The truck now belongs to Sam Nelis from Belgium and I have to say he has done a good job on the truck. Keeping the lovely black paint and just adding a few simple stripes and accessories, she looks stunning. How about the painted wheels?? I said on the blog recently how painted wheels are the current fashion, and looking at the pics above, it makes a massive difference to the truck. Looks great.

Fingers crossed the lottery numbers come up this Friday, then I think I may have to have a nice chat with Mr Nelis. After lots of hard graft restoring the 141 to show condition I think the next truck will have to already be in show condition so all I have to do is wash polish it ready for days out. I think this 143 is yet anoher example of how simple / subtle is the way forward. Nice one Sam!

Taskers ‘tatoes

Posted on July 19, 2012 by truckbloguk

Full time HC Wilson subbie MW Tasker has always been a quietly proud man of his small but smart V8 fleet. He has never been the real king of bling, he is often called it in mid-Suffolk, but a coat of black paint and some ally wheels hardly makes him king of bling really does it. Tasker has never really been into in your face customising and if you had been witness to the many chats we had about his new pride and joy Scania R560, you’d realise that he is in fact a big fan of subtlety. The new R560 is in a Scania grey that is virtually the same colour as the plastics on the truck, it also has some of those tribal type stickers on each side. You may struggle to see them as they are in black instead of the silver that Scania give as the other option, why? because it’s less in your face. The truck has all the gadgets and gizmo’s you can think of, but on the outside…….Even the wheels on the new V8 were a talking point. The wheels are still the standard steel ones, i’m guessing the reason for this is because Mr T can’t decide whether to stick his trade mark shiny allys on or to have a set of allys painted in black and grey. In my opinion on this particular truck I think either would suit well. The general fashion in Europe does seem to be for the painted option. The one thing Tasker has always encouraged with his trucks is the grummmble of the V8, the new one being no different. One exhaust each side at the bottom of the side skirts, one through the standard exhaust system which does have a good note to it, the other side is nothing short of a roaring lion! Flick the dash mounted switch and you hear the butterfly valve clang across and then its just a straight exit from the engine out to the ovalish exit. They do say the sound of a Scania V8 varies all down to the shape of the exit of the pipe…?? You know what I always thought would be worth trying is having a bowl type thingy at the bottom of a stack. So based on a normal shape of a set of stacks, you have the pipe come out from the engine, then when it turns up the back of the cab, rather than just bend the pipe and have it all the same diameter, how bout on the bend, put a ball / bowl shape? I think this would add to the deep burbling sound as it will have a chamber to resignate around before heading up the exit pipe. Well that’s just my idea, you probably have no idea what i’m trying to describe!

As you can see below Tasker still has his original 4 Series Scania that he has also had from new. She may be ageing nicely but she is still working as hard as she ever has. Now with her long time pilot, the one and only Colin Waters. Although both trucks are pictured here with 3 axle Nooteboom lowloaders, the loads they are carrying are no cause for panic with the big V8’s. The potatoe harvesters are more abnormal due to their over width and height, the weight is less than the trailers they are are riding on. These photos were taken by Mike Tasker in Holland on their way to Rotterdam from Germany for a ferry to the UK. Hence the need for the low loaders to keep the height down to allow for easier transit through Europe. Which ever you prefer you can’t deny that subtle is smart and can be just as effective as all the lights and whistles you can find in your nearest truck accessories dealer!…My final question is will the new Scania last as well as its senior? I mean the older has far less sensors and computer stuff on, will the younger make it through 12 (or more) hard years labour pulling abnormal loads all over the Continent?? Your views will be appreciated so leave your comments below. I’m sure MWT is hoping his subtle R560 lasts him just as well as the old 144, perhaps even seeing him to his retirement….. 😉

New MAN in The Blogs Life

Posted on July 18, 2012 by truckbloguk

I received a nice surprise on the Blog Facebook Page last week. James Kinnard posted a couple of photos of his MAN TGL flatbed that he pilots for JJ Transport from ooop Manchester way. It looks like this little MAN is another busy TGL. Buzzing here there and every where, including regular trips across the water to France and Ireland. The bonus of the flatbed is the possibility of oversize loads, i’ve seen a few pics of a cabin or 2. Hopefully the load James has on in these pics is one load of a few as it’s a propeller. Looks like 1 blade to me, so i guess it needs at least 2 others to help it propell what ever its propelling. Hopefully James will send a few more pics of his travels and I have sent him a sticker so that should appear on the truck & blog soon enough. I think we need some DAF LF and Mercedes Atego representation on the blog!! Can you help??

Comedy Classics Now Flipping Burgers

Posted on July 15, 2012 by truckbloguk

We all remember the airbrushed fleet of Roy Gill. Firstly some beautiful Scania’s then he moved on to the DAF’s. The Lady Diana Truck, Comedy Classics and A Question of Sport to name but a few. All good trucks come to a sad end?? True or not a lot of well know trucks disappear never to be seen again, even with a snazzy paint job. This ex Roy Gill DAF tractor unit has been chopped and stretched to accommodate a fridge body to supply its accompanying burger van. A sad end you think for a DAF show stand truck, well may be so but recently I did see the DAF 85 stable mate, “Question of Sport” up for sale in Truck Trader or something in an advert placed by one of the hundreds of truck exporters. Now to me that’s a little sad as it just means no one cares about a once loved truck that was a bit special. Once it arrives in the exporters yard it just becomes another set of wheels heading off into the sunset, no longer a celebrity of the UK trucking world.

Hey Ho, this truck was spotted by eagle eyed HC Wilson driver Gareth Rowlands at the World Hotrod Championships held in Ipswich recently. Probably the best looking fast food support truck you will ever see!

Swains Super 141

Posted on July 15, 2012 by truckbloguk

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….

TB on the move with Johnson Transport

Posted on July 11, 2012 by truckbloguk

Back in February of this year the UK trucking world on Facebook nearly went into melt down, when Matthew Johnson of Johnson Transport put a photo up of his well known, well loved Scania R560 4×2 For Sale! But never fear it turns out that the 4×2 was to be replaced by a newer version of the same R560 V8 but on a 6×2 chassis, something many operators have decided to do with the ever increasing presence of VOSA and the need for 44,000kg trucks in the UK. In the photo you can see the old V8 sat just behind the new. The new one is up to Matt’s usual standard of plain & simple = smart and understated, he’s even kept the number plate; V8 SGO (V8 560). Mr Johnson is a man after my own heart as he is an Owner Driver, but has ran a couple of trucks and pulls his own trailers as well as pulling other peoples. Now as a top Owner Driver he wants to be part of the best cult club in the country, yes you’ve guessed it, he’s now part of the Truck Blog on the move gang!!

I just hope Matthew pulls his own trailer more than other peoples now he has the sticker in place. I did send 2 stickers to Matt as I wasn’t sure how many trucks he was currently running. As well as the sticker on the trailer, he also has one in the windscreen. As the eagle eyed among you can see, theses pics were taken in Dover, so the TB stickers hit the continent once again!! Good work Mr Johnson, keep the blog rolling!!

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