Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Classic & Vintage Commercials

As usual, the Basingstoke Festival of Transport – now organised solely by Basingstoke Deane Rotary Club – attracted strong support from the commercial vehicle fraternity, with a locally-produced Thornycroft Antar being probably the most eyecatching exhibit. The Best in Show Commercial Vehicle, however, was this 1948 Bedford M Type owned by David Baker of Oakley, who owns a local vehicle recovery business. David first saw his M Type when it ran, in part-restored condition, on the HCVS London to Brighton run a few years ago. He had always fancied owning a Bedford, but this one seemed especially appropriate because, in David’s own words, “the registration plate is my initials and the truck was built in the year and month I was born.” David rediscovered the lorry parked in a front garden…

In prototype form, as shown at the Earls Court Show in September 1974, the 400 tractor unit was powered by a Cummins NTC-335 but that power unit was not included in the engine options when production commenced, although some were built to customers’ special order. The show tractor was a special left-hand drive sleeper-cabbed unit, underlining Seddon Atkinson’s determination to expand its European sales. The company clearly had hopes of achieving greater market penetration promised by Britain’s EU membership. When the range finally entered full production in the spring of 1975 the specifications were geared more to the UK market. Tractor units had design gross weights from 30 tons up to 37.4 tons, limited of course to 32 tons by UK law. The lowest-powered and cheapest model was the T30G6XB…

Back in the 1970s, Bedford lorries were everywhere in the UK, and the famous TK was as common as muck. Just about any lorry driver of the era probably drove one, many people would have passed their HGV Class 3 test in them (and possibly their Class 1 as well). They did anything and everything. But by the mid-1970s the TK was beginning to look a little dated. Bedford’s designers were, however, already on the case, and in early 1980, its replacement was unveiled – the TL. Initially the TK and TL were sold side-by-side and it was even Bedford’s intention the TL would merely complement its predecessor, but the in the end, TK ended production in the early 1980s. Sadly the TL was effectively doomed from the start as…

Rootes Group introduced the BF van (reckoned to denote Bantam Forward-control) in 1953, fitted with a 2260cc four-cylinder petrol engine from the Humber Hawk or a2260cc four-cylinder diesel option. It was sold under both Commer and Karrier marque names, but the BF designation was largely absent from period brochures. It had a steel body,4-speed synchromesh gearbox and telescopic hydraulic dampers. There was a ¾ton (15cwt) van, a one-ton (20cwt) version with a 111in.wheelbase and 280 cu. ft. load capacity,and a 1½-ton (30cwt) with a 123in.wheelbase and 300cu. ft. load capacity. Sliding side doors allowed the driver to hop in and out easily when making deliveries. It was also available as a chassis &scuttle for special bodywork to be added. Although the Commer WalkThru van was launched in 1961, the BF…

The 2023 AEC Gathering took place over spring bank holiday weekend (May 27-28) at its usual Newark Showground venue. As is also usual, the event attracted strong support from owners of many other lorry makes and models as well. We will be running a full report later in the year, however while walking around we were pleased to catch up again with AEC Militant enthusiast/collector Rob Smith. Two of Rob’s Militants have been featured in CVC. back in 2017 we featured his timber tractor, while more recently, our June 2022 issue covered the rebuild of his Militant fuel tanker. This went on to win both the Charles W Banfield Challenge Cup and the Best Military Vehicle awards on last year’s HCVS London to Brighton Run. Rob has now sold the…

The Morris Commercial J-Type 10 cwt van was launched in October 1948, powered by a 1476cc sidevalve engine mated to a three-speed gearbox. The General Post Office had traditionally been abig purchaser of Morris vans, and around 12% of all J-Types and JB vans were bought by the GPO, both for Royal Mail and Post Office Telephones fleets. Royal Mail J-Types first entered service in late 1950. The GPO designated them as 100 cu. ft. Mailvans, although Morris Commercial advertised the J-Type as having aload capacity of 150 cu. ft. They were built to the GPO’s specification, differing from the “civilian” vans in several respects. One of the most obvious externally was the fitment of rubber wings, which necessitated mounting the headlamps and sidelamps on the side of the body…

SEDDON 32-4 We take a look at, and tell the story of, Mark Ricketts’ latest restoration. It’s an absolute belter! FORD ESCORT VAN New role, and a new look for an ex-BT van BEDFORD TJ A not-quite matching pair; Mike Neale tells the story… COMMER COMMANDO Not forgetting the Dodge incarnation of course – Peter Davies takes a look at the final lorry to carry the famed Rootes Group brand-name. MANCHESTER FIRE MUSEUM Well worth a visit if you’re heading up north this year; Bob Weir lifts the lid on this rather special collection. PLUS: Classic & Vintage Commercials Show report from Gaydon, a speciallythemed Carrying On, Events listing between now and the end of September, all our regular features and, of course, a few surprises!…

Sad news – the 2023 Eastern Counties Show has been cancelled, due according to organisers Gary and Julie Woodrow, to the Norwich and Norfolk Showground being unable to provide a suitable date for the event which doesn’t clash with other events. It is stressed that this cancellation is not in any way due to lack of support; many enthusiasts are extremely disappointed by this news. Gary and Julie also say that they looked into alternative locations, but been unable to find anything suitable. The good news, however, is that a provisional date has been booked for September 2024, and Gary and Julie are absolutely determined to see this new, but already-popular event continue. Everyone on the organisers list will be contacted nearer the time. Obviously the 2023 cancellation is a…

The Crowland Buffalo LVT Association are continuing to restore LVT47, the WW2-era ‘Buffalo’ amphibious landing craft which they dug up from aSouth Lincolnshire field in 2021. So far the shell has been fully cleaned up and freed off, anew set of tracks sourced and fitted, the gearbox rebuilt and a new replacement engine has been imported from America. This could be seen (and heard) running at the 2022 Crowland &Thorney 1940s weekend; an annual event held to support the restoration. The Association have achieved a great deal in a relatively short time, and intend to have the Buffalo in running condition for 2025. However,restoration work of this kind costs a lot of money,and this year the organisation is concentrating on promotion and fundraising. To help with this, the Association have…

SIX-WHEELER FOIBLES David Reed’s feature (CVC, June) on Johnny Murphy’s Guy Big J sixwheeled mixer triggered a memory of the occasion when, as technical editor of the then popular monthly Commercial Vehicles, I went up to Wolverhampton to drive the latest Big J 6x4 tipper chassis. Riding ‘shotgun’ with me in the cab of the fully-laden 22-tonner was Guy’s chief engineer Ernest Clarke, who was more worldy-wise then myself about the foibles of multi-wheelers. I clearly remember him pointing out the manoeuvring challenges of short-wheelbase rigid doubledrive six-wheelers, especially on the wet muddy roads frequently encountered at building sites. There were, he reminded me, always eight tyres wanting ‘to go straight on’ and only the two at the front endeavouring to make the turn. If the bogie’s inter-axle diff-lock was…

Let’s time-travel to the Brewers Exhibition of 1906 held at the Agricultural Hall, Islington where steam and internal combustion engined wagons were vying for customers. Amongst the steamers was a fiveton Allchin in the livery of its local customer, the Northampton Brewery, whilst on the Foden stand was a wagon for Shipstone’s Brewery of New Basford, Nottingham. It’s a shame that the burnished colours of each brewery are not described in that era of black and white photos, though the Foden was commended for its excellence of design and finish. Mann showed its five tonner for delivery to Hancocks in Cardiff, their third since 1903. Craftsmanship was described as workmanlike and stout, a particularly apt choice of word for a writer who had probably sampled a pint or two by…