Category Archives: Photos

Scania 141 – HVF 520V

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Back in August I reported on a Scania 141 cab I had delivered to Canacraft in Suffolk, if you missed it you can search for it on the blog by typing “Wrecked to Riches” and hitting enter. The idea is that Howard at Canacraft is going to put HVF 520V back to its original spec of a 4×2 tractor unit rather than a 4×2 recovery chassis. I have a fair history for this particular truck, but not through any effort of my own. As many of you know I have been lucky enough to be given album after ablum of 70’s and 80’s truck photos taken by David Scarff. HVF 520V is a truck that has spent a lot of time in and around East Anglia, having had a long career at MRCT (the chicken people!) and also a career before MRCT at local haulier DA Garnham. I have managed to find from the thousands of photos in the Scarff collection this right gem of HVF 520V in full MRCT colours at Scania in Stowmarket, I did think there was one of here heading down Jubilee Way into Douvres but its only a 111 not a mighty V8.

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Any way having put up “Wrecked to Riches” up on the blog, as seems to be the way, I received an email…..This time a fascinating email full of info from an ex driver of said Scania 141. Now to me this makes the blog all worth while (although these days I don’t do the blog half as much as I’d like to!), I put stuff up on here purely what interests me and now and again what might interest some of you. What I love is the romance of trucking (as GW will testify!), I like the life story of a truck and these days a trucks history/pedigree can even increase its value on the 2nd hand market. So to find pics of this truck in its original guise, to seeing it in its current sorry state, to then hopefully seeing it in a few months time, back to a tidy decent truck, makes it all worth while. The only thing that can add to the icing on any cake is a few extra sprinkles, in this case an email from ex driver Gilbert McClusky. Mr McClusky said the following on his email;

“I have just seen the picture of HVF520V in its current sorry state!! and I’m glad that somebody has rescued it for restoration. I worked at MRCT for about 10years from the early eighties to the early 90’s and if you google “HVF520V” you will find a couple of pictures I took on the Thetford road near Garboldisham in about 1983. I also have a couple of others kicking about. The unit was originally new to DA Garnham and Sons of Diss and came to MRCT second hand. After being resprayed It was driven originally by Denis Carlton then Timmy Riches and finally by Melvin Farrow up to being converted to a recovery truck by Mick.. Garnham??? (Sorry surname forgotten) at the MRCT workshops in Stuston Road Diss, in about 1991 or 2. As a 4×2 unit it was a phenomenal machine compared to the 111’s that all the other lads were slugging around in. A lot is obviously written about the Scania V8 and how good they were / are. As far as I can recall we didn’t touch that engine in the 10 years I was there, and I doubt very much it was touched as a recovery truck!. As with most 140’s and 141’s The only weak spot when in the hands of “fleet drivers” were the gearbox range changes and especially half shafts which could break very easily if not treated with respect. The cab had 4 resprays from being in Garnhams colours when new then the cream and red in about 1982 ( As per my photo) Then it had a further respray into white and red in about 1987 – 1988, finally being done for the last time in the blue and white as you have in about 1992 or 3.”

So good to hear all this info directly from the horses mouth. All ex drivers are welcome to email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk ,  and tell me your stories, knowledge and what ever else. Photos to accompany any info is perfect then at least we can relate to what kinda trucks your talking about. Hopefully I’ll soon have some photos of HVF 520V restored and ready for another owner. Just to finish off, Mr McClusky mentioned all other MRCT drivers were “slugging around in” Scania 111’s, so to anyone who’s in the slugging gang, I found a photo of sister truck HVF 521V, which was in fact a Scania 111.

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Hey What’s your Number…

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Yes ok it’s another Scania but this one needs a bit more input from you. This dear old girl has been relegated to the corner of some ones yard these days but what secrets does she hold from her past. Was she once an international motorway pounder? Was she the pride of an English fleet when she was the newest in the yard? If any of you have any information about said wagon please leave your comments below.

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What’s the reg number? My guess is D853 PKK or possibly PXK. The letter behind the greenery does seem to replicate the K at the end, does it not Mr Watson?! As I’m sure you know most truck regs come in batches from particular dealers…….I’ve just searched tinternet and it can’t be “XK” as it didn’t exist. On that style of number plate the last 2 letters of the 3 denoted the area code. If the reg is “KK” that is the code for Maidstone or “KX” is the code to Luton. As its a “D” reg she was new in 1986. This gives you a few clues, so see what you can come up with. Hopefully a few more pics if the old girl at the end of the week.

Peak Truck Show 2012 by James Cartwright

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Once again I will hand you over to top guest writer and photographer, Mr James Cartwright. If you want to see the rest of Jimbo’s photos from the show, click HERE;

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All that was needed after finishing work on the Friday evening was a dry and hold up free run up to the Peaktruck show held at the Uttoxeter racecourse. At a steady 50mph the 143 had no problems covering the distance in under 4 hrs. Even with the late arrival I was still able to get on to the site and park up for the evening, luckily the boys from McGawn Bros had kept me a space on the tarmac and with the bar still open a double result.

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A bright start to the Saturday did much to improve the hangover which I always seem to wake up with when I come here! Saturday morning was taken up with giving the old Scania a clean and polish, you think I would’ve learnt to bring something smaller than a 8×4. Still not quite as much work as the trucks entered into the combination class, credit must go these guys. One of the best was the V-reg FH Volvo of MJS from Stoke on Trent along with its powder tanker.

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The Peak shows are always very well supported by the local fleets from names such as Shirley’s, Mike Ponsonby and Stan Robinson. The Peak Truck Show was this year celebrating it’s 10th anniversary over the years shows have been held at a number of places, Belfast was a regular venue along with Carlisle and Penrith this helps to explain why Roy Gill and Sarah Mcgregor have always attracted many trucks from all over the country. Both Roy and Sarah used to run and show trucks one of the most well known was the Queen of Hearts (You must have a picture of this somewhere Ben can find mine think they are in the loft – I can’t find it!!) so with him being one of the judges you know you better have thing done right. You always are made to feel like old friends when you turn up no matter what time of day or night you finally manage to get there Sarah or Roy are always there to greet you this for me is what the truck shows are all about meeting friends new and old.

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The weather both days was lovely and sunny which makes a change as we normally have to take cover from the rain at least once during the weekend here, moving the show to later in the year definitely helped with this. The truck of the show went to the T-cab of Bartletts which as the pictures show was as clean out side as it was in with its fully upholstered cab along with painted dash. From fully custom work to the restored 141 with tandem axle trailer you decide what looks the best. One of the nicest trucks for me was the Scania 560 of Dutch owner driver Peter van der Eijk as with most European trucks typically understated but still had plenty of detail.

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The Saturday night is another sociable gathering with entertainment in the bar this year with a rock band in full swing. The CF DAF of Massey Feeds was looking spot on sitting next to the big cabbed Toplines and XF’s. There was a strong Scottish contingent with the R-cab from Laurelbank Nurseries, Gordon Steel and John Templeton’s Avatar. One of the furthest travelled must have been Brian McLennan of Peterhead with his brand new Scania. Judging takes place over both days, so there was plenty of cleaning still to be done with the results being given out on the Sunday afternoon.

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The Mc Gawn Bros did well this year by taking top spot in a Best Fleet and combination classes to name just a few.

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The 105 DAF from Smith of Bury did well in the traditional livery class who says red and green should never be seen! I even got a highly commended in the company owned class for the 143.

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A final thanks must go to Sarah and Roy for organising another top show hopefully there will be plenty over the next few years.

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Coming Soon – LEV 701V

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Here’s another old girl that has been saved from the scrap heap. This sleeper cabbed 4×2 Scania 111 has been nicely restored and when completed will be for sale, yes that right it will be for sale. This truck is LEV 701V, which was at one point part of the Brain Haulage fleet. Its been striped back to the chassis and the interior has been re-skinned and upholstered. I have to say that even in this condition it was beginning to look rather nice.

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Just a plain red and white livery will adorn the truck, with the engine being painted in that Scania engine green. She will be a nice tidy motor when done and in my opinion will be good enough for shows as it is. Although the man in charge says its just having a “basic” job done! I have no idea what the price will be but if you are interested I can put you in touch but seriously no time wasters, if you haven’t the funds for such a purchase please leave it to those who can. More photos to come as and when she is complete and ready to roll. Have you got any photos of her in her Brain Haulage colors or any other colors?? Email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

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What the FAP is That??!!

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While wondering around the halls of the IAA Show in Hanover I came across what looked like an SK cabbed Mercedes, well from the side I was walking towards it anyway. It turns out that the 2 trucks in question were brand new Euro 5, FAP trucks. FAP are built in Serbia and extensively use old Mercedes cabs in their truck range. In fact if you scroll through the trucks pages on their website they use Merc badged trucks to show what they produce.. FAP is Serbia’s largest (and only??) commercial vehicle producer. Based in the Serbian town of Prijbol they employ something like 1200 people, making what look like rugged trucks for both private use and army use. FAP stands for Fabrika Automobila Priboj, just in case it comes up in a pub quiz! So if any of you die hard Merc SK fans have some spare cash, perhaps you need to pop to Serbia to get a brand new Euro 5 FAP…….If only they bought the rights to the 1 series Scania for their next truck range!!

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IAA Commercial Vehicle Show 2012

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Just over a week ago on a wet and windy evening I landed back at Stansted Airport, complete with 5 blisters and a Bratwurst in my pocket. Last Monday I spent the whole day at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, well it should have been 9-5 but the German bus driver side swiped a car on the Autobahn on the way, so we were a whole 45 minutes later than planned! This therefore put me onto the Volvo stand 45 minutes after everyone else, so by the time I found it the Swedish stand was already heaving with people gathering to see the ugly but intriguing new Volvo FH. I for one sat and watched the launch of said new FH on the Internet the other week and have to say I was part of the large amount of you who think it is as ugly as the front end of a bus. But when the new Mercedes Actros arrived I was also very sceptical until I saw it in the flesh.

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Having sat up high overlooking the Volvo stand for quite a while I did come to the very simple conclusion that the reason it is “ugly” is only due to the grill, the actual shape is very tidy. We are so used to the badges of trucks being on the grill, is it just the case that it’s different, that is the cause of the visual unlikenment! I’m sure you have seen the photo shopped pictures of the new FH with the Volvo badge mounted on the grill and I think it looks so much better. I think there will soon be an after market pack to change the front of your new Volvo if you so wish.

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Other than the grill issue, the shape of the new Volvo on the outside is rather nice and it seems different. Amazing how designers can make a shed on wheels constantly seem so different from manufacturer to manufacturer! As for the interior, well it is rather comfy. Gone is that old FH feeling of the front of the truck closing in on you. It feels huge inside (a whole extra cubic metre of space), with big lockers above the windscreen along with a rather nice sunroof panel (actually a real escape hatch!), a swivel passenger seat, a table, the list goes on and what ever I write on here won’t really do it justice. It is a Volvo and the quality is Volvo. Designed with you in mind, its super practical but also can be super comfortable if required. My overall opinion of the New FH has been changed. I like it….a lot. Ugly or not, it’s a Volvo, it’s practical, it will earn you money and keep your drivers happy.

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On with the show… The Iveco stand with it’s new crown of Truck of The Year, was amazing orange. The crazy Italians have gone a little colour crazy, but I will say zis once, the Iveco stable gets more appealing!! There you go SW I really did say it, the new Hi-Way Stralis is ok.

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DAF also went with orange, but it kind of suits the new childlike, cartoon front end of the XF, only problem being is that it’s not a kids toy. The DAF XF is one of the most popular trucks in Europe but i’m afraid DAF haven’t impressed many people with the new look, I for one am not keen. Are they old Mercedes Actros headlights?! Perhaps some slightly older adolescence should be offered the sweet bag when the next update is due.

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The Renault stand gave me the feeling that they were trying to divert your attention away from the fact their centre piece was a 22 year old French piece of art. Although the Magnum is still different to the rest, the fact that Renault had the most beautiful girls to attract you in, the trucks were the same as when I went to Hanover in 2010. I’m not sure how they can or will replace the Magnum, but I think a breath of fresh air is required in Renault land.

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Hide it, talk it down, do what you like, what ever you do the R730 Scania is still a beautiful thing in my eyes. On show in a nearly white, silver it is still an awesome piece of kit. If you have not driven the current generation of Scania trucks, then before you slate them, take one for a drive. I still feel there is no truck with a better, more confident ride, backed up with the legendary V8, all its needs is a little something on the inside, but i’m not sure what.

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The Daimler hall was so impressive it was untrue. The size of a couple of football pitches. From the small vans right up to the new Actros, buses and Unimogs, all models were available for you to get your sticky paws on.

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The new Actros in all it’s guises is highly impressive and I have to say that it is still in my top 3. Lovely looking truck. They had a nice little Atego on the stand, but it has to be said that it does need it’s new cab, which will bring it in line with the new range and the new look. More to come on my thoughts of the Atego replacement.

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This just leaves the MAN hall. There was tons of other stuff to tell you about at the show and I will get round to it, but I thought you’d be happy with a general sum up of all the major players. MAN, like their German rivals had a large display, with loads of trucks and lots of buses, as well as the South American Volkswagen trucks. The normal trucks on the stand were popular and each truck has a couple of MAN employees to help guide you round each truck and answer your questions. There was a big special TGS 40.540 tractor unit designed for off road heavy haul use, and I wish i’d taken a few more snaps of the chassis and springs as it was a monster.

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Also, much to my delight and also my annoyance, the gorgeous little TGL 12.250 was one of the most popular trucks on the stand. For my older readers you know I love a TGL and in Germany they are super popular. This particular one is the new Euro 6 model that will be available from January 2013. A new interior along with the new look grill and bumper, will surely mean that this little Tonka continues to be a huge hit. I just wish I could buy one to join the club! …….Dear Father Christmas………

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The whole show was knackering. There is so much to see, but despite the bus drivers best efforts I just about had enough time to see it all and go back and see my favourite bits a second time. Probably a good year to go too, what with the new Merc’s, the new Iveco, new look DAF and of course the completely new Volvo, it was a good day out despite the blisters. I have loads more pics, yes I do, click HERE to see them. Also I will put more stuff I saw at the show on the blog over the next few months. As well as the normal trucks, there are stands of trailers, vans, parts, etc etc etc. In 2014, treat yourself and go. You might even see a full size Lego truck!

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Show Time – How things have changed…

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So its 2 years after I last went to Germany, the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show at Hannover. It’s a bi-annual show that is the showcase for all the heavy vehicle and bus manufacturers along with all and sundry who make accessories and products associated with commercial vehicles. I’m flying this evening, have a might in a posh hotel then I’ll be at the show for 9am to spend the day looking about, where as I went in 2010 just for the day, I only had about 5 hours between my flights.

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This year I think there will be a lot that has changed. The very recent release of the new Volvo range. The new Mercedes Benz Actros is making it’s first IAA appearence, along with the face lifted DAF’s. How can I forget the newly crowned Truck of The Year, the Iveco Stralis Hi-Way. I’m also hoping to find some lovely German mini artic manufacturers!!

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I will post up my findings over the next few weeks. I won’t be taking the lap top with me, so unless I can find some free wi-fi and I can work out how to blog on my phone you will just have to check the photo panel for any uploads or the twits on twitter.

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A Week on The Road – Trip 2

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After getting back to the yard and swapping trailers I had to make a quick detour to Tesco at Ipswich for some extra pants! Being a full time office waller and a part time international driver I only had enough pants for 4 days not 5! Having stopped for some new under-crackers I was off, some perfect timing and I met up with Tom and we had about 2 hours before his tacho time ran out. Obligatory long queues at Dartford meant the M25 was back to the J28 side of J27 (check your maps!) so we opted for A12, A130, A13 and join the queue at the bottom of the Dartford bridge. We bang down the M20 and made Ashford Truckstop with 10 minutes left on Tom’s Tacho. We parked up (above), sun setting, good shower and good enough food, quick pint then off to bed, a good end to a short day. Not much in Ashford Truckstop and for the price you wonder if thats the reason. The place not being as busy as it used to be. I did come across this blue Mercedes Actros MP2 in exactly the same blue as my old MP2, the only other one i’ve ever seen in the same shade of blue. Coupled to a matching low height euroliner, she looked a pretty sight and very tidy with no livery. Any ideas who’s it is?? email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

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If only Thursday started as well as Wednesday ended, I managed to read the new DFDS timetable wrong and got in the Dunkerque queue instead of the Calais queue, well at least it proves I’m human!! (I still feel like a prat! sorry Tom). We could have had another hour in bed, which almost proved costly by the end of the day. Anyway on the boat, which actually had a little swell on for the first time and I’m pleased to say that I am a good sailor, even with a belly full of breakie. Dear DFDS, how is it I was first in the queue for cooked breakfast, the eggs appeared from the kitchen and by the time I sat down my breakfast was already pretty cold?? A tip for DFDS truckers, use the microwave! Off the boat and away. A good run down and we even passed one of our subbies as we cruised along in the big DAF’s enjoying the French sun. Just for a minute I begin to think the day was getting better. After all I did spot Oakleaf European’s MAN TGL 12 ton fridge heading North as I headed South on France’s busy A1.

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(In a Hannibal from the A-Team voice) Here’s the plan, when we load a trailer for Paris, we advise our customer of our arrival so they can arrange an unloading gang. This is supposedly to avoid any delays as it can take a couple of hours to tip. Our arrival takes priority over everything else, that is the deal…or not as the case may be. I was 10 minutes early, so I was chuffed, bearing in mind I had finally caught the sat-nav out! The road layout had changed and a classic piece of trucking history saved the day, for the younger readers it’s made of paper and it’s called a Street Map. I pulled in the delivery yard to find myself greeted by a Ying and Yang situation. A lovely blue Belgian V8 Scania, but unfortunately he had just opened his rear doors on the 40ft container and the delivery point ignored my arrival and got on with the Belgian. Oh well…..

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….5 hours later and lots of emails and phone calls I was finally tipped. What a great day! My reload from the bread factory was surely off??…..No re-arranged for 11am Local time Friday. I needed to get as close as possible with the 2.5 hours I had left. No way was I going to make it to the factory, so I plumped for the services just South of Valenciennes on the A2. Once again I pulled in with a few minutes to spare. If I had had another hour I would have made it to the reload point, my own silly fault! I was 30 mins from the bread factory, so I had plenty of time off. You’d think these small services would be fairly quiet but oh no. I parked up and got the dinner ready. The photo you’ve all been waiting for is here, The Dinner Photo. Microwaved Pasta Carbonara, with a fresh ham and cheese salad and baguette from the shop, Deeeeeelicious!!

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Now while I watching a film, I noticed the Bulgarian next door was having a pleasant meal and a drink at the front of his truck with who I naively thought was his wife/girlfriend. I happened to notice that they were getting quite fruity but purposefully left the drivers window open with the curtain open too. I also noticed there was a dodgy looking geezer in a car directly opposite whistling signals to the truck, well the woman actually. Are you working it out?? About 11pm and after much activity in the Bulgarian cab, the lady (or not) left our satisfied Bulgarian friend, jumped in the car with the dodgy geezer and drove off. I dare say a few hundred Euro’s better off! That not being enough I woke the next morning, opened my curtains only to find that all round the front of the truck and trailer I was surrounded by Danish pensioners. I decide a refreshing shower was required to bring me back into the real world….No the showers were buggered. Sod it, off to the load point on time for my loading slot. Will it be like the first trip? A few 3 hour delay before loading? It is Friday afternoon after all. No such inconvenience, I was there all of 42 minutes I think it was.

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Sealed and off. This time I head back along the A2, A21, A26 and back to Calais. The last little cock up in this bizarre couple of days on the road was I took the wrong lane at the Peage and I was ushered off the A26 before you could say Garlic Bread and a bag of onions! Off, round the roundabout and back on. Back to Calais in the glorious, glorious Friday sun, fuel and adblue with no problems. Round to P&O and a UKBA check, all ok. Through to the lanes, a 1 hour wait and I was back on the sea. I had forgotten just how good a hot soapy shower can feel after 2 hot days a without a wash. ” platefuls of Bangers Mash and baked beans (due to an undercooked sausage) and I decided to go out and join everyone else on the out side decks to enjoy the early evening sun. The word mill pond springs to mind. Dover in view ahead;

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Calais in view behind;

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Off the boat into a busy Dover, straight out and up Jubilee Way, this time I remembered the bump. No problems up the A2/M2 through Dartford onto the A12. No V-Festival traffic at Chelmsford so straight back to Hadleigh. From arriving in Calais all had finally gone smoothly, meaning I had a nice end to my week on the road. Just over 2600km I think it was. I was the fleet of the fleet home and by 10pm I was back at my house, still with no wife and boy as their holiday didn’t finish til Saturday. Will I do it again? Oh yes, bring on next years summer holidays!!

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MAN Parts Hunt

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Mon Bon Homme and regular blog contributor Steve Marsh needs your detective skills. As you can see by the arrows I have attached to the photo above, this MAN TGL has some extra parts attached to the bumper, which have had LED’s fitted. Now Mr Marsh has tried to track down these parts from MAN and it turns out they are a TGM part rather than a TGL part. Marshy ordered said TGM part but they don’t fit! Can anyone help with more info?? I wondered if they are sold by an aftermarket accessory company or something. There is a German accessory supplier who are an official supplier to MAN as their brochure used to be in the MAN dealer in Colchester. MAN UK have offered much help, so Marshy will probably end up having to visit an MAN dealer next time he is in Germany. The other option is find the truck, but that will be just a touch more difficult! It’s a German MAN TGL sleeper, that makes it like a knitting needle in a hay stack. Any additional info will be much appreciated by Mr Marsh.

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Country Coloured Mirror Covers?!

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During the European Football Championships back in June was it? I saw a couple of Eastern European trucks with these rather natty Country colour coded mirror covers. I’m guessing they came about as a new way to support your home team or may be it was just a coincidence that they appeared during the soccerball. Were they on sale or were they just home made accessories?? I did see another national flag on another different truck but amazingly and shockingly it seems that I didn’t take a photo…..sack me! This little Slovakian Renault Midlum drawbar certainly looks the long distance trucker.