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Category Archives: The Gr814
The Gr814 Passed Again
That’s two in a row he’s passed! Today was MOT day and all the prep required was a bulb check and add a concrete block to the 5th wheel. The annual MOT comes to them all and each year I wonder how much it’s going to cost me, so very pleased with todays result. Having covered a massive 667km in the last 12 months, although not in a one hitter like my mate Brian from Gt Yarmouth. I did wonder if anything may have cropped up that I hadn’t realised but as one of the very experienced Techs said, they are fairly bullet proof so if there was something wrong you’d know about it.
You have to laugh though. The DVSA tester said I was looking at a fail as i have no VTG6 plate. I said I haven’t been sent any? He says well whoever did your first MOT last year should have arranged them and they would have been sent out following the test. I then produced last years test certificate for the him to see, I laughed on the inside when he realised it was him who did the test last year!! Other that everything else mechanical was fine, the only thing comment was that there wasn’t quite enough weight over the drive axle. With a mix of pallets and concrete blocks to chose from it is difficult to impose a load on the back end our MOT tests trailer loaded up would probably kill the little Gr814 in its tracks. I’ve taken a photo for reference for next year, so using a bigger block I’ll try and put it further back on the chassis to give more load in the back brakes. I still want to put some weight on the back end, but don’t want it to visible. I do like the idea of a “heavy” spare wheel under the rear of the chassis.
If all goes to plan and I can get him painted up in the spring time, I might just be able to break the 1000km mark for next years MOT. Hopefully a trip to NL will come along with a couple more shows in the UK. Might need a fuel sponsor though, what with the current price of fuel!… also need to think about what to put on the headboard.
Well done Gr814, not missed a beat this year and genuinely a thoroughly enjoyable drive.
Retro Show ‘22 – The Roundtrip
The Retro Show ‘22. I thought I’d give you a break from how good it was and you clearly aren’t in the club if you didn’t go. As you will know by now this was the Gr814’s first UK show outing and we made the trip there and back in good company. 1st leg was from Ipswich to Elmswell to meet up with James with EGV and Mat with Jim Cammacks 143. We decided that Elmswell would be a good meeting point as I had an early finish and James couldn’t finish until 1730hrs at the earliest. I also had a couple of jobs to finish so needed a few tools and a couple of nuts, bolts and screws.
First job was to fit the CB in the Gr814, fairly simple ax there is already an aerial and a cable, so I just needed to connect up the power (also already there once I’d looked) and mount the bracket up on the sunroof surround, so it was well out the way. Much to my delight, once it was all in, it worked a dream, good range and clear sound with no effort. Just how I like it! Second all important job, although a temporary fix until he’s painted, was to replace the broken Mercedes-Benz badge on the back. I couldn’t turn up at the show with a broken badge.
Once my jobs were done, Mat had had a good wipe around to try and degrease and JC had finished the day job, we just had time for a roll call photo before hitting the road. The 4th member of the convoy was already flying along to the sound of Karen Carpenter and her siblings, so we decided to meet up at Rothwell Truckstop on the A14, just west of Kettering. After a pasty and a bottle of Coke, we left Rothwell with Brian Potter leading the way in his drop dead gorgeous Swedish beauty. Sadly MDF soon realised why I was in front on the way up. Sadly unlike my hero the Duck, I did have everyone following me, I wasn’t just in front as the Gr814 is somewhat relaxed about speed. I think a sound investment maybe a new diff to give me a little more than 50mph. Although it wouldn’t have been to much of a problem if JC had driven EGV rather than trailered. Anyway a steady 50 is good for the fuel gauge
Once on the way to Gaydon, we planned on A14, M6, A46 and M40. Sadly as already of a Friday evening the authorities had better ideas and we were diverted off the A46 into Coventry. Amazing although a royal pain in the ass, it did provide some awesome memories of perhaps a time when dual carriageways were few and far between and we would have regularly been followed through towns by gorgeous old Scania and Volvos. It provided some great photos of the mind of nothing else. Once back on the A46 it was a simple run down to Gaydon. As the time was getting on we were a little unsure if we could get in the gate or not. But we didn’t need to worry as Lee Herbert and his team were more than accommodating and let us all in, unload the 141 and park up ready for the morning. Perfecto.
As for the run home, a real lovely run back in the sunny Sunday afternoon sun. Although I did manage to leave the show and drive up the little hill past all the photographers with my fuel cap dangling on its chain. Bugger. A change of route to go home, down the M40, A43, A421 to Buckingham, Milton Keynes and onto Bedford. We then picked up the A428 back to Cambridge. A nice run and chosen as we all potentially needed fuel on the way home. Once nearly back at Cambridge we headed our separate ways as JC wanted to get back to Elmswell and get EGV unloaded. I then headed down the M11, across the A505 and then down the A1307 to Haverhill and the back roads back just bear Colchester where I live. May was going to follow me but day dreamed on to Bury St Edmunds and then back down to Sudbury and Halstead.
The little Gr814 didn’t miss and beat and to be honest is a real pleasure to drive. It’s actually not any where near as bouncy as you’d think and by the time I got home, I’d proper settle in and it looked like I’d been away for a week towel hanging up to dry, bags on the top bunk, bedding on the bottom one, music on and CB there incase I needed a road report Roger. 300 plus miles covered and I’d happily do it all again, perhaps a little more speed and few less revs would be nice but you can’t have everything! Hopefully way before the Retro Show ‘23 I’ll have the paint done and the other bits and bobs and he’ll be finished. Top round trip, top show and top mates.
Fordham Vehicle Show 2022
The most local vehicle show to near where we live. A fantastic little village show that took place for the first time since 2019 and bearing in mind it was a scorching hot, humid day there was still a decent turn out of vehicles. One of best things about the show is the variety of vehicles. Yes I’m a truck man, but everything from bikes, cars, vans, a few lorries, tractors, racing cars, buses, Land Rovers, Americans and a Harley Davidson club. Something for everyone, literally a lovely assortment of what every takes your fancy. Sadly there were also a large numbers of dropouts due to the heat, lots of classic owners are keen on risking overheating their pride and joy, which I understand. Hopefully next year it’ll be back to full steam. I’ll try and post the details more next year as it would be great to see a few more commercials there.
Ok so it’s a pick-up TRUCK, but I’ll allow it on the blog this time, as for me it was the best looking vehicle in the show. The owner saw it for sale in Virginia, USA in exactly it’s cute t condition and decided he just had to have it. With Patina on vehicle Mrs being the latest craze, this has all the natural rust patches you could want. I think it just looks the nuts and I’d have happily taking it home myself. Perhaps a Chevy needs to go on the lottery list.
Pallet Plus were the only actual working trucks on show but two new MAN’s looked great in their red paint and sunshine. The Scammell below is a regular and I have a feeling it comes from a local railway museum at Chappel near Colchester but I could be wrong. It’s a proper old-timer and isn’t over cleaned or polished, it just looks tidy and original.
As for the Flatman Bedford, well if you like a classic British truck, this is the one for you. Flatland are a local egg company and the owner has a huge collection of classic sorts cars, but this was the first time I have seen the Bedford. Again like the Scammell, this was very tidy but not cleaned and restored to within an inch of its life. Genuinely it looked like it had just finished a days work collecting empty boxes. I think it looks perfect in the black and white photo below. Anyway, mid August next year, get yourself up to the Colchester area and come visit the show. You never know the Gr814 might have had a kick of paint by next years show!
Me? Doing some Mechanics??
It’s taken me longer than expected but that’s due to any reason you can think of, starting with actually buying said #gr814 during lockdown. After a little bit of a dance around getting parts, today was the day to get my hands dirty and actually do some mechanics myself. I am fairly practical and I have worked around trucks since I was a boy, but to date the biggest job I have done was replace a water pump on my old 141, although It had already been taken apart for me. Today everything was down to me to complete, under the guidance of one of the best in the business, Spencer Harwin. The list of jobs was pretty straight forward for any of you who regular have oily hands but for a pen pushing, blotter jotter like me, there was a lot to do. A new starter motor to be swapped, oil change, oil filter change, 2 of the 3 fuel filters to be changed, I was going to change the air filter too but after taking the old one out, it was like new, so it can stay as is. Five hours later and all was done.
The starter motor proved tricky, not a great start to the day. It’s was easy enough to get it lose and ready to remove, top tip was to remove the little heat shield on the manifold to give a little space. The difficulty comes in trying to physically remove it due to space constraints. An extra pair of hands helped at this stage (Thanks Roy) especially an experienced pair. One out and then one back in, putting the new one in was easier than getting the old out. I did manage to get a wire in the wrong place but easily changed and that was that. Next was the oil change. Again straight forward once Spencer removed the sump plug, the satisfying stream of oil drained out. The oil filter was removed with the removal of a 13mm nut.
The fuel filters were interesting as I had two new filters to go on, but on inspection we found found three filters in total. Two pre-filters and the main fuel filter. The first pre-filter was full on dirt from the fuel tank, so that was replaced entirely. The second pre-filter was as clean as a whistle, so as we didn’t have a second new one we left that as was. Finally the main fuel filter was removed and I also cleaned some dirt from the housing as there was a small build up of sludge in there.
All jobs done under the eagle eye of Spencer. Apparently I did well for a first timer, good to hear. In fact as I had been told, the 6 cylinder engine is relatively simple and now I know my way round it, it seems to have given me some piece of mind. We finished off by tightening the belts to get rid of the squealing, again a simple job when you know how. The final, final job was to remove the birds nest from the top of the washer bottle. All jobs done, a quick blast down the road and a good mornings work was complete. Next up will be a little bit of light cosmetic work, like the light board to go on the roof, which will involve relocating the CB aerial.
Painting of the Gr814
It’s now been a year since she’s been in the UK, MOT’d, registered, taxed and now the show season is nearly upon us I really want to get her painted and I know I’ve asked you all before for your opinions. Their is a great NG1633 that has been restored in Germany by the great Holger Hahn and I have to say that I want to turn the Gr814 into a bit of a mini me if that’s ok with Holger??
Here’s the plan;
The cab and roof deflector currently silver, both painted in Sky Blue RAL5015.
Front bumper only in Astral Silver which is MB9735.
Cab steps, front wings, chassis and fuel tank in Deep Black RAL9005.
Wheels – undecided.
There is reasons behind the choices that make sense to me at least. I’m all about keeping the truck original to its year of manufacturer 1989. The only blue available in the UK price list for that year is RAL5015 Sky Blue, that’s the cab and roof deflector sorted. I like the contrast of the silver bumper on the 1633, so it makes sense to use Adastral silver for this, as this is the colour of the cab currently and the colour it left the factory as. It also then keeps the original colour on the truck. This leaves the chassis and front wings. I like the black front wings on Holgers truck and as the chassis has been Deep Black (was known as Jet Black) since new, again it makes sense to keep it the same, keeping it original. I have to say although it looks good on the 1633 I’m not a fan of the factory standard chassis colour that both MB and MAN used to use and I’m not sure it will work so well on the smaller chassis on the 814.
If any body shops are reading this and want plenty of publicity and mentions for the next 12-24 months and want to paint the truck for free or as close as, please get in touch. I see it like a demo kitchen, get it for virtually nothing but it then becomes a physical advert for your work and I’m sure I can get your company name on the truck somewhere. To be discussed if you fancy the challenge.
Top, Middle or Bottom??
No it’s not a question from a 1980’s game show, but what’s your preference for painting the Gr814??
Trucks of The Year 2021
It’s been another funny old year and I haven’t actually done many shows sadly. There have been plenty of new trucks about despite the various cancellations and seemingly endless restrictions, and a lot of shows were still able to go ahead as they were outside. My annual trip to a foreign show was once again put on hold, but hopefully next year I can take my own truck abroad for the first time since UJN 509V back in 2009! Anyway I digress. Trucks of Year really comes following the week in trucks idea, which despite contrary belief first came about on TB and not elsewhere. I wanted to point out a few stand out trucks for me this year in the hope you will all share photos of some of your favourites too in the comments below.
I’ll start with Coles & Sons New Old Skool. Coles never disappoint and they really are no show ponies, they spend a lot of time abroad and do a lot of high profile work. For me I found this truck to take Coles back to their roots and back to the family business colours, but at the same time wowing us all as always. Just for info the Coles & Sons page released the first photos and videos of the truck back in January this year and have since had over half a million views, most of which came in the first week.
Next one worth a mention is this Volvo FH V1 restoration my Bert De Mooij and Bert De Mooij. I love the Retro Truck Show in September and for me this truck is 100% what it’s all about. The retro trucking scene is for trucks that have been restored and put into the glory of years gone by, perhaps with a modern twist. If we cast ourselves back to 1993 when Volvo launched the version 1 FH, this truck would have been spot on for a Dutch flower truck. Not over the top by any means, just clever use of paint (of course it’s Dutch!) and a few accessories that are easily accepted as being period. It looks spot on for me, love it.
Next a couple of personal favourites. The above Actros Edition 2 special Edition with all the boxes ticked is an amazing truck. Once again MB Trucks are pioneering the way with technology, which whether you like it or not is coming now the majority of manufacturers are now copying and offering similar. This Actros is my favourite new truck delivery of the year. Everyone loves new truck day, but perhaps because of how passionate Wilkin & Sons are about Mercs or perhaps because it was the first Edition 2 on the road in the UK, for me my favourite work related truck.
Next up…. The Gr814. My own truck, bought and imported from Germany in February. I love little sleeper cabs, I love mini tractor units and when I bought my first truck in 1997 I couldn’t afford an 814! This has had two owners since 1989 and has done a genuine 260,000km from new. It has nearly all the available factory options from the time, which really just leaves me only to do a little titivating and then hopefully get it painted before 2022’s show season.
Next a proper big hitter and a worthy truck of the year mention. This DAF by Paul Cecil is simply awesome. Even if you’re not a DAF fan, or a fan or green trucks you have to appreciate this Gloucestershire beauty. I don’t know Paul too well but we have the odd chat and I remember a few years back at Assen, Paul saying the truck was in build and was having a few paint issues, but those have all been overcome and the result I’m sure is exactly what Paul and family were after. One thing to remember is that building a show winner takes time and patience people. That said it is a hard working truck, it covers all of Europe on a regular basis and is cleaner than nearly any other truck you’ll see. It is also clearly appreciated by the European show circuit too, picking up trophies at both the Nordic Trophy and the Powertruck Show in its first year. Well done Paul.
For me I think this is my truck of the year 2021. A boy hood dream and poster truck for lots of us. I have been doing the Centurion list with Richard Payne and hopeful of getting a publisher for ‘22, but finding out this truck was being restored back to its original glory and then seeing her in September will take some beating. I have spoken to Michael Taylor during the restoration and was also privy to seeing the artwork being done by Matt during the painting process. I have even spoken to John Philips and he is over the moon with it too. The truck is as good as I’d hoped, the attention to detail is everywhere. Note the Keltruck mudflap’s have the 1991 phone number not the current one. I also love the artwork, we all know Matt is a true artist and should be recognised in the art world for his masterpieces. I also like that the artwork is a modern take on the original, as in the images aren’t quite as they were in 1991 but are Matts take on them. A real dream truck for me and once again well done to Michael and all involved, I really look forward to seeing again in 2022. They say you shouldn’t meet your hero’s…… certainly not trucking true in this case.
The Gr814 – D to GB
How do you solve a problem like Maria getting a truck from Germany to England on a very tight budget?? Call in a load of favours and ask those close colleagues from 25 years in the transport industry what they can do to help. So I have a best mate who was shipping more JCB’s out the country than anyone else for a few years. Said BM was able to negotiate a very decent package for shipping the truck from Bremerhaven back to Harwich, but at the shippers discretion. Meaning when the boat was empty and wasn’t pushed for space. This also meant that it would be down to the shipper to tell me when he wanted it. Not to bad at all other than the truck was still 102 miles away from Bremerhaven.
Time to bite the bullet. As I had half a plan I went back to Tobi (the seller) and put the current plan to him, thinking he might be able to make a suggestion or suggest a company close to him who may be able to move the truck for me. Tobi came back to me straight away and offered to drive the truck himself to Bremerhaven as it would be a nice little “good bye” drive to a truck that had served him very well. Once again a great help from Tobi. The only downside was it meant having to buy some export plates so the truck could driven after Tobi had de-registered it from his name which we had to do so I could arrange customs, don’t forget this was a month after Brexit as well as the Covid effect. You see it really wasn’t the best easiest time to be buying a new toy! About a week after the plan was hatched, the call from the shipper came and they wanted it on the sailing out of Bremerhaven on the 16th February. This gave us a little time for Tobi to do the necessary at his local tax office (such a great and seemingly easy way to do everything vehicle related in a local office rather than dealing with a single national association based in Wales!!) and we opted for 2 week Transit plates just in case. Tobi planned to take the truck up to Bremerhaven on the 15th February so it was there ready and waiting for the boat to arrive the day after.
As you can see from the photos this would have been as easy 102 mile ride apart from the snow came down in Germany and made for some very tricky driving conditions. Being an expert racing driver Tobi had no real issues apart from needing a little help from the Polizei to get over the brow of a hill! Having made it to Bremerhaven Tobi checked in and was asked to drop the truck on the quay for the night so it was ready to load in the morning.
The following day, the 16th February, I heard nothing so I’ve always been a “no news is good news” type of chap and I assumed the truck had made it onto the boat and left Germany for the UK. I was correct and the next call I got was to say the truck was sat on the quay at Navyard in Harwich, 30 minutes from my house. Customs was done and paid for while the truck was enroute and I was therefore free to collect the truck on the Saturday morning and take it home.
Once in Harwich I was greeted with the above. I cannot tell you how nervous I was, from the point of view we hear so many horror stories of vehicle sales where people don’t view the motor first, but I was more than surprised and more than happy. Tobi Marggraf from Racing Team Marggraf had been true to his word and the truck was in great condition. All the paperwork and German registration documents were in the glove box including some original owners paperwork, more than I needed but again proved how honest Tobi had been. I needed all the original copies of the German paperwork to make the UK registration as easy as possible. This just left me to start her up and take a very very enjoyable trip back up the A120 and A12 home. Thanks Tobi you know I will look after her!! One truck purchased and shipped back to the UK for a touch less than what the truck had originally be advertised for. Happy blogger.
The Gr814 – The Deal
I’m sure during lock down all of us spent more time scrolling through Europe’s used truck ads than ever before. I’m sure during lock down all of us spent more time buying things online than ever before. Add these two scenarios together and can you guess what happens??
On the 24th January at 2049hrs (iPhones save the date and time of images!) yet another search on mobile.de threw up the image above. How could anybody resist! I ran through the photos on the ad and the truck looked immaculate and claimed a genuine 260,000km on a truck made in 1989. The truck is an 814S sleeper, which had a factory conversion into a 7 seater, 3 singles in the front row and a 4 person bench seat in the back. Through the nature of my day job, I checked the original build spec and the truck is as it was the day it left the factory, even the paint colours are still the same.
I’m a sucker for a 7.5 tonner and sleeper cabbed one at that, add in the mini artic bit and it’s like Christmas Day all over again. I had to have it!! I WhatsApp’d the seller (Tobi) straight away and he replied with some detail and some more photo’s- the deal had to be done and it was within my very small budget and if the seller was being truthful and the photos weren’t hiding anything then the truck looked pretty straight. The truck has spent its years pulling race trailers around Europe so the mileage would be pretty low bearing in mind all the sitting around between events and also when at events, so the mileage could be genuine. Maybe a few days later and a deal was struck, we were still in lock down here in the UK which meant I couldn’t get out to collect it so a plan had to be worked on to get her back to the UK. Was I nuts? Buying a truck over the internet, from Germany, from a man I had never met or actually spoken to, in lock down….
….who cares, sometimes a risk needs to be taken. The seller Tobi, was very helpful and gave me copies of all the paperwork by email and also sent me a receipt for payment on his race team headed paper with all the official details. Tobi also said the truck could stay with him for as long as it took me to come up with a pick up plan and he was happy to help in anyway he could. So finally I was a truck owner again, with what looked like a genuine mini artic tractor unit and all I had to do was get it from Bad Fallingbostal, Germany which is approximately halfway between Hanover and Hamburg. The only thing I knew at this point was, sadly it wouldn’t be me driving it back due to lockdown restrictions.
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