Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2020 i Classic & Vintage Commercials

COLES PLASTICS With reference to the Coles Plastics photos in the October issue, I think that the bottom photo on page 46, which has the two vehicles going up the hill, will have been taken on the Lower Luton Road between Wheathampstead and Batford, on the Wheathampstead side at the bottom of the hill. The photographer has then crossed the road at that point and taken the top photo on page 48. There, if you look behind the second vehicle at the bottom of the hill, the turning to the left will lead you to the ‘deep ford’ and is the turn where top photo on page 47 exits to that road. A Butterfield Just wanted to put my two-penneth in, being relatively local, regarding the Cole Plastics photographs in…

In the Spotlight 1984 Seddon Atkinson 401 by David Reed Owned by: Lennie Hilton Back in September 2019, the spotlight fell on B435 WFJ, Kevin Ward’s 1984 ERF C Series that had just been restored in his firm’s livery. Now it has been joined by another vehicle. Meet A748 DWP, a 1984 Seddon Atkinson 401 owned by Lennie Hilton. To recap, Kevin’s ERF C Series was registered on January 8 1985 and was supplied by Frank Tucker of Exeter and has been restored for a couple of years now. “It was owned by D Marston and probably used on milk tanker work in the Chepstow area,” Kevin said. “It was bought to replicate one of the ERF C Series that Ward Brothers used to run, and has been painted in…

Magnificent Maestros? Peter Simpson profiles the final mass-market light van from Longbridge, and gives some advice on finding and buying one. Though to a large extent overshadowed by its rivals from Ford and GM/Vauxhall, the Maestro van was not without its plus-points, and sold well to fleets. It also did okay with one-of purchasers, especially when promoted by an enthusiastic local main dealer. At one point, Austin-Rover claimed 38% UK market share for the Metro and Maestro vans combined. Like the contemporary Sherpa range, the Maestro was a particular favourite of utilities such as regional water companies along with British Rail and some police forces. It was also used widely by British Telecom, whose 1985 order for 3000 Maestro City with a showroom value of £13.7million was, at the time,…

COLLECTABLES Nick Baldwin takes another of his periodic looks into the world of period collectables. One could make quite a passable lorry out of Meccano, but in America they took a step towards greater realism with the Gilbert Erector. The parts came in a smart wooden box and included a few preformed necessities, like the radiator and bonnet on the excellent White shown alongside. As the vehicle has a 1920s look about it, one can only assume that the kit was its contemporary. Still in America we have the hood (bonnet) emblem for a Federal seen at the Beaulieu Autojumble. This one had a deco 1930s look, whilst the other assorted US badges are interesting for including two radiator shapes and the flash off a Howe fire appliance, a make…

Next month Coming up in the December 2020 issue of Classic & Vintage Commercials OUT Friday November 27 CLASSIC VAN and pick-up Plus; Bedford O restoration, Albion Chieftain, a look inside the Guy factory shortly before closure, more old working lorries, all our regular features and a few surprises for good measure! BUY DIRECT! While things are now returning to normal in most parts of the UK, there are still some local difficulties/shortages as supply chains get back into gear. To find a local stockist of any Kelsey Media magazine, go to http://services.marketforce.co.uk/storelocator/search.aspx?pubcode=82&showmap=1 Alternatively, we can still supply individual copies direct along with and a range of short and long-term subscription offers, including three issues for £9.99. For more details of these, go to https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/promotion/kp1 These features are all planned at…

Syd’s Scammell Supersale! David Reed travelled to Sheffield to see some of the Scammell R8s that worked for the legendary haulier Syd Harrison. After retirement and half a century storage for around 50 years, they are now for sale. The Scammell Rigid-Eight is definitely an iconic lorry that appeared in 1937 and was the first rigid eight-wheeler that the Watford firm produced. Conceived in 1936, production was down to Scammell’s Chief Designers Oliver North and Percy Hugh, with the first two ‘prototypes’ being completed a year later. They were delivered to George Pickin & Sons of Tinsley and sported a rather ungainly cab. This design had been replaced by the time the R8s were exhibited at the 1937 Motor Show, by the newer more stylish version that was to be…

CLOSE-UP on Classics LEYLAND T45 Peter Davies concludes his Leyland T45 trilogy with a look at the baby of the range… The Roadrunner was the baby of the Leyland T45 range. Having led with the maximum capacity Roadtrain artics and Constructor multi-wheelers, the company began moving down the weight range with the medium-to-heavy Freighters and Cruisers. The next step was to cater for the light-to-medium sector, a weight sector previously covered by BMC models such as the Terrier. Another lightweight was of course the LAD cabbed Leyland ‘90’ 2-tonner of 1964, arising from the links with Standard Triumph. Historically Leyland had mainly concentrated on heavy vehicles; its only lightweight being the pre-war Cub which was built at the Kingston-on-Thames factory. The merger with British Motor Holdings brought with it the…

Civil Defence Ford? With regard to the origins of RGC 996 as featured in your October issue, I would say that there is a strong possibility that it was purchased for the Civil Defence Corps. In Brecon we had an SWB Land Rover hard top with windows as a mobile radio communications vehicle, reg. No. RGC 909. I recall when out on exercise, seeing a variety of Civil Defence vehicles in that series of RGC numbers, all painted in an sort of olive green colour, all supplied by the Home Office. I hope that helps to confirm its origins. Roger Young…

Letters THANK YOU VERY MUCH At this time of the year, I am usually involved with finalising the arrangements for the lorry event which I organise at the New Hollies, now called ‘Road King’, Transport Café, on the famous A5 at Cannock, Staffordshire As you’re aware, most vehicle events have been cancelled this year, so it is only right in my eyes to give a massive ‘thank-you’ to all of the classic commercial vehicle owners and professional drivers who over the past few years have supported me. Firstly, it is only fair to thank all the people who do a lot of hard work behind the scenes, such as the vehicle marshals. These include my eversupportive father, Alan and long-time friend Jim Read, as well as all the people who…

Carrying on We welcome photos of older lorries that are still in service for publication in this section. We can accept contributions by email – cvc.ed@kelsey.co.uk, or by post to The Editor, Classic & Vintage Commercials, Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding ME18 6AL. Please provide as much (or as little) information about a vehicle as you are able and, before entering or taking photos on private property, please ensure that you have all the permissions that you need to be there, and to be taking photographs. John Podgorski Mike Sowinski Rob Hunt Bill Florey Bill Florey Bill Florey Mike Sowinski Bill Florey John Podgorski John Podgorski.…

COMPACT CAMPER Keith Bullock has owned this 1971 Morris ½ ton SunTor Camper since 1983, but despite its superb condition, it’s never been off the road for a long-term restoration. Mike Neale tells the story… Introduced in 1954, the Austin A40/A50 Cambridge was designed in-house by Austin’s styling department under Dick Burzi. Half-ton vans and pick-ups arrived in 1956, fitted with the 1489cc B-Series engine from the A50 version rather than the A40s 1200. In 1962, the commercials were facelifted with a wider grille and at the same time a Morris badged version appeared with a straight bar grille instead of the crinkly Austin grille, although they were otherwise identical. In 1963 the 1622cc B-Series engine was fitted. In this form they remained in production until 1972, and approximately 26,000…

VOLVO F88 ‘LOVE TRUCK’ RETURNS! The second part of NICK LARKIN’S look at the history of Bedfordshire-based recovery firm Statham’s includes a magnificent 1972 Volvo F88 which is back after 17 years away. But why is it called The Love Truck? A mighty 1972 Volvo F88 stands gleaming in the yard of recovery specialists Statham’s, 37 years after first entering the fleet, and looking very much at home. However, a lot has happened to the lorry in that time, and the same goes for the business. Statham’s history started in 1948 as a humble garage in Redbourn village with its High Street the then very busy Watling Street (A5) north of St Albans. Last month we looked at the Statham’s story up to 1970 and profiled a superb 1943 Diamond…

AUCTION REPORT THE KEV DENNIS COLLECTION Wainfleet, Lincolnshire October 3 Despite wet conditions all day, and attendance being restricted to genuine would be buyers, the Kev Dennis clearance auction on Saturday October 3 was a massive success and an event which we are sure will be remembered by enthusiasts for many years to come. Talking after the event, a delighted Kevin told Classic & Vintage Commercials “I’m absolutely delighted. Bill King and the team from Cheffins did a first-class job in every respect.” In all 38 lorries, nine trailers and numerous lots of spares from the Dennis collection were sold without reserve and we understand that all were bought by people within the British Isles. The top seller, as most people expected, was the ex-Perkins Development 1980 Roadtrain 4x2 with…

‘SD’ – SHELVOKE & DREWRY Mike Forbes previews the latest issue in the Vintage Roadscene Archive series of publications. This latest in the Archive series tells the story of a company which was set up to manufacture a small delivery vehicle with no steering wheel became a leading manufacturer of refuse collection vehicles, as well as fire appliances and fork-lifts. There were also passenger vehicles, 4x4s and even straightforward lorries. Compiled by Malcolm Bates, who worked for the company for 14 years, until not long before its unfortunate demise, with the assistance of Brian Carpenter of the SD Enthusiasts Club, the bookazine features many previously unpublished pictures retrieved from the company archives. The story is told of how the SD Freighter became a favourite with local authorities as the basis…

Model Corner Mike Neale profiles the various miniature Ford Thames ET6 and ET7 models that are available for enthusiasts and collectors. Ford introduced its new semi-forward-control Thames truck range in 1949. The designation ET6 indicated a petrol engine, whilst ET7 denoted a Perkins diesel was fitted, externally identifiable by the Perkins badge on the grille. Early ET6 trucks had the V8 engine from the Ford 7V, with a ‘cost-cutter’ four-cylinder OHV petrol engine arriving on the 2 and 3-ton versions in 1953. Initially they were badged as ‘Fordson’ above the Thames grille badge, until 1952. Later versions were known as the Thames 500E or 520E. They were produced until the end of 1961. They were also built under licence in Spain from 1956 by Motor Iberica S.A. of Barcelona under…

Club DIRECTORY EVERY care has been taken in compiling this list of clubs and organizations, however, if you would like to alter any details then contact us at cvc.ed@kelsey.co.uk or write to Classic and Vintage Commercials, Kelsey Media, PO Box 978, Peterborough PE1 9FL. If your club has not been listed then, once again, please get in touch and we will make sure it is included. AEC SOCIETY Website aecsociety.com, membership secretary Howard Berry, 7 Donaldson Drive, Cheswardine, Shropshire TF9 2NY, e-mail membership@aecsociety.com THE ALBION CLUB Website www.albionclub.org.uk, address 7 John Street, Biggar, Lanarkshire, ML12 6AX, telephone 01899 220708. staffed part-time, e-mail info@albionclub.org.uk ATKINSON, SEDDON AND SEDDON ATKINSON LORRY FORUM – http://seddonatkinsonclub.proboards.com/index.cgi AYRSHIRE VINTAGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE GROUP AVCVG President:- Ross Rae. Email: -rothsaybay44@gmail.com Telephone number 07815573926 BEDFORD OWNERS’ AND ENTHUSIASTS’…