My Best Truck of 2014

Posted on January 1, 2015 by truckbloguk

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!

New MAN on the block!

Posted on December 11, 2014 by truckbloguk

A few posts ago I put up Steve Marsh’s last trip out in his old faithful GB05 STE, his ageing MAN TGL 12.210 tilt that has served him well, but as with all ageing European cruisers, GB05 had to be replaced to take advantage of lower toll prices and meet higher emissions standards that are required across the EU and beyond. Read the last post (ha ha) by clicking HERE.

Above you will see a couple of photos of the new motor GB14 STE killing time on a Saturday afternoon in Hull waiting for the Hull – Europoort boat. The new ride is once again a cracking little Tonka from the stables of MAN, it’s a TGL 12.250 this time. A bit more horse power, a Euro 6, 250hp engine attached to a KUDA high roof conversion. Marshy opts for the higher KUDA roof over factory fit LX cab from MAN as the KUDA option gives a little more headroom and also you have to say it does look the part being that bit higher. The truck is fitted with a Euroliner style rigid body fitted with a sliding roof and slash proof curtains and is one of only a handful of rigids registered in the UK with full TIR certification. Now don’t ask Marshy about the body build and the MAN dealers involved in this complete farce of a build, for let’s just say it took a year from order to handover and over 2 weeks for a PDI and tacho calibration, dealer standards MAN UK?? Duty of care?? Disgraceful. Another story for another day I think. Anyway so far so good and it would appear Marshy has ended up with another little stunner, a real head turner I think. If you see it on the road try and send me a photo, as yet I’ve not seen it in the flesh although my time will come……sooner rather than later I hope!

So the first trip to mainland Europe started with a Saturday load up in Hull and a Saturday night boat to Europoort courtesy of P&O Ferries. I’m told that it’s no longer a party boat on a Saturday night! Here’s the rest of the first trip;
Sunday: Drove to destination near Koblenz. Waiting at Venlo border before crossing into Germany at 10pm Sunday evening.
Monday: Tip Koblenz and drive to Paris for reload.
Tuesday: Load Paris & Oostende, then drive to destination near Bournemouth for 1st drop.
Wednesday: Tip goods from Oostende in Bournemouth and goods from Paris in Stockport. Through Lymm truckwash then a quick Bury – Warrington load.

Photo above unloading near Koblenz with tailift. Photo below was taken somewhere in France while taking a tacho break on the way to Paris.

It looks as though GB14 has carried on where GB05 left off and is already getting to grips with life in the world of international light haulage and express deliveries. I know there has been a trip across the Irish Sea for GB14 too, another very regular destination for Steve Marsh Express over the last year. I’m hoping as time goes by that GB14 will feature on the blog as much as GB05 and that the truck will find itself and it’s pilot, Mr Marsh, ticking off European countries and islands month after month much like before. If you see Marshy give him a hoot and a wave and try to get a photo in between. I’d love to see your photos of the little MAN as would Marshy.

Moody Blues

Posted on October 16, 2014 by truckbloguk

Scania Scania Scania, I know I know, that’s all I seem to put on here these days. Can you blame me when they are producing the best and really the only special editions of any worth by the main manufacturers? The Blue Stream is produced by Scania for the world wide market, it’s available in any chassis configuration with any cab as long as it has a V8 engine. The limited edition is a run of 200 individually numbered trucks.

Both the gorgeous Blue Stream and the UK’s own special edition, the Golden Griffin were released fairly close to one another but there really is no comparison in spec from what I hear and I will say hear. The Golden Griffin is a limited run of just 50 trucks available to the UK market to celebrate 50 years of Scania in the UK. For me the Blue Stream blows it’s Golden cousin out the water. It’s based on celebrating the original baby blue and pink stripes from the original Scania Streamline that was released back in 1991. With the launch of the new R-Streamline Scania got lots of feedback from drivers who fondly remembered the original Streamline, so it was decided they would release a new special edition to honour the original. Nice.

In the north of England on the east coast of Lincolnshire there is a man who goes by the name of Moody, Mick Moody. Many of you will know the name and some will know the man, I have no idea how myself and Mr Moody have become what ever we are but we text and these days talk quite a bit. Now I have been known to be a fair Scania fan but Mr Moody is probably one of the biggest Scania fans that I know (excluding Mr Rigby that is!) and when Mr Moody text me to say he had something special on its way I knew it was going to be a knock-your-socks-off-special, he didn’t disappoint. This particular truck is new and unregistered so it is in need of a good number and among the fields of dreamers I’m sure there are a good number of Scania fans with enough money to snap up edition #5. The truck is a left hand drive R580 Topline, 6×2 mid-lift. The Blue Streams spec will leave you feeling far from blue as each truck comes fitted with the following packages that are usually cost options;
· Lighting package
· Driver package
· Prestige package
· Comfort package
These packages include the following equipment, Air Suspension Including Front Axle, 2 Peddle Opticruise, Retarder, Coffee Maker, Fridge, Premium Radio Inc Sat Nav, Bluetooth, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure, Camara, Limited Edition No 5, Top Bar,Visor Bar,Rear Bar,Durabrites, Far To Many Extras To List,This Truck Is Just Pure Class. So you can be safe in the knowledge that it has virtually every option and upgrade that is possible from the factory. This has since been confirmed by Mr Moody telling me that he can’t find a blank switch cover any where on the dashboard, all the switches are in use with something or another. Have a look at the dash in the photos, you can see that every switch has a symbol and is there fore a use.

If your not a dreamer, or a tyre kicker or a waster or a Volvo lover then perhaps it might just be worth you giving Mr Moody a call and I’m sure he will set you straight. The truck will be expensive but remember what your getting, an awesome drivers favourite, collectible special edition that will hold its value. Please contact 00-Moody on either of the following;
Email: mick@moodyinternational.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0) 7802 225585
Website: www.moodyinternational.co.uk

J777 RDF & J888 RDF

Posted on October 11, 2014 by truckbloguk

You will or won’t know that Richard Payne, Dion Anderson and myself are busy trying to track and trace as many of the original 100 Scania Centurions as possible. Any info please email: centurion@truckblog.co.uk

In my book the two best Centurions were #89 and #90, both belonging to Ralph Davies International. Bother trucks were LHD 143 450hp 6×2 tag axle Topline Streamlines, perfect. You can’t get a better looking wagon! What I really want to do is find out as much about these two as possible when they were in use in the UK. Do you know any of Davies drivers who piloted either of these trucks? How far have either truck travelled across Europe and Asia? Any photos, contact info or information will be highly appreciated.

I know where J777 is now but no one knows where J888 ended up. An acquaintance of mine owned J888 after Davies but we’re not sure where it went after he had it. Again any help would be great. Email me or leave a comment below.

Photos are from Facebook groups but credit to the photographers!

Retro Trailer Rescue

Posted on September 17, 2014 by truckbloguk

A fridge trailer in a field, (put your M&S advert voice on!) but it’s not just any fridge trailer in a field, it’s a 1982, Gray & Adams, tandem spread axle fridge trailer in a field! On top of that if the farmers memory serves him correctly he says he acquired the trailer (for fresh poultry storage) in 1990, which means that it served Christian Salveson for just 8 years before being parked up, which would explain it’s surprisingly good condition. Anyway, this trailer has been parked on the road between Hadleigh and Sudbury in Suffolk for as long as I can remember. So me being me, curiosity won and I went to find it a year or so ago. I drove in the farm yard and right through it and found the trailer. I had a call around to try and find someone with no luck, so I took a couple of photos and left. I do like to know where these trailers are lurking incase anyone wants one. At Truckstar Festival this year a certain young man with a known collection of classic trucks, mentioned during a beery conversation that he had started hunting for a 2nd fridge trailer to turn into another caravan trailer. Luckily I hadn’t had too many so I piped up and showed a photo of said trailer. A positive response. So I volunteered to go and talk to the farmer.

Again a positive response. It turns out that it was the perfect time to enquire as the decision had already been made to rid the farm of the trailer. I took a few newer photos of the trailer and it’s general condition and found the manufacturers plate and photoed that too. I spoke money with the farmer and that was that. I forwarded all info onto the interested party, he said yes to me straight away, so I put him in touch with the farmer and a deal was done.

Today was collection day. I managed to get over to see the highly skilled farmer pushing the fridge up the ramps with a chain and a dolly, straight as a die and up she went. Luckily the fridge had a folding rear bumper which helped with clearance both going up the ramps and also to clear the neck of the stepframe. Once on board it was all strapped and chained down and to beat the school traffic through the little Suffolk village high street, a quick exit was made. I ran ahead in my car and just asked a few locals to stay still which the whole outfit gently weaved through the high street. That was that and off to its new owners home.

The plan is to restore the trailer to its former glory and keep the famous blue and white livery then convert the inside into living accommodation.
As you can see this is a great find and a great trailer that has gone to a man who wants to preserve it just as it started life. If you know of any old trailers that need rescuing please please let me know. In my book trailers are in as much need to be saved as the trucks that pull them. Most trailers have long rusted away or been chopped down so any that are still in one piece should be saved. Now I’m not suggesting that every trailer can be bought and restored but at least if we know about them then perhaps we can help a few which will make the likes of The Retro Truck Show at Gaydon all the more enjoyable for us. Hopefully by Truckfest Peterborough next year this little restoration project will be complete. Fingers crossed.

Finally if anyone knows where their is a Petter fridge unit, please get in touch.

Retro Truck Show – 2014

Posted on September 15, 2014 by truckbloguk

THE BEST TRUCK SHOW IN THE UK. FACT.

Why?? I will tell you why, it’s a truck show, organised by a truck nut for other truck nuts, who love their trucks. Get it? a truck show is about the truck. Its not a truck show come Sunday market where you can buy chunky garden furniture and dog treats. It’s a show full of trucks from the best few decades of truck manufacturing that will ever be and the ladies and gents who bring their pride and joys to the show are all passionate enough about them to spend their spare time looking after them and in some cases still working them. Its a great show and the big boys of the show world would do exceedingly well to learn a few lessons of the simplicity of a great show. The premise for the show is any truck that was built between 1960 and 2000 can enter, although there are a few newer trucks too. Just to prove it is a show for the real enthusiast, there are no trophies or prizes to be won, its purely a meet for one and all to enjoy and meet other like minded truck nuts.

What an amazing Scammell Crusader! Its gems like this that appear that make the show what it is. If its your pride and joy you can guarantee that there will be others at the show that feel the same. I was only at the show on the Saturday which isn’t the official show day so unfortunately I didn’t get to see a full show ground, but what was there on Saturday was plenty. Lots of ERF’s, Seddon Atkinsons, Volvo’s, Scania’s, some Mercedes-Benz and many more. As with all shows these day’s a few trucks came with authentic trailers……….

The reason I was at Gaydon on the Saturday was, there was a Middle East drivers reunion and seminar. This year mainly to celebrate 50 Years of Astran and the start of the legendary Middle East run. Writer of the The Long Haul Pioneers, Ashley Coghill organised a truly memorable event, that incorporated hundreds of unseen photos from the pioneers of the Middle East run and even some cine-camera footage that was just incredible and made me realise just how difficult/amazing and unknown those early years must have been. You have to remember the modern day newbie truck driver can’t get from Heathrow to Cardiff without a Satnav, so how on earth these transport heroes got from London to Kabul/Bandar Abbass/Oman and even Doha with no twat-nav or mobile phones is bearly imaginable. The event was sold out and Ashley told me he could have easily sold twice as many tickets. The highlight for me was meeting the men who actually made these monumental trips week after week, month after month through scorching summers and freezing winters. I shook them all by the hand, real gents, and found myself stood between Peter Cannon, Graham Wainwright, John Frost and Gordon Pearce (read the The Long Haul Pioneers!) to name drop a few. I could have stood their for days listening to the stories, some one needs to get all their stories written down, they are just epic. I also took my copy of Ashleys book and managed to get them all to sign it. To say I was chuffed is an understatement, just ask the lady wife. All in all it was a truly unforgettable day.

Once again I will try to tell you that it’s an awesome little show, approx. 300-350 truck, but each one is the stuff of boy-hood dreams if you have your HGV license that is, no matter what your preference. For me an F series Globetrotter like the black one below or a 143 Streamline are my ultimate trucks they are just the nuts!! Incidently more from the Fleetwood F16 to come in the next few weeks.

From all over the UK, Belgium, Holland and Germany with trucks from the 1960’s through to the turn of the millennium you won’t find a better selection of trucks from yester-year. With a great atmosphere and every person being a bit of a truck nut, you can find some one with the same likes or even some one to have a bit of banter with about which is better. You have to put it in your diary for next year people, you’ll be missing out if you don’t.

Finally a big thank you and well done to Lee Herbert and Ashley Coghill for organising an amazing weekend with both the truck show itself and also the Middle East reunion, a really unique event.

GOTG Closing Time for Entrants

Posted on August 30, 2014 by truckbloguk

The fat lady is nearly here, the curtain is about to fall, the bell is nearly ringing for all entries to this years Gathering of the Griffin show in Ipswich on the last weekend of September. If you haven’t entered your any age, any state of any Scania then you have just over 24 hours to do so. The official closing time for entries is 2359hrs on Sunday 31st August. Contact details are as follows:

Address: Gathering Of The Griffin, 40 Uplands Way, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4DF
Telephone: 07903155898
Email: gotg37@hotmail.com

There will be over 110 Scania’s all in one place, a must for any truck fan not just the Griffin lovers. The show is held at the Orwell Crossing Truck stop on the 27th and 28th September. There are categories and prizes for all models and also the coverted best in show prize. You don’t have to be a polish crazy Scania owner to win the prize as it’s all done to the character if the truck. There are also some very very VIP entrants from Scania GB coming too, it’ll be worth a trip to see what they are. Truckblog sponsors the Best 3 Series in show and last years winner Is the 143 at the top owned by Craig of Denny who came down from Scotland. So if you own a Scania of any age or state get it entered and get it to Ipswich. The whole weekend is tipped off by all the trucks leaving the show together, an awesome sight and sound for that matter!!

Last minute entries – CALL or EMAIL now!!
Phone: 07903155898
Email: gotg37@hotmail.com

3, 2, 1……………….

Champion Centurion #14

Posted on August 13, 2014 by truckbloguk

The search for Scania Centurions and information on Centurions goes on and on. A few weeks back I was sent some photos of the 3 Langdons sub-contractors Centurions by Langdons commercial director Patrick Griffiths. At the time I couldn’t find any photos of #14, which was a 4×2 143 450 brand new to Derek Champion. So how do you find a link to the photo collection of a Langdons subbie you ask? Well it just so happens you ask the South West of England’s font of all knowledge, Tim Rigby. The oracle told me that Derek’s son Nigel is currently the general manager at Scania in Bridgwater. Rather than pester him I decided to send Nigel an email and with in a few days the email conversation started and I’m happy to say that Nigel has now sent some awesome photos of what someone claim’s to be the best looking of the 3 Centurions that pulled for Langdons! I couldn’t possibly comment.

Information on J981BYA. – Centurion Edition 14.

· Delivery date – 21.10.1991
· Chassis Number – 1178664
· Engine – DSC 14 03 / 450 hp
· Gearbox – R770
· Ratio – 3.27

Nigel said that he personally did the first trip out in the truck when it was new. A full load of juice from Bridgwater to Sainsburys in Hackney, London. Nigel also said; “Great memories of a great Truck. The best truck I ever drove!” The photo above was taken on 21st September 1993 as the great V8 came off the ferry in Portsmouth. The photos below were taken at the Truckline ferry in Poole Harbour.

Luckily for all of us this truck is still about. I have gained the following information about #14, if this is true, false or any different then please email or comment below.

Known Reg Numbers: J981 BYA. J500 SCA.
Known Owners: Derek Champion. Peter Orr, Plymouth. Sid Evans, Bridgend. West Kingsdown, Kent. Neil Johnston, Wales.
Current Owner: Shropshire Forestry Contractors

I have emailed Shropshire Forestry in the hope they can confirm that they are the current owners of number 14. As and when I hear from them I will let you all know. For those who are going to the Gathering of The Griffin truck show at Ipswich at the end of September, Richard Payne and myself are planning on having a good old Centurion session so we can combine all our info. You are all welcome to join in or contribute. Just make contact with myself or turn up at the show and we should be able to get a lot of info together.

PLEASE RESPECT THE COPYRIGHT ON THESE PHOTOS. THEY BELONG TO THE CHAMPION FAMILY AND THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE THEY ARE VISABLE, SO IF THEY APPEAR SOME WHERE ELSE YOU ALL KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE COME FROM.

Flat Tops are Back!

Posted on August 10, 2014 by truckbloguk

No, no don’t start heading to your nearest barbers, I don’t mean the hair cut of choice for the American Marine, but the truck cab type. Flat tops were top dog in the cab world back in the 80’s before the space cabs, Toplines and Globetrotters took over. As a boy growing up in the 80’s flat tops were my bread and butter, a flat top 143, now when I mean flat top I mean an original Toplines in the same statement, basically anything pre being able to stand up and put your trousers on, which we all take for granted these days.

These days the norm (in Europe anyway) is a Topline, a Globetrotter XL, a Super Space Cab or even the awesome Gigaspace and I think they have become so common place the delight of a flat top cab has been totally forgotten……this is of course until our Dutch and European cousins have turned it into a retro trucking marvel! At the best truck show in the world this year, or Truckstar Festival to those who haven’t been, it was a pleasure to see the flat tops making a strong come back. The difference now in 2014 is that the flat tops are probably still slightly bigger than the originals, but then again everything is bigger than it used to be (Mrs TB will disagree). Most of the trucks at Assen were Scania’s and a few Volvo’s. The Scania still comes in the original proper standard sleeper, I think it’s still called an R-cab and also the seemingly more popular Hi-line which according to the Scania website, gives you an extra 30cm headroom over the standard R-cab sleeper.

When we all think of Volvo’s new FH series we all immediately think Globetrotter, Globetrotter, Globetrotter, how many of you even realised you can still have a standard flat top sleeper can just like the delightful old F10’s and F12’s. Well you can and the couple of examples you can see here are just awesome. Looking at them it’s so easy to realise that we have forgotten about the flat top. Then again perhaps because the big cabs are so common place on sleeper cabbed trucks these days that we (it wasn’t just me who noticed them at Truckstar!) were surprised back into realising how cool and retro the modern flat tops are. Then again anything that has been customised by the Dutch looks cool and enviable to us English. Just a side note people, hardly any shiny alloy wheels, painted wheels is still the way forward.

By now you have realised that you need to be buying a flat top to be in with the gang. It really didn’t take much walking about at Assen for this to sink in, but to achieve perfection it seems that you have to select the chassis with a twin wheel tag. Sorry you must excuse me my European cousins, it’s not a twin wheel tag, you must call it (please read in a Dutch accent!) how do you say “rear bogie lift”. Phrase of the show. A flat top cab with rear bogie lift is the best looking carsch you could see this year. Just to convince you once and for all just have a look at the red beastie below from Belgium. Scania fan or not you have to admit she looks rather well. Hi-line cab, painted wheels, roof rack, straight pipe exhausts, rear bogie lift and of course a retro (3 series in this case) sun visor. Why on earth is the 3 series visor not offered by Scania as a standard fit option??

Gathering of the Griffin 2014

Posted on August 5, 2014 by truckbloguk

“The event this year will be held in the same location Orwell truck stop on the 27th and 28th September 2014. Arrivals are welcome from midday Saturday. Hopefully with some form of entertainment in the evening. On the Sunday, a lazy day socializing with all. At 16:30 the big departure, the plan would be for each truck to leave in chronological order to allow film and photography of what is a fantastic sight, a convoy of Scanias setting off along the A14. It is truly a magical moment.”

Those are the words from the organisers of the Gathering of the Griffin, the Scania only show that is held in Ipswich and this year is in its 3rd year. If you are a Scania fan then it’s a must. If you have a truck then get it entered and don’t for one minute think you are too far away, it seem’s the Griffin knows no boundaries. There are already confirmed entries for this year from as far away as Scotland and even Northern Ireland! If you want an entry form you have 3 options. Email: gotg37@hotmail.com or you can phone Michelle or Rob on the following mobile: 07903 155898, or failing that you can contact me and I can email you a form. Your Swedish beauty doesn’t have to be all shiny and the cleanest truck in Europe, it’s a show for Scania enthusiasts so it’s all for the enjoyment. This is best explained by photos, below is Mr Lewtons Scania and one of Mr Coopers Scania’s, both totally different and both in very different condition but one thing they both have in common is that they have both won the best truck in show trophy.

There are a number of categories for you to enter if you wish, including best 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and R series, best working truck and best truck in show to name a few. It just so happens that I Sponsor the “Best 3 Series” and I have to say that last year I had 15 or so to choose from and it was virtually an impossible task, saying that I am looking forward to it again this year. At last years show there were (if I remember rightly) 116 confirmed entries but only 108 turned up. I say only but it’s still an amazing amount when you see them all parked together in chronological order. This year there are currently 110 confirmed entries so far with up to 150 spaces available, but the target for entries is of course the magic number of 143! So now you have no excuse, get your self and your Scania down to the Orwell Crossing Truckstop for the 27th and 28th of September. See you there!!

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