Manton European Freezer Freight Part 4

Posted on September 12, 2011 by truckbloguk

Very quickly, the king of truck photo’s Neil Jarrold has sent me another little gem that he has found in his seemingly endless collection of truck photo’s. This time one of Manton’s Scania 142’s, E143 SWU. It seems like another well kept Scania from the Manton Fleet. Only personalised by a small Michelin Man on the drivers mirror arm. Very Tidy!! Where was he off to? Were you the driver? Any idea’s where the truck ended up?? Tell me more by emailing ben@truckblog.co.uk or leaving a comment. See if you can make Manton’s Part 5!! Come on Dave Manton!

Visit the photo emporeum that is www.euro-wheels.com and see all that Neil has to offer.

Manton European Freezer Freight Part 3

Posted on September 2, 2011 by truckbloguk

Just a quick follow up this evening. Having posted 2 posts about Manton’s on here already, I wasn’t expecting to hear much more. But how wrong I was. While the blog was under attack, I was still receiving emails, although most of them were total bunkum. Trawling through the 100’s of dud ones, I saw a name that caught my eye. Dave Manton. Could it be?… I thought, so I opened it up and there to my delight was this cracking photo of a Manton’s Scania 143 Topline Streamline. The email was from Mr Dave Manton, of Manton’s family fame. I haven’t yet established where in the family tree he is, but that doesn’t really matter at this stage. I was just happy to get the photo. Dave explained that some where deep in his loft (as per most people), he has some more photo’s of Manton trucks, which he has said he will look out and email over as and when he finds them, looking forward to it. Back to this photo, it came with the following description attached;

“He was loaded from Harrogate with frozen egg product, direct to a bakery in Moscow. Carrying 24 tonnes .. Driver was Simon Johnston and second man was Tim Spate.”

My reaction; If this is the first photo found, then just imagine what else might appear from the rafters of Manton Towers!!
Dear Mr Manton, if you are reading, please dust off the ladder and get up in that loft! It’s your punishment for being part of such a great great fleet! Also I want to know more about the company that I know very very little about. Anyone one who was any thing to do with Manton’s please leave a comment or email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Click here for Manton’s Part 1.
Click here for Manton’s Part 2.

Help Needed (Not me!)

Posted on September 2, 2011 by truckbloguk

Can any of you identify this old bus?? Mike Tasker (of Black Scania fame) spotted this old girl and her big drawbar trailer, parked up in Dusseldorff, Germany. The tractor looks like its more engine than any thing else, judging by the size of the bonnet compared to the length of the rest of it. I’m imagining its got some sort of Magirus Deutz V10 in it, but that’s probably me just getting romantic! Any who if you look carefully it has got what looks like a parking ticket in the window. Looking at the evidence it looks like it has been there for a fair while though, as the weeds have grown up between the wheels and also the flattening rear tyre. Have you got any ideas what it is?? then please feel free to leave a comment or email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Holiday Truck Spotting Around the Med

Posted on August 31, 2011 by truckbloguk

The office I work in is quite a truck orientated one. Plenty of trucking calendars and photo’s of the fleet on the walls, truck models on the shelves, along with the all truck show trophies. So you’d imagine the boss’s of said company to be fair truck perverts as well. Well the bigger one of the two clearly is, but the quieter one, well you can never be too sure. On the phone his wife claims he is truck mad!!
So while he was away on his annual summer cruise, this year around the mediterranean, I was pleased to see received this wicked little batch of photo’s from the quiet one. I can’t decide whether to go in order of the cruise of whether to start with the best??

The latter option it is. On arrival in most ports on a cruise you get to walk off in to the local town, obviously this means walking through the not always too touristy port area itself. This can be some people’s idea of a good holiday though! This gorgeous truck heading to the twighlight of her years was basking in the mid-summer sun in Corfu. What a find, sitting there waiting out the Bank Holiday. The Volvo F12 Globetrotter is a real dream truck for many of you and from this photo I can see why.

So what else does Corfu have to offer I hear you cry…………….

There wasn’t just one classic truck enjoying the bank holiday sunshine, this SUPER Swede was also in Corfu port. This very well kept <a title="Captains Log: More Corfu by benners10, on Flickr" href="Scania 143 Streamline was busy unloading on the quay right next to the ship. Any ideas what he is unloading? No? nor have I?? Answers on a post card (or leave a comment below!). Once he had done his days work the old faithfull Scania headed round to enjoy the rest of the day off and join the other trucks waiting for the fery to head back to mainland Greece.

Now before the Captain and his ship arrived in the truck holiday destination that is Corfu, they had been in the world renowned Italian city that is Venice. Picture the scene…..The director of a well know company is getting off a beautiful modern cruise ship, with his wife and 2 sons, all looking forward to their trip into one of the most beautiful ancient cities that is Venice, all that history and culture. Oooo I can’t wait, lets have a look at some of the holiday snaps from this gorgeous city…….

The smart German registerred Volvo was weekend in the port. Not sure which was he was heading but looking at the name in the headboard, does suggest a Greek link perhaps. The other 2 trucks were fresh off the Minoan Lines boat from Greece. Both in the colours of Dutch haulier Bolk Transport. The first truck must belong to a regular Bolk subbie, clever aren’t I!?! Great spotting in my book, can’t wait for the next cruise, America perhaps???

Do you want to share any of your truck related holiday snaps, come on you know you want to, afterall your wife will be totally bored of all the “classics” you snapped instead of the sunsets and sandcastles the rest of your family were hoping you’d photograph. My email address is; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Lady Louise is a Real Western Star

Posted on August 30, 2011 by truckbloguk

Here we go with a good old reminisce!! Now if you are a regular facebooker and are part of the mighty www.euro-wheels.com gang or a friend of the man behind it Neil Jarrold, you’ll be aware that a certain Lady has been back on the scene. Now when I was a boy growing up around trucks, vans, forklifts and every thing else that goes with a father who ran an ANC franchise (now FedEx UK) from 1982, one of the original 11 depots who started nationwide, you soon grow an interest on where you spend your evenings and weekends. Much like the Wilson brothers I now work for. During these early years my Dad did every thing he could to make sure I enjoyed every minute of it, probably as he could tell I was interested and yes I do blame my upbringing on my now unhealthy obsession for trucks!!
Back When ANC started alot of the franchisee’s already had existing business, such as Wyvern Cargo and Geoff Byfords own, Byfords Cargo Express (not sure if I have the name right?). My dad always told me bits an piece’s about Mr Byford. Imagine my excitement when I was told Geoff was behind CDC, where I used to spend my pocket money on cab flags and mini scarves! Then the old chap told me that Geoff had bought an American truck. I couldn’t wait to see it.
This is it, probably one of the first photo’s of Lady Louise in the UK before she became Lady Louise. I think it was only a week or 2 after she had arrived, My parents went upto Geoff’s place in Barrow (where CDC still are), for what I seem to remember was some sort of ANC meeting perhaps, other wise I can’t really see why else my mother went!!

Not long after the truck was sent off to the paint shop to be prepared for a good few years fund raising, even appearing on the well loved childrens programme Blue Peter. Now if Geoff is reading this, you’ll have to correct me if i’m wrong. I think I travelled up to Lady Louise’s 1st Truckfest on the Friday before, actually in the truck with Geoff at the helm. Now if this is the correct year or not i’m not sure, but my Dad and I had an early start and I was having the Friday off school, that wouldn’t be allowed now!! We went off to Barrow in Suffolk to meet up with Geoff. From there Geoff said I was riding with him and my dad followed us up to Peterborough in the car. From then on it was a great day. TV shoots, photo shoots, everyone waving. Ending up with parking Lady Louise in one of the cow sheds at the show ground and I insisted to my Dad that we couldn’t leave until I had given her a wipe down with a polishing cloth. After that it was a summer of rolling posters for Geoff to take to all the shows he and the truck went too. Any way enough of my reminiscing trip, here are a few of my Polaroid photo’s of the day. Even now she looks great!

I’m not sure who this dodgy haircutted character is!!

Actually seeing that photo, must mean I took some of my own photo’s, seeing as I was carrying some form of a camera, no idea where they are though!!

Here’s Your New Truck

Posted on August 12, 2011 by truckbloguk

Recently I have been trying to work out how to use Facebook and more to the point get it working alongside the blog. So far I haven’t got a clue. It’s possible to put questions on the TB FB page, so I thought i’d give it a go to see what results I got, you know that modern word “interactive” thats me that is!

Here’s the question: Your new boss is offering you the following trucks brand new as your first truck, which do you choose?

– DAF 3300 ATI Spacecab

– Volvo F12 Globetrotter

– Scania 143

– Iveco Turbostar V8

– Mercedes Benz SK V8

A bit of a retro question as we all seem to prefer the old generation of trucks. All in all i ended up with 48 Votes (at the time of going to press!), not a bad turn out. Please feel free to add your vote below in the comments box below or head over to the Facebook page if your that way inclined.
Can you Guess the results?? I bet you can guess the bottom 2 anyway. Here are the results;

1st – Scania 143 with 48% of Votes
2nd – Volvo Globetrotter with 27% of Votes
3rd – DAF 3300 Spacecab with 21% of Votes
4th – Iveco Turbostar with 2% of Votes
4th – Mercedes SK with 2% of Votes

I think in all honesty I could have kept the vote down to just the top 3 options. The choice between Volvo and DAF was pretty close. I was slightly surprised by the smaller cabbed beating the 2 bigger cabbed trucks to 1st place. This must show that all you old romantics of the road must just prefer the better drive over the better cab for time off. If you took part then thank you and if you didn’t you better had next time!! If youare literate in facebook please click on the link above and click the like button. Also keep your eyes for further questions / votes.

Beresford Transport by Mick Darlington

Posted on August 7, 2011 by truckbloguk

Its funny how when you get talking to people you end up finding out more than you bargained for. I take regular deliveries of JCB’s that are destined for Russia, but come to me for checking and prepping before heading off to the docks. This means I have a lot of dealings with Brit European as I recieve 10 of there trucks every day. As you do you get chatting to the drives for a few minutes, one day i got chatting to a good old boy by the name of Mick Darlington, a true gent of the road. We got talking and as I said I ended up finding out more than bargained for. It turns out Mick has had a full career on the road as an employed driver and also as an Owner Driver. Mick’s career started at the well remembered Beresfords Transport from Stoke on Trent and 3 days after getting his license was at the helm of this old girl and about to set off for Italy with a load of whiskey!

It turns out that Mick has spent a good chunk of his career as a continental driver. Going from Beresfords, to Morcap, to Fret Francais, to Brit European as well as running his own trucks across the water as well.

I love the fact that back in the good old days there were so many British built trucks heading off to all foreign climbs. We all know the Guys, Scammells, Seddons, Leylands and ERF’s that used to even get as far as the Middle East, but then again that was a time when having something built in Britain was some thing to be proud of! Mr Darlington has plenty of experience of driving some of Cheshire’s finest on the wrong side of the road. This set of pics of a B series ERF on the snowy roads of Austria. You just cant beat photo’s like this and you won’t ever be able to recreate them, they are just classics. I almost got romantic there didn’t I!!

Any ideas who this driver is with Mick in Austria?

Beresfords were at the time well in at JCB and were one of the main hauliers doing the continental JCB work before Brit European took over and, from what I read, took the fun out of the job and made it not so lucrative as perhaps it once was. Beresford ran 2 x Seddon Atkinsons painted up in JCB colours to show there loyalty to the Staffordshire digger makers. Mick seen here some where across the water, but can you tell me where? It looks warm where ever it is.

There is more to come from Mick’s photo’s but I dont want to use them up all at once!! You’ll just have to keep checking the blog to see when I do the next installment. I need to do some more research about Fret Francais, so if you can tell me any thing send me an email; ben@truckblog.co.uk

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

Posted on August 1, 2011 by truckbloguk

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”.

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.

Bonnie Scania for Bonnie Scotland

Posted on July 21, 2011 by truckbloguk

…….and you wont find a better one! Remember I was the owner of a rather nice, plain classic Scania 141. Lovely. When I was the owner I did get a lot of comments about how nice a truck it was and how smart she looked. I tried to keep her in tip top condition but I can not and have no intention of telling you any thing but she is in even better condition now with her new owner, both in appearence and mechanically. I think it is fair to say I am very jealous and at the same time very pleased with what John Scott has done with said truck. I think really he has achieved what i couldn’t due to, er, er well due to funding shall we say! John is the owner of JST Services from Ayr, Scotland. He is a top man and clearly loves his trucks. When i saw the Volvo F16 he owns i knew the 141 was going to an excellent new home. Look at her now.

Looks good. I’m not the only one who is impressed. The judges at the recent Ayr Road Run were also so impressed they awarded John and the 141 1st Prize. The next show visit will be to Truckfest Scotland and hopefully one or 2 shows further South. When I sold her to Mr Scott she had been sat in the shed for a year and we were both unsure of what toll this had had. As we all know old trucks aren’t good at sitting in sheds and not being used. It seems that the sitting about probably caused some sort of overheating problem, but also i was shocked when John told me the truck had no thermostat, yes i did fall off my chair!! Along with the bits and pieces that did need doing John did other bits and pieces that weren’t essential but made the truck into a “like new to drive” machine that it is now. I had always wanted to give the gearbox the once over, but here is the extensive list of renovations that have been done;

Engine was overheating, after investigation found no thermostat in it, but the real problem was the 141’s have to be filled with water from the bottom which was then done and a new t’stat fitted.
Injectors all removed and serviced
Oil pressure checked
New gearknob
Various new ball joints and pins in gearlinkeage.
Renew off-side rear spring hanger and pin.
Renew two air valves that were leaking.
Remove rearwings and fit plastic with Scania emblem mudflaps.
MOT
Fit UK style tachograph.
All oils changed and filters.
Fit two new trackrod ends
Adjust clutch, not clearing gears.
Fit new door rubbers.
Fit fog and reverse lights.
Make new catwalk and steps.
Fit paddy style headboard.
Fit 8 Cibie Oscar spotlights.
Fit Scania netal sunvisor.
Fit extra marker lights.
Split upright exhausts and remove baffles for extra Brum-Brummmmmmm.
Strip all rubber and glass and completely repaint.

You may have noticed the new gearknob. I have the scar on my right palm from where it broke…….I will treasure it!! As you can see she hasn’t been left wanting for any thing. Pleased to see the snow chains are still there though. Also i’m so so pleased that those ghastly chequer plate mudwings i had made have been binned.

I think i need to see her in the flesh and perhaps i may even be granted a drive???!! Just imagine the ggggrrrroooowwwlll now she is baffle free. Hopefully she may get a trailer one day. I think John could be in for a few more trophies. Looking at the 2 Gunnings Motors trucks you wouldn’t bet against it.

Also just for my own curiousity as i haven’t done this yet, here are both the before and after photos. I still prefer the new colour scheme!urio

If you see John and the truck out and about on the road or if you already have, then please email me the photo’s, ben@truckblog.co.uk

What is it About Dock Scenes??

Posted on July 13, 2011 by truckbloguk

I’ll keep it short as it’s getting late and her lady ship will be moaning at me for being on “that bloody computer” all evening. What is it about dock scene photo’s that i find so fascinating?? Just look at this……..

How much is there going on?? you just can’t take it all in. Each picture has a different story to tell and something different happening. Even ones taken from the cab, just look at this picture of Mick Darlington’s

A Martintrux truck with the cab up (Volvo perhaps?!), Morgan Freight Transcontinental and i’m fairly sure a Cadwallader trailer too! Then again you can’t see an old pic of Dover and not see a Cadwallader truck. Another of Mick D’s pics taken as he was driving down Jubilee Way (thats the reason for the blur, not my computer incompetance!), you can still see a Cadwallader motor.

Come on we all know i am a true trucking pervert, but i can’t be the only one who finds these freeze frames in time fascinating?? I know our good friend Neil Jarrold of www.euro-wheels.com fame has a few in his collection and they are all are just an eye full of transport history. The beauty of the older ones is the amount of British trucks heading for the continent and the distinct lack of eastern europeans clogging up the lens! Take this next photo, i’m not sure who’s it is or actually where i got it from, but never mind just look at who is in it………

With my basic spotting skills i can see a lovely old Norbert Dressingtable tilt, with what looks like a DAF subbie on the front. Curries of Dumfries Scania waiting to clear the customs shed. Not forgetting the 2 classic B series ERF’s, one belonging to S Jones of Aldridge and the other being a Brit European glass carrier with Carmens livery……..
I’m going to have to go to bed it’s all just to much!! Please feel free to comment below with your findings or email me at ben@truckblog.co.uk with more dock scenes and i will put them on here for all to relish.

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