For all you Volvo fans there is a bit of Volvo stuff coming your way in the next few weeks. To start with is any one looking for a decent restoration project? These 2 old girls are sitting slowing disappearing at a yard near Poole. One is a 4×2 and the other a 6×4. They may be available for restoration for a price, if your interested then email me at ben@truckblog.co.uk and I’ll try and put you in touch with the right man. Do you know any thing else about these 2? new pictures? history? email it all through to the above. Thanks to Roving Reporter for sending these through. If only they had been kept under cover!!!
This is becoming quite a habit, posting pictures of Atego artic’s. Do you think there are any mini MAN artic’s out there?? In fact the next person who sends me a picture of a Mini Merc or MAN artic will win a www.truckblog.co.uk white vinyl sticker. Send your pictures in to ben@truckblog.co.uk. This latest addition to the collection is from The Pilot. Last week he popped down to Italy to pick up his latest toy, a LHD Mk 2 Transit and saw this little Merc on the way. Good spot i say. Although i think the trailer is almost short enough that you caould have just bought a rigid!
…………..and what a come back it is! More than 1 post’s worth of gumpf in one day and more to come.
How about this absolute beauty for starters! We all the Pilot has a fetish for things with out wings, with most of his hard earned cash going on wing-less toys (well the cash left after the wife has been at it no doubt!). After a recent flight to the Italian town of Treviso, his plane needed a drink. Along comes this immaculate, brand new looking Fiat. I think its a Fiat 682 but I’ll wait to be corrected by you lot. As you can see the truck is clean as a whistle and has rather a neat bone on the front. This must relate to what the Roving Reporter was told by the operator, “She’s a good one, she gets stuck in like the dog with the bone when running around the airport overweight.” Brilliant. I wonder what the mileage is and how old she is?? Get to it reporter, ask Ryan for another flight to Treviso.
Are you trying to tell me you’ve never been to www.euro-wheels.com? This website has over 100,000 truck pictures to look through. All taken by one man him self, Neil Jarrold. From the 1970’s right through to today, every picture you see on www.euro-wheels.com is his own.
Taking in regular car journeys across Europe and visiting many shows during the year Neil, snaps away to his hearts content all for our enjoyment!! Most recently a road trip to this years Nordic Trophy in Sweden. If you are tempted by the the picture below, the click here to go to the site………….. just make sure you have a few hours or days to spare, once you start its hard to stop!
This old chap glided into the yard today. On a day trip down from Leicester the old F reg (1 August 1988 – 31 July 1989) MAN was on a flier. According to the driver “She’s great as she has no limiter, means you can a decent days work done!” I’m sure you can. As the old MAN is such a favorite, the owner is about to put another old MAN on the road, but this time a similarly shaped cab but the smaller 3.5 ton Volkswagen LT version, with twin rear wheels. I know it bought back GW’s memories of taking an LT across europe with various loads and broken rear windows! Any way it was lovely to see the old MAN still in such favour, a classic commercial in the making, “It’s having a full refurb and spray job this winter” was the drivers parting call as he tried to keep with his ride. Hopefully they’ll be back next year!
On a similar but continental note, our friendly international man of mystery, Sir Steve of Marsh, saw this old old German Mercedes 814 was seen in Austria last week. Still earning its living by delivering new silo’s about the place. Although she doesn’t look as well loved as the old MAN above, she is still earning a penny or two for her owner.
Drivers are a funny old bunch, we spend all year tramping about Europe, then have a 2 week holiday driving a hire car around the grand old US of A. My roving reporter on this trip is the Geoff Tarbun. He managed to spot this lovely Wilson red Peterbilt parked up near Lake Powell, Arizona. The truck looks like its registered in Michigan which is only 7 states away and just over 1900 miles, surely its only a local by USA standards! Have you got a bus man’s lorry drivers holiday picture or story to share, then email them across; ben@truckblog.co.uk – Great pictures Geoffrey!
As you surely can have guessed i sniffed out another Atego Artic at the IAA Show. This little beauty was parked out in the rain (criminal!). Although it wasn’t on a stand it was there on before of German trailer manufacturer, Schutz. The trailer was typical German engineering, very tidy and well thought through. Made for a good photo or 2 even in the rain!!
Now as an ex 8 wheel tipper driver, i could have only dreamed of such a motor. My dear old Iveco, T7 GBF, is a mere baby when in power terms. This beast has 510hp and a V8. I’m not sure this modern marvel will meet the magical tare weight of 12 ton, to get a 20 ton payload in the UK. It is probably best designed for the 50 ton european market, or what ever the 8×4’s can run at over there. Never the less it was a mean piece of German enginering and it got a lot of interest. I’d happily give it a thrash around the muck tip of GB Finch to test it in the real world of UK muck away work………….
As well as all the new stuff at the IAA there was a hall full of classic trucks and buses. All sorts from old Henschel’s, to DAF’s, to Volvo’s and all in excellent condition as you would expect. This Mercedes was exceptional. The interiour was as new didn’t look like the seats had been sat on, it was only a few photo’s on a board that made me realise that it had been out on the open road! Having messed about the iphone i found an app that lets you take old looking photo’s, i think it came out quite well, even if i do say so myself!! i’ll await Mr Argent’s comments.
Well as you may have all realised i had to keep my clubcard points well and truly in my pocket at the IAA show. It would have been all to easy to take up the German’s offer of €57,000 for this little beauty. The truck was about 5m long wheel base, which is slightly to long for my needs, so i had to decline! From the Pearlescent White paint to the gloss black chassis to the perfect 17.5 inch Alcoa Ally wheels, i think i have to award this liitle fella the “Best in Show” award, yes if i was the judge then i am biased.
From all angles this is a good looking MAN, perhaps its down to the fact it has the big truck feel, with the Space Cab equivalent LX Cab. I dont know if this was specced with all the bells and whistles but i can’t have been far off, even down to the tinted side windows. The worst thing about the show was, i couldn’t read the Spec sheets for each truck. Although i can read some basic German the likes of; Zwilling kampiert – Kühlschrank – Luft Hat Sitz Suspendiert, had me stumped! (Twin Bunks – Fridge – Air Suspended Seat).
This truck was the 12 Ton, plated at 11,990 kgs, with the top of the range 250hp engine, although i think Mr German Sales Man was trying to tell me they may soon be bringing in the 290hp unit from the 15 tonners. If you look carefully you may just see the gear stick with the 4 over 4 box. You even get a big truck gearbox in the little truck! Although there is an automatic option.
This must have been a top spec truck as it goes as i’ve just realised the passenger seat was Luft Hat Sitz Suspendiert too. The more i think about it the more i should have said yes! The interiour is spacious and well layed out. There is no feeling of being in a small cab. At 6ft 1 i was plenty of room for me to stand in the passenger foot well, as there is no locker above the windscreen on this side of the cab. There are 2 other lockers above the windscreen, one above the driver and one in the centre, either one big enough for a small microwave. The fridge is a good size and looks like the same size one found in larger MAN’s. I think double manning in this cab would be fine, even if your not of Eastern European descent.
I was also pleased to finally see the back of those horrible rear lights MAN trucks have been fitted with for the last few years, you know the ones, with the slightlyblue and red lens. Back to proper rear lights is best. You can also see below the truck is fitted with an easily adjustable an roof deflector.
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