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

Coming Soon to an Autobahn Near You………

Posted on July 7, 2011 by truckbloguk

In the deepest darkest sheds of Suffolk it’s amazing what you can find! Lurking in a shed near Stowmarket, European Viking and European Centurion are being prepared for open roads of europe.

These 2 high powered Scania’s will have a few extra special touches to make them slightly different from the rest of the pack, although they will also have the L.E.D. “W” on the front grill, like the 2 new R480’s already on the road.

Danish Scania’s Looking for New Homes

Posted on July 3, 2011 by truckbloguk

How annoying is Facebook?? You just cant nip onto it and do what you got to do or look at what you want to look at. You end up looking then, seeing some thing else, then that leads you to some where else and before you know it you aged 6 months!! So there I was this morning, nipping on to FB to check the amount of “Likes” I’ve got on the FB blog page, then 6 months later i realised i was looking at some Danish classic Scania’s that are up for sale. I think you’ll find that my saying of Old Scania’s never die they just get better, has just been proven (with exception for the rusty one!),

This lovely 141 is first up, looks like it in fairly good condition. There is also a tidy looking Vabis and also a rust bucket of a Vabis. Although i’m sure one of you would be able to bring it back to its former Scandinavian glory. Might need more than a lick of paint me thinks!!

Now there is a bargain to be had here. The 141 and the better Vabis are up for €11,500 each and the rusty project is up for €3,500. But and this is the big BUT, my Danish friend Mr Allan Bach says that if you are feeling particularly flush you can buy all 3 trucks for just €22,000! I think that would be a bargain. So if you are interested and not just another bloomin annoying tyre kicker you can email Allan, his email address is; allan-bach@mail.tele.dkin the mean time i’m off to check my lottery ticket!!
p.s. not sure why the 141 has a 2007 date on it.

Aston Clinton Haulage – Early 1970’s

Posted on June 19, 2011 by truckbloguk

Seeing as its father day……… Back in the early 1970’s before i was a twinkle in my parents eye, my dear Dad worked for Aston Clinton Haulage or ACH as they were known. Based in Aston Clinton Village, long before they moved to Aylesbury. I have often wondered who else knows any thing else about ACH at this time. When i put these on www.trucknetuk.com the photo’s which most people put on were all later liveried trucks, some were F88’s but again they were in a slightly later livery.

Cracking old ERF, i think the old man used to take her out on the road now again. Also note the lifting frame for loading. It seems in the early 1970’s not many people remember or were working at ACH, as i haven’t managed to get hold of or find anyone else who was there!! The only chap i know was there with my dad was Brian Soames, pictured below obviously in high spirits, perhaps it’s the snazzy coloured trailer!! I did manage to find out Brian was last seen working at Norbert Dentressangle in Leighton Buzzard. If you know of Mr Soames please ask her to get in touch. I do love this picture below. I can just see it now heading out of Calais, sleeper cabbed Scania, little GB box trailer full of Britains finest manufacturing, now that is the romance of the road! Is that one of those old Bedford vans in the background, or a Transit.

Now as you can tell from the pics New Holland were a big customer. Combines and balers were regular cargo for ACH and that is were my old man comes in. As far as i understand it, he was chief loader and warehouse man. Eventually my Dad came up with the idea of a frame to put on the flat trailers to enable the smaller balers to be double stacked, obviously after the below photo was talking. The balers don’t way anything so doubling the amount on a trailer wasn’t a problem, it just needed the initiative…………..it’s a pity it doesn’t seem to run in the family!!

I also remember dad saying that a regular Italian reload was washing machines. The chap that used to drive the Volvo below (no name I’m afraid), used to be one of those old legends, who liked to be home for his Friday night pint. Most weeks he’d head off to the continent with what ever the export cargo was, plenty of fags and cash for the Polizei, reload a full hand ball load of washing machines and be back in the yard in time for his pint. Oh The good old days!!

Lovely day cab 110 Scania, that was no doubt a European regular. Hopefully you lot may be able to give me some more ACH info, in my opinion the earlier the better. Please comment below or email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk

3 New UK Tekno Model Release’s

Posted on May 7, 2011 by truckbloguk

Here are the next 3 new models that will be available from Tekno. UK company Speedbird Productions have created 3 more highly collectable UK liveried trucks for you to spend your pennies on. My wife has confiscated my wallet so i’m out the game with these 3! All 3 models will be available from October onwards. I have to say i think my favorite is the Dennis Oates Scania 142, cracking model!! So get buying and dont forget to mention truckblog.co.uk when you order the new addition to your collection.

Dennis Oates – Scania 142 with 3-axle Fridge Trailer
Maximum Production: 200pcs
Release Date: 4th Quarter 2011
Price: £144.95 including free UK delivery

Kerbey Motors – Scania 3-Series Streamline with 3-axle Flatbed Trailer
Maximum Production: 250pcs
Release Date: December 2011
Price: £159.95 including free UK delivery

B Cookson & Sons – Scania R-Series Topline (R6) with 3-axle Gray & Adams Fridge Trailer (Metal Version)
Maximum Production: 200pcs
Release Date: 4th Quarter 2011
Price: £159.95 including free UK delivery

If you do want to buy one of these models, contact Ben Lord and he will help you with all your needs.
Ben Lord – Managing Director
Speedbird Promotions Ltd.
15 Thistledown Drive, Ixworth,
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2NH, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1359 232667 – Fax: +44 (0) 1359 300200
Mobile: +44 (0) 7791 394143
E-mail: ben.lord@speedbird-promotions.co.uk
Web: www.speedbird-promotions.co.uk

Middle East Memories from Ray Campion – Chapter 1

Posted on April 13, 2011 by truckbloguk

I received this lovely email from Ray Campion. I am putting it on here in its entirety as i think its just great!! If you have any info or stories about Ray or the M/E then please email them over for us all to enjoy, stories and photo’s are welcome! Email; ben @truckblog.co.uk – Thanks Ray i look forward to the next installment.

“Hi my name is Ray. I started my middle east adventures in 78 and went to work in Iran for a German company along with 26 other drivers on a contract running gas pipes across the Zargos mountains south of Esfahan, it was a short lived stint as the Iranians and the Iraqi’s had a bit of a falling out and as you have probably been told there was one hell of a war. Took us three weeks to get out of the country all the trucks were dumped and we flew home, a lot more to that story but that’s for another time. i came home but it wasn’t long before i was on a plane headed for Doha Qatar a job for a English company who’s name i can’t remember but i do remember i was using one of Astran’s old Scania’s cant remember the reg but i do have a photo somewhere and if i find it i will let you know. Sadly that job folded and i came home from there riding shotgun with a good friend of mine Athol Anderson from Scotland he also had a cracking 142 Scania course i shared the driving.he dropped me in London where i caught the train home to Bristol within the week i was running overland to the M/E along with everyone else, shit they were the good old days. I bumped into Dick (Snow – Admin) once but have heard all the stories i finished around 84 and funny the very same week i finished i received a phone call from Astran offering me a job!!! that was like getting summoned by royalty, i turned them down but regretted it over the years”

Picture is Part of Dick Snow’s own collection.

Tekno Models New UK Release’s

Posted on April 7, 2011 by truckbloguk

Here you go again, another couple of cracking Tekno models of UK trucks both now available from Speedbird Promotions for pre-order. Get ordering and don’t miss out, they are are both limited editions of 200 models each.
First up we have the excellent HE Payne Scania 141 and tilt trailer in the full ASG Spedition livery. As i can’t afford the real one this will definitely ease my need! You have probably seen this truck at one of the truck shows or in this months Truck & Driver magazine.

HE Payne/ASG
Scania 1-series (LB141)
3-axle Tautliner Trailer
Maximum Production: 200pcs
Retail Price: £149.95
Including free UK delivery

The 2nd vehicle for release is this very smart Scania 143 in the livery of Lincolnshire haulier MC Salter & Sons from Sutton Bridge. As far as i understand it, they are your good old fashioned English family haulier. Running a very smart fleet of Scania’s, DAF’s and possbily others, they are having a model made of their F reg 143 450hp beauty. With an empty flat trailer there is plenty of scope to add a load of your own. Details as follows.

MC Salter
Scania 3-Series
3-axle Flatbed Trailer
Maximum Production: 200pcs
Retail Price: £139.95
Including free UK delivery

Hurry up and get one of these, or both of these models ordered, contact Ben Lord from www.teknomodeltrucks.co.uk or email him at; ben.lord@speedbird-promotions.co.uk

Tekno Essex International Models

Posted on April 2, 2011 by truckbloguk

It might not be too fair to keep bashing on about Astran models all the time, so how about a model of another Middle East company…. Essex International. UK company Speedbird Promotions are the UK agent for Tekno, the Dutch model specialist. There is a big back catalogue of models that have already been produced and also a huge list of models available to pre-order, including this pair, one an Essex International Scania 141 and the second a Kerbey Motors Scania R580, both coming with matching trailers.

First to be released in May this year will be the R580 above. Kerbey Motors is related to Essex International by family. The Scania 141 model will be available in August this year, but is availble for pre-order now, so get on with it! You can email ben.lord@speedbird-promotions.co.uk or call the order hotline on (0044) 01359 232667. The models will be available in a limited editon and will be around the £150 mark. Hopefully i’ll be bringing your more new release’s from Speedbird Promotions as and when they are released.

Roving Reporter’s Personal Best

Posted on March 31, 2011 by truckbloguk

Our good friend the Roving Reporter has beaten his personal best. After another recent trip to the in laws in middle Italy, he managed to venture out for a few hours to do some top spotting. Based at Fontana Liri between Rome and Naples, our Pilot friend venture’s out and about to pass the time perving over Italian metal of all kinds. There are more than enough old V8 Scania’s to go round, as well as all the others, Volvo, DAF and of course Iveco. As well as some foreigners such as this cracking F16 wagon and drag. What a great find and not a bad picture either!!

I have to say that for some reason i have a soft spot for an old Turbostar. I know its an Iveco, but they were from a time before i could drive, there fore they are pre my dislike of the Italians favourite. This old girl below, is still earnng a crust and i think with a bit of a shine up she’d look pretty good. I think we’ll have to add the Turbostar to the classic fleet, but only one of em mind! Did they do a V8 version of the Turbostar? Can some one let me know, ben@truckblog.co.uk or comment below.

As you can always expect in Italy you will always find a load of old Scania’s. From 2 and 3 series right through to new R serie’s they just love them. Still very popular are the 3 series Streamliner’s. Got to get one!

If you get through to my Flickr Photostream you’ll see plenty more of The Roving Reporters pictures from this trip. I will do another post with some more of his quality pics. I’ll leave you with the Pilot’s own words;
“The trucks on the dual carriageway were taken on the SS16 between Bari and Foggia. The single road stuff is on the SS372 that cuts through the mountains and is a link from the southern Adriatic side of Italy to the western coast to link up with the Roma Naples autoroute. Pics taken to the west of Benevento. Need to dedicate a few days to some more photography trips. Need a bike as a chase vehicle as overtaking them and planning a quick pitstop and getting a shot was fun. Need a lot of patience to hang about in a layby. Missed loads of good opportunities that I won’t repeat again for instance I overtook 3 old 142s/143s steaming up a hill and reckoned at least one of them would take my route off the autostrada. fat chance! Some drivers must’ve wondered what a tired looking pilot in a ropey old Merc Estate was blasting past them then taking pics but most flashed and waved. The scoop has got to be the Bubble’ F16 parked up no doubt heading for Bari/Brindisi for his ferry back to Zorba land.”

Pure V8 Quality

Posted on March 30, 2011 by truckbloguk

	David on Scania Centurions – The…
	Antdad on Renault AE Magnum = 1990-…
	Shu on Scania Centurion #86
	Alison sagar on Lady Louise
	truckbloguk on Centurions – Stand up

www.truckblog.co.uk

Email: ben@truckblog.co.uk

Category Archives: Scania