Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Classic & Vintage Commercials

The ‘Spanish’ Dodge Mk.2 range, announced in late 1977, was the first to be officially dubbed the ‘300 Series’ and was powered by an improved BS36 engine with a slightly lower output of 266bhp net at 2200rpm and 745lbf.ft of torque at 1400rpm. It incorporated a strengthened cylinder head with improved cooling and a new design of head gasket. Other improvements were made, notably to the injection pump and pipes, piston rings and cylinder liners, as well as having uprated water pump bearings and a strengthened inlet manifold. At the same time a Fuller Roadranger RTO 9509A nine-speed overdrive range-change gearbox became standard. The main model for the UK was re-designated R3620P instead of K3820P, and now had a design gcw of 36 tonnes (35.9 tons). It still had a…

Peter Bibby has been associated with transport all his life, initially with commercial vehicles before the family firm concentrated on running a fleet of coaches. Nowadays, the Bibby’s ofIngleton fleet can be seen anywhere in the country, indeed the continent, but the family still retain a couple of lorries that were once the mainstay of the firm, vehicles that they have owned since the 1960s. One of these lorries is YAT 221, a 1958 Seddon Mk5 P6 that was bought in 1966, and is still rallied to this day.A distinctive vehicle, the Seddon has had a number of horse brasses fixed to the front since its days as aworking lorry. But Peter’s own story is equally fascinating. Initially,the family business revolved around a couple of fruit and vegetable shops in…

The Austin 1800, code name ADO17, affectionately known as the “Landcrab” due to its wide, low appearance and its ability to cross rough ground, was launched in September 1964. Designed by Alec Issigonis, with input from Pininfarina (principally on the front-end treatment), the front-wheel-drive 1800 was technically advanced, comfortable and spacious compared to the external dimensions, with a long wheelbase relative to the body. Generally well received by the motoring press, it was voted European Car of the Year in 1965. Morris badged versions followed in 1966, then the Wolseley 18/85 in 1967. Like the smaller BMC 1100 (ADO16), it featured Hydrolastic suspension. It was fitted with a1798cc version of the B-Series engine that had been developed for the MGB, but in single carburettor form. There was no subframe, as…

The East Yorkshire based Darley family are, it would be fair to say, lorry-people through and through, and in this case the passion and enthusiasm really does go right through the family, with Dad Carl, Mum Kerry, and sons Lee, Tommy and Charlie all very-much involved in the hobby. Dad Carl, 78, who has worked on lorries and associated things mechanical since leaving school aged 14 and going to Edwards of Hull as an apprentice mechanic. As part of his training, Edwards put him through his car driving test at the age of 17, and Carl’s driving test was certainly memorable: “I was expecting to use the firm’s pick-up, but on the day of my test foreman Peter Prodhum said that I could use a Bedford O ty type tractor…

Reading PD’s Archive in the Februar y edition, which included a photograph of a Harr y Parkinson Seddon Atkinson, rekindled memories of my time working in Blackpool, where I started work at Imperial Garages in 1948. At that time the Parkinson brothers were well known in the town, Harr y being the eldest. Before starting out in haulage, Harr y did a bit of car dealing, and often came into the garage for bits for jobs, which was how I got to know him. He was a big lad. I would describe him as a gentle giant and a real gentleman. He started out in the early 1950s running Atkinsons, a brand to which he remained loyal for years. I was interested to note that the lorr y in PD’s…

Though most British enthusiasts think of Malta as a place where older British lorries can still be seen working, there is also an extremely enthusiastic preservation movement there. The Maltese are also, deservedly, extremely proud of their own heritage, and many vehicles are now preserved on the Island with the traditional Maltese look. The Bedford J featured here is a particularly fine example, which has caught the eye of our good friend Ashley Lovering on his regular visits to the Island. It is now in the custody of father and son team Ian and Emanuel Grima, who with assistance from Emanuel’s brother Joe, have restored the lorry themselves. Emanuel also owns a Dodge from the 1940s. When and how the J Type arrived on Malta isn’t certain, though it’s likely…

Last month Ilooked at some of the Ergomatic cabbed models that were made while the real vehicles were in production, as well as more recent Corgi Classics fire engines. This time I’ll cover the more recent collectors’ models. Corgi Classics From the early 1990s onwards, Corgi produced a lot of 1/50 scale diecast Ergomatic cabbed models –AEC, Albion and Leyland badged versions, as well as the fire engines reviewed last month. They captured the shape well, although all had the same grille and wing types whichever badge was fitted. Door mirrors were either provided in the box or ready fitted to the models, and later issues had photo-etched windscreen wipers fitted. An early issue was the eight-wheel AEC Cylindrical Tanker in maroon &cream North Eastern Gas Board livery, model No.…

Following the three-part Nick Baldwin series on cabs which Ifound veryinteresting, Iam sending you some French bonneted lorries with special cabs built by some bodybuilders mainly in the 1950s. These were not cheap; at the time a customer told me that the price of a special cab was the same as anew Peugeot 403! I hope you find these interesting.…

Anglia Car Auctions first auction of 2023 took place over the weekend of January 28-29 at their King’s Lynn premises. It was an extremely busy sale overall with some good prices realised, though there did seem to be slightly fewer light commercials than in the recent past. For example, there were only two Land-Rovers here this time, and only one sold. However, the one that did go – a 1983 was without doubt one of the weekend’s star performers, smashing it’s £6-8k estimate to finish at £15,984 including ACA’s 8% Buyer’s Premium. Owned by the vendor since 2021 and previously in storage from 2009, the 1983 88in Series III station wagon had had around £9000 spent since restoration around a new galvanised chassis. There were a few Mini commercial vehicles…

I found Nick Baldwin’s Albion Sunset feature on pages 62 and 63 of the Februar y issue ver y interesting, especially the hub reduction axle view. Our old waste disposal company, Adams and Sons, based nr Wolverhampton used to run at least thirty Clydesdales and Super Comets and Reivers on heavy tipping site work. The axles stood the abuse ver y well. However, we did break half shafts occasionally, the Super Comet half shaft part number was 630 K 15 E. I remember them well. Please find attached an image of one of our Clydesdales tipping showing Archie Hill at the controls. Most of the Leyland’s were purchased from Brownhills Motor Sales, later taken over by the Tarmac Group. Paul Adams…

Back in the 1960s we were used to seeing fuel tankers in the liveries of leading fuel companies like Esso, Shell, BP, Cleveland, Mobil, Regent, Total etc. In recent times such famous brands have increasingly opted for anonymity perhaps through growing public opposition to internal combustion engines as we gradually switch to electric propulsion. This Esso Scammell Highwayman from 1961 carries the Royal Warrant on its doors and proudly states “By appointment to HM Queen Elizabeth II, purveyors of motor spirit”. Peter J Davies.…

The Austin Seven and Morris Mini Minor burst onto the scene in 1959. BMC soon realised that with afront engine and front wheel drive, you could do pretty much what you liked at the back, making it ideal for 5cwt panel van and pickup derivatives, which were launched in June 1960 and June 1961 respectively. The van had twin rear doors and a low floor, making it easy to load. The spare wheel, battery and fuel tank were positioned below the floor to maximise the loadspace, which was officially 46 cu. ft. or 58.5 cu. ft. without the optional-extra passenger seat. Early vans had a smooth roof and roof-mounted ventilator, but from 1966 the ventilator was deleted and the roof gained stiffening ribs. The commercial variants all had a simple…