Here we go again more special edition Scanias available in the UK, at least someone in the UK is trying to get a few to British and Irish owners. Any way you probably know who these photos have been sent to me by but I won’t say anymore at this stage. As you can see there aren’t many words that can describe a Tag Axle Blue Stream in my book, so following the rule of “Less is more” please sit back and day-stream, sorry, day-dream about the delights of something blue from Sweden!
For me this is the best truck I have seen in 2014. It might not be the newest, it might not be most practical for most of Europe and it certainly won’t be everyones taste but for me, spot on.
If you live in the UK and haven’t been to one I strongly advise that you make 2015 your first trip to a European truck show, the standard of trucks is amazing. I can’t deny that the trucks here in the UK are getting better and better but the Europeans just seem to have it right, they all look good. To me the best trucks have always been out of reach of what I could afford or achieve and the T560 is no different. We all joke about winning the lottery but a Tcab would be very close to the top of my list. It’s blue, it’s got two sets of pipes, it’s got a subtle custom interior and enough lights to make it look good but not over the top. As with anything I would make a few subtle changes as I’d want to put my mark on it.
2014 has seen a big rise in the blogs popularity through all mediums, the Facebook page, twitter and the good old fashioned http://www.truckblog.co.uk website. I’m not going to link to any of those this time round as I’m sure you all could do with a break from the ruthless links and plugs for the blog. I have no idea where the blog will be in another 12 months, hopefully you’ll all still send me stuff, photos, info and the odd piece of trucking memorabilia to decorate TBHQ and I’ll keep bugging the TV companies in the vague hope they’ll see that we need Truckblog TV!
Hopefully I’ll be visiting, Truckfest Peterborough, Crowfield Truck Rally, Gathering of the Griffin, Retro Truck Show at Gaydon, more than likely (and hopefully) Truckstar Festival at Assen as my foreign trip, although I have heard on the grapevine that there is quite a convoy of English motors heading to the International Trucker & Country Show held at Interlaken, CH. I have always wanted to go James?? Finally if the offer is still there then I might just make it to Belfast too.
Anyway thank you for following and thank you for making the blog what it is, without your contributions I’m sure you’d all be bored silly of 143’s, MAN TGL LX’s and Mercedes-Benz photos! As we all do secretly say now and again Keep on Trucking!
I’ve had this delightful model announcement in from Ben Lord at Speedbird Promotions, the UK arm of Tekno if you like! Have a read and get ordering;
We’re delighted to announce a new Tekno model that will be released next year. Commemorating our 70th anniversary, we have commissioned Speedbird Promotions and Tekno to produce a replica of our flagship Scania R-Series Streamline truck. Packaged in a luxury display case, these models can be purchased from us for £109.95 including postage. All of these will be accompanied with a limited edition certificate that will be signed by Bim Mountain. The model is due for release in Summer 2015.
If you would like to reserve one of these, please e-mail models@kerbeymotors.com
So here it is people, the very truck that everyone’s man of the moment refurbished and rebuilt back to new condition is OFFICIALLY for sale. There have been a few rumours floating around on various social media, so lets put those all to bed and say that yes it is for sale. The Grimsby Gangster a.k.a. Mick Moody has confirmed that he is willing to sell his pride and joy….of course for the right money. The truck itself is a genuine left hand drive Scania 143 500 Topline Streamline new on the road in Switzerland in September 1996.
There is a fair amount of pedigree now attached to this truck as it was rebuilt by the one and only, bike racing, mad-haired, Spitfire building, all-round nice bloke, new Fred Dibner, truck mechanic extraordinaire Mr Guy Martin. This has been well documented by everyone and there is even a video of Guy and the truck available to watch by clicking on the YouTube video below. We now know that Guy’s mechanical engineering skills are no longer just good enough to be a race motorbike builder or an amazing truck mechanic but he is also an accomplished Spitfire builder too. I have never seen the truck in person but for me, with the fact that Guy has rebuilt it, I can only imagine that it has been given his usual complete and utter attention and laid back professionalism…..I would think that if you ask nicely when you pick it up from Grimsby you might even be able to get Mr Martin’s autograph somewhere on the truck.
The truck is like new and there really are only a few trucks out there that have been refurbished back to a new condition. The main reason being the cost. Cost has not been much of a priority with this one as it was more important just to get it right and make it as it should be. The full spec of the truck is as follows;
Scania 143-500 Topline Streamline
Retarder
Air con
12 speed box
632.000 kms from new
Euro 2 – invoice here for conversion
Michelin tyres
Alcoa Durabrites
Twin air horns
Twin Eminox exhausts
Fully restored
Every nut and bolt new
Even new foam behind front grill
New everything Ben…..and of course rebuilt by our maverick Guy Martin!!
A couple of extra notes, it had its first MOT in August and it passed with flying colours. Also the personalised number plate will be removed before going to any new home. How much is it?, I hear you all asking amongst yourselves…..
Offers over £45,000 – tyre kickers not required!!
If you are seriously interested then please contact Mick Moody to discuss further and make sure you mention you saw it on Truckblog!
Office: 01472 345600
Mobile: 07802 225585
www.moodyinternational.co.uk
A little short notice but there is a decent looking Vintage vehicle auction coming up this weekend. Saturday 1st November at Donnington Park in Leicestershire. The auction has a number of vintage vans and trucks, all of which appear to be in very good condition. The auction is being held by auctioneers Thimbleby & Shorland and if you want to see the catalogue then click HERE.
If you can help please contact me.
Email: ben@truckblog.co.uk
While most normal people were having their breakfast this morning and reading the paper, I was doing what I usually do when I get a few quiet minutes…….searching Europe’s classifieds to see what’s for sale, just incase of a weekend lottery win. Most of the time I don’t find much so it doesn’t matter that my lottery numbers haven’t come in, although this mornings finds hardly warrant the need a lottery win.
There are various websites to hunt for your perfect truck. There are websites in Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and many others but this morning the Italian site was just heaving with things to stop those burn holes appearing in your pockets. Usually £20,000 or €20,000 will buy you a nice half decent classic but in Italy it seems there is no demand for classic trucks. Starting with this gorgeous Scania 142. Looks very tidy up for €5,500. Perfectly summed up by the sellers advert text, simply translates too;
“Hello I sell beautiful tractor with 142 8cilindri few miles rubberized revised“
For my next slice of toast I came across this very international looking Volvo F89. It even comes with a set of Trilex wheels, love ’em or hate them. Yours for €3,000.
Finally to wash down with a class of juice I found this delightful 10.5 metre trailer of 1969 vintage. As your probably beginning to work out, this is restored and is still oh so cheap at just €6,500. Bargain.
Are the Italians mad or is it that in Italy classic retro trucks just aren’t in demand?? perhaps the Italians have better hobbies and things to do with their spare time than messing about with old trucks, so they just don’t have any value. Even so I could get 2 gorgeous tractor units and a trailer to match them both for €15,000. That is crazy, but we all know about supply and demand so that’s the way it goes.
I know when my numbers do come up on the lottery I’ll be too busy drinking champagne for breakfast I won’t get the time to check the classifieds and I’ll miss these bargains, never mind, it’s good to dream!! Right I’m off to pick up the 142, drive over and collect the trailer then I can strip it down and put the Volvo on the back. Then it’s off, up and over the Alps and back to Blighty. One day.
The Italian website is: www.subito.it
A small boy by the name of Charlie once sang;
“I’ve got a golden ticket,
I’ve got a golden chance to make my way,
And with a golden ticket, it’s a golden day”
Looking at the photos from the Scania GB press release I’m beginning to wish that I was Charlie Bucket, bugger Wonka’s chocolate factory tour, I’d be straight round to the loading bays and be straight into one of these awesome special edition V8’s. When a press release like this come along, its pretty difficult to summarise everything in a different way, other than what Scania’s experts have come up with, so I’m not going to bother, I’m a huge fan of copy and paste, I think its very underestimated;
“Each of these vehicles will be instantly recognisable by their striking gold livery, which has been designed by Scania’s in-house team of stylists and is available in two formats depending upon livery requirements (see accompanying images).
Available only with Scania R-series Streamline Topline cabs, each model in the range will carry a plaque bearing its unique Limited Edition number. The choice of available engine outputs will be 580 or 730 hp, although model numbers 1 and 50 in the range will both be equipped with Scania’s 730hp power unit.
All vehicles in this Limited Edition can be specified in 4×2, 6×2, 6×2/2, 6×2/4 and 6×4 (for STGO Category 1 and 2) wheelplan format, and Scania’s luxury Griffin pack will be fitted as standard. In addition, each vehicle will be equipped with a wide array of home comforts ranging from a kitchenette to a TV/DVD player, plus three luxury Scania packages – Black Leather V8, Prestige and Driver – thereby assuring the owner and driver the ultimate in terms of specification, comfort and safety.
A wide range of active and passive safety features, including Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Advanced Emergency Braking will also all be fitted, and each truck will feature a state-of-the-art entertainment system.
“Not since the Scania Centurion range, which was produced in 1991 to mark Scania’s centenary, have we developed such an exclusive offering as this Limited Edition range of gold 50th Anniversary Trucks,” says Scania (Great Britain) Limited’s UK Truck Sales Director, Martin Hay. “I am confident that as with the Centurions demand will be exceptionally high, so the advice to anyone looking to secure one of these unique vehicles has to be contact your dealer right away in order to avoid disappointment.”
Martin Hay of Scania GB mentions the Centurion range but for me there is one huge difference that makes the Golden Griffin better than the Centurion’s. The Golden Griffins are limited in their spec. You could have ordered a Centurion as a 113 360hp with a flat top and the old flat front grill, but in my opinion and I know many others agree, they should have all been 143’s with the newly released (at the time) Streamline cab. The Golden Griffin for me is as a special edition should be, it can only be ordered as a 580hp or 730hp V8, I even like the fact that editions 1 and 50 will only be 730’s! It will only be available with one cab choice, the Topline Streamline. It is also only available in one colour, Gold. All I hope is that these 50 trucks are looked after far better and that records are kept of their where abouts. I’ve been trying to piece together an updated list of the 100 original Centurions but its proving almost impossible. Scania GB have surpassed themselves so far with the Golden Griffin, so I hope that records are kept and these 50 golden trucks are still traceable in 22 years time unlike the Centurions.
HAULAGE HEAVYWEIGHT No. 2 :
H C WILSON TRANSPORT
Promotional model trucks specialist Search Impex is pleased to announce the release of the second model in the Haulage Heavyweights collection of solo tractor units. “European Legend” – a Scania 143E (8×4) tractor unit, complete with ballast box, is customised in the livery of Suffolk based heavy haulier H C Wilson Transport.
The model has been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Collectibles as a certificated Limited Edition (155 pieces).
Established in the early 1960’s, H C Wilson was initially involved in the transport of hay and straw. Involvement in this sector of the market led to the haulier being approached by Vicon (an agricultural machinery manufacturer based in Ipswich) wanting machinery to be transported to their customers. As a result of undertaking this work, H C Wilson received requests from other machinery manufacturers and the business soon found itself transporting agricultural machinery throughout the British Isles.
As business developed, H C Wilson went on to establish a reputation for their work in the complexities of importing combine harvesters from France. As the size and weight of the combines increased so, too, did the need for larger and more specialised trucks and trailers on which to transport them. The need to start moving new 12ft wide Massey Ferguson machines saw the Company becoming involved in designing bespoke trailers and looking at purchasing bigger tractor units – and so began the evolution into the abnormal load market. A steady expansion of the business from its humble beginnings also saw a growing demand for wider reaching heavy haulage contracts and so, in 1979, a strategic decision was made to move towards heavy haulage. This resulted in the purchase of a new Scania 141 62-tonne tractor (EGV 565T) and a Broshuis three-axle 35-tonne payload semi low trailer.
Further investment in heavy haulage kit continued with additional units, including a Foden 80 tonne 6×4 in 1984 which was replaced in 1987 by a 150-tonne 6×4 Scania 142E. Another 150-tonne 6×4 Scania 143E joined the fleet and was later converted
to an 8×4. “European Legend” – a factory built 160-tonne 8×4 Scania 143E (registration N500 HCW) joined the fleet in 1996 and although now semi-retired remains fully maintained and capable of working, if required. The Company now operates 30 vehicles and 60 trailers and is one of the UK’s leading heavy hauliers. They are also among only a few heavy haulage specialists willing to work not only in the UK, but also throughout Europe and beyond.
Models, available from Search Impex, are priced at £103 each (including UK delivery & VAT). For details of availability of this and other models, collectors can visit the Search Impex website at www.search-impex.co.uk or call on 01332 873555.
4×2 – Scania 143 450 Topline Streamline
OR
6×2 – Scania 143 420 Topline Streamline but it’s a twin wheel tag!!
www.truckblog.co.uk 