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.
As a few of you may have remembered i went to the IAA show at Hanover yesterday. Great day. There is so much to see it’s incredible. I actually woke up this morning thinking i had walked a marathon yesterday! Hall after hall of Trucks, Buses, Vans, Trailers and parts, just amazing how much was there really. Of course the most popular stands were the Scania stand with the very impressive and beautiful R730 4×2 Topline, pretty stunning even though its just the power rating badge that was different to the R500 next to it, but no one was queueing to sit in that!! The MAN stand (Hall) was mobbed all day, but you had to know your German to understand why there were alot of people crowding round the stage listening to some Herbert with the microphone. There are loads of pictures and as you may have guessed a certain 12 ton truck features quite heavily so just skip through those! Click here for all 160 pictures.
Here are just a few pics to get you started, there will be plenty more to follow in the next few days and weeks.
Don’t forget next Monday i am off to the IAA Show at Hannover. So keep your eyes peeled on the photobar on the blog home page as i hope to update it as i walk round. I am especially on the look out for a Hino Tipper for my good friend Richard Frogley.
Crikey oh blimey!! Have you got an iPhone?…. Yes i have. Are you going to the IAA Show at Hannover this year?…. Yes i am. Do you like MAN Trucks?…. Well the TGL’s yes. Then in that case you better go to the itunes App Store on Monday. MAN are currently the only commercial vehicle exhibitor at this years IAA show that are offering a downloadable App for your iPhone. If you want to read more from MAN themselves click here.
This thing was shown off at the Assen Truckstar Festival this year. I still haven’t got really got to the bottom of it yet, but it looks like it as built by Truckstar Magazine for fun and will eventually be sold off for charity. Pretty smart though. Thanks to Tony Van Der Nunn for the picture.
Just as a note i’ve confirmed to myself and her indoors that i’m going to the IAA Show in Hannover in September. Hopefully it should provide some decent pictures and also hopefully a new Mercedes Actros range (so the rumour mill says!). If you don’t know the IAA Show is like the CV Show at the NEC but on a much much bigger scale, if you going to launch your new truck range, this is where you do it! I know its a way off but i thought i’d let you know!!
This little gem was on the Volvo stand at The Royal Cornwall Show last week. Although i’m not, as many of you are aware, the biggest Volvo fan, it is a truck, i like trucks, and its a smart one at that. Also i’ve Armoric have always caught my eye. They strike me a haulier who justs seems to get on with the job and always be on the move some where. On our way back up the M4 Saturday afternoon, we passed a DAF heading West again, just getting on with the job. Any other Armoric facts of Photos’s please email them to me truckblog@hotmail.co.uk
After some TLC for the last couple of months Wilsons trusty 141 starts on the show circuit. First stop being the Crowfield Truck Rally at Ipswich over the bank holiday weekend just gone. Next its off to some where south of Paris for a French oldtimer show. The only way it will get out to France will be with a load on of some sort. In the yard last week she was hooked up to Wilsons one and only curtainsider and i have to say it didn’t look out of place at all. Very smart. Not sure what it will go to France with but it wouldn’t look to bad as this set up.
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