Category Archives: International Mega Trucking

Italian Breakfast

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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“

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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.

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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.

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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

Rigbys Easter Surprise

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Owner driver Tim Rigby from Somerset was a well know truck on the road a couple of years ago and will soon be again judging by his latest good looking wagon. This Scania R620 6×2 twin wheel tag came originally from Finland but is now at a well loved home in the heart of Cider country. To keep the tradition running the truck came back to the UK via VSB Groep in Holland for a few small touches, then it was a long and tedious 6 month wait for VOSA and the DVLA to get the trucks documentation in order.

This first trip in a couple of years for Mr Rigby should be good one as he has a full load of machinery up-to to Sweden, back to the trucks native home land! I’m not sure which way he is shipping but I think this V8 will be become a popular one with all the spotters and photographers down in Dover, so keep your eyes peeled.

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Persian Gulf Express – 2014

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Since the days of Destination Doha, I have always wanted to take a Scania 141 out through the desert. I did own a 141 for a few years bit only ever got as far as Holland which unfortunately for those who are atlas-impared is nowhere near the desert, Doha or any where East. Hopefully if you are reading this you know of the website www.toprun.ch a very popular photo website that is run by Ferdy de Martin from Switzerland.

Like myself Ferdy has always wanted to head East and do it in the style of the golden years of the 70’s and 80’s and do you know what the lucky bugger has only just gone and done it, well going to be doing it in the next few weeks.

Starting May 3rd and returning June 9th 2014. The journey will take 3 x Scania 141 and 1 x Scania 111 along 13’000 km and 34 days of travel along the following route;

Vallorbe (CH) – Modena (I) – Ancona (I) – Igumentisa (GR) – Thessaloniki (GR) –

Istanbul (TR) – Ankara (TR) – Erzurum (TR) – Tabriz (IR) – Tehran (IR) – Shiraz

(IR) – Bandar-Abbas (IR) – Ispahan (IR) – Baku (AZ) – Tibilisi (GEO) – Yerevan

(ARM) return via Istanbul, Ancona.

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The trip to Bandar Abbas will keep the trucks very busy, will the 30-year-old trucks stand the heat and dust of the desert 30 years after they were built? Some would say the might fare better than all our modern Euro 6 trucks, I still can’t quite imagine that a Euro 6 truck with all its electronics and sensors will be capable of desert work. A total of 13,000km in 34 days is what Ferdy and his team are hoping to achieve. As long as the paperwork is all in order I think this should be achievable, back in the 1970’s it would not have been possible to set such a time line.

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A few words about the trip from the team;

“This project was born more than 15 years ago, along with the creation of the website www.TOPRUN.ch. Initiated by the creator of the site, quickly joined by a handful of enthusiasts, truckers and owners of older trucks. A team that during all these years has been able to cultivate and maintain the interest of the profession to a wide audience especially with the publication of several books on the history of transportation destination to the East, books that have been a huge success more than 10,000 copies sold, along with numerous articles published in the European press. In 2013, an exhibition and meeting on the same subject, was attended by over 400 enthusiastic people and received an unexpectedly large echo in the media. The very positive result of these initiatives has motivated the idea of this journey on the Silk Road.”

You will be able to keep up with the trip on Ferdy’s website, which I’m sure most of you are familiar with already, but if not just go to www.toprun.ch and you’ll find out all you need to know along with thousands of truck photos from all over the world. After the trip there will be books and DVD’s available to purchase. I know how popular this trip will be so I’ll be snapping up a book as soon as its available as this really is a once in a lifetime trip and could be the last trip that a convoy of classic Scania’s makes across the Middle East. Yes I’m just a tiny bit jealous as my Uncle Dick used to drive for Astran and i once owned and restored a LHD 141 (my 141).

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What can you do to help the trip?? Well to be honest the best thing you can do is donate some money to help pay for a few more KM’s. As you can well imagine this won’t be a cheap adventure but there will be 100’s of us who will be wishing it was us in the driving seat, so for the enjoyment that it will bring why not contribute?. If you are willing then click on this link to go to the Toprun page that gives you all the info you need; http://www.toprun.ch/truck/silkroad_2014/index_eng.html

Good luck boys and I can’t wait to see how you get on, Keep on Trucking!!

 

Mass David Scarff Photo Collection Upload

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Volvo's (214)

You should be aware by now that I am very slowly scanning David Scarffs very large photo collection. Its taking ages but today I finally found the quick scan button for my scanner, so I ploughed through nearly 500 photos in just about 2 hours. As usual I found some absolute belters.

Volvo's (83)

Approx 400 photos were Volvo and approx. 100 were Whites. I don’t think I will ever get bored of scanning photos and I don’t think I will ever get bored of an F12 Globetrotter!

For David Scarffs Flickr page click HERE.

Or if you want easy access to all the different manufacturers sets, then click HERE.

Volvo's (50)

White Trucks (66)

The other awesome thing about all these photos taken from the 1970’s and 1980’s is everything that is going on in the background. I have no idea on how many twin wheel  Transits and Bedfords I have seen and also just look at the price of a litre of diesel….35.9p!!

White Trucks (42)

MBT’s Range T’s

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Renault Range T's

I was beginning to wonder when they would start becoming popular. The new Renault Trucks Range T has been around for a little while now and you see quite a few out and about on the roads of the UK, I’ve also noticed quite a few photos appearing of European ones on the internet. It seems to me that everyone who hasn’t driven one says they are no good and those who have driven one, well, they don’t really say much. That says to me that they have quietly enjoyed themselves. I know this as that’s pretty much what I thought after going to the ride and drive day Renault Trucks UK put on at Millbrook Proving Grounds. I can’t actually say there was anything un-likeable about the truck. Oh I lied, the one thing I did think about the trucks were that the mirrors did seem to feel pretty big in the window if you know what I mean. That aside I good truck.

Well known Kent firm Online MBT have recently taken delivery of 3 new Range T trucks. To give them their full title, the new trucks are Range T 460.26 6×2 TML E6 tractor units. It would seem that my thoughts on the new trucks are shared by Online MBT’s Conrad Garrett;

“Whilst I have had good experience of Renault trucks and know them to be reliable and fuel efficient, my drivers were initially a little more pensive – so I let the trucks do the talking. On their first run, the Range Ts pulled like a train over Mont Blanc, they didn’t skip a beat. They are quiet, comfortable, have a great gearbox – all round they’re a really nice bit of kit and the drivers are completely won over.”

I think Online MBT are one of many fleets who will soon be snapping these Renaults up. I said at the launch that they would be a big hit as a fleet motor and I think I might be right. Those who drove the Premium used to say that if it had a Scania badge on everyone would buy them. So this time round perhaps people should just admit they are guilty of liking the new Renault. Online MBT are that impressed with the new motors, that these first 3 trucks could be joined by a few more as the year goes on. Commenting on the decision to introduce brand diversity to the 200-strong Online Group’s fleet of tractor units, Conrad Garrett says:

“The Range Ts are the first Euro 6 trucks on our fleet, so it’s very positive to see them already returning 9 miles to the gallon and improving every week as they loosen up. This is an excellent result for the first month on the road and we are confident that the fuel returns will improve further over time. We are looking to replace up to 60 more tractor units this year across our three depots in Dover, London and Cologne, and if the Range Ts continue to perform at this level they will certainly be on our list.”

Perhaps Renault have got it right this time round, but the hardest thing to do is change operators and drivers pre-conceptions. If those who have them admit to liking them, then others will start to believe the hype. Like I said I can’t say anything bad about the ride or comfort of the truck so for me it’s a thumbs up. If I had a fleet it would seem to make sense. The mirrors might be a bit on the large side, but that really isn’t a bad thing and the front grill needs some getting used to, but again that is the way of modern trucks isn’t it?? Think new Volvo. Forget the Premium and forget the Magnum (RIP) they are gone, be French, think French, think new thoughts and try the new trucks from Renault.

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The Golden Griffin

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Scania Golden Griffin

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.”

Scania Golden Griffin

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.

V8 to The Rescue

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Back in May last year a small group of trucks left Ireland on their way to Belarus. Not just another European outing for our Irish friends but a humanitarian aid trip to help the Chernobyl Orphans Fund, by delivering aid of all types to the helpless children in the orphanages. The run from Ireland is an annual event and has been since 1999 but last year, 2013, was the first time the ex Astran Scania 143 (now owned by Eoin McGinnity) took part in the run. This year sees the 2nd trip for the “King of the Desert” out to Belarus.

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This year Eoin McGinnity is hoping to get more interest in the aid run than last year, not just so we can all enjoy the photos of the trucks journey, but also to try and increase the amount of aid that is donated. There is now a Astran to Belarus Facebook Page about the run that will follow the run as it trucks eastwards. Last year we heard about the run a little too late but this year there is a bit of notice so we can all donate to the cause. Eoin McGinnity himself has purchased and donated 3 x Pallets of baby nappies. There is a PayPal account set up, so if you want to make a donation please do, the PayPal name is; astranbelarus2014@gmail.com so you can donate and the money will go straight to the cause. It seems it’s not just in the UK that the ex Astran Scania 143 raises eyebrows, a Polish journalist will be meeting the convoy as it crosses Poland so he can write about the truck and it’s aid run.

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If you want to help while your waiting for the convoy to depart and the photos to start coming, then here are the official website links;

The main fund behind the convoy – www.chernobylorphansfund.ie
Astran to Belarus Facebook page – click HERE
PayPal Account for Monetary donations – astranbelarus2014@gmail.com

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I for one will be keeping a close eye on this years run. I’m always keen on aid runs, especially to help children who have no control over their own circumstances (ooh get me!), but also it will be good to see the big Scania once again crossing borders on a long haul run East. The truck has spent it’s working life carrying goods that will make a difference in one way or another, so why change the habit if a lifetime now the truck is retired. The trip was supposed to set off in the middle of April, but due to paperwork problems the departure date has been put back by a week or two. I’ll keep you updated don’t worry.

Search for one of Ralph’s Ladies

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Does anyone know if there are any of Ralph Davies 3 series Streamers left in the UK or Ireland?? I know Mr Garlick is lucky enough to have found one, but are there anymore??? From what I know most of these black Scania’s have been exported including this one. If you know of another anywhere I would very much like to know where and who has it. Email me: ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave a comment below.

This is not my photo it came from some ones Facebook but I can’t remember who’s. Please tell me and I’ll credit you.

Magnum Force

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From top Somerset Owner Driver, Tim Rigby:

Hello Ben , this was the first truck that I went to Europe in (Austria ) they were owned by my Dads best friend the late Alan Coles. He had six of them, all 520hp with the big V8 Mack engine ,twin stacks ,alloy wheels etc. They had awesome pulling power , loaded with China clay they made light work of the autobahn hills to Austria , and great for living in as well. The down side for me was the manual gearbox it was a bit heavy going but you could live with that , as you didn’t change gear much when you were rolling. Oh and the eastern block trucks would pull on the hard shoulder to let you pass on the german autobahn.