It's amazing isn't it? Biglorryblog goes away for a week and what happens? They 'retire' ERF! Anyway here's BLB's official tribute (with apologies to E.J.Thribb) to the famous brand.
So then, ERF. You are no longer. Keith's mum says that all the while you had a Cummins there was hope for you. But alas not any more.
I suppose it was only a matter of time (or to be more accurate 'when', not 'if') and the old lady was probably living on borrowed time anyway----nevertheless it's still sad to see another proud British brand bite the dust and heading for the last fuel-up.... So who's to blame? Well probably no-one and everyone if you think about it. Like Foden, if everyone who thought ERF was a great truck and is sorry to see it go bought one then it would still be with us.
Then there was the 'will they, won't they' approach from Cummins who, having shown an SCR version of the ISMe way back in (I think) 2004 at the NEC then ultimately decided it wouldn't be offering one at Euro-4. That combined with the arrival of MAN's D20 diesel (a cracker on fuel and ever bit as good as the ISMe in terms of overall performer) probably provided the ultimate nail in the coffin. You can't blame MAN really. Having developed the D20 it was hardly going to miss an opportunity to sell it to UK operators over the Cummins. Which left us with the ultimate irony of a D20-powered TGA badged as a ERF.
Still, here's a gentle reminder from Commercial Motor 1997 of the glory days of ERF...
It's from the original 'Fuel Duel' promotion which saw ERF challenge an operator to take on of its EC11 and put it up against their own truck to prove that the Cummins powered tractor was best on fuel.
CM had a 380hp Fuel Duel tractor for a full roadtest and it delivered a stonking 8.47mpg which set a new record beating the previous Volvo FH12 record holder which delivered 8.39mpg but at Euro-1. As I recall ERF's fleet of 28 Fuel Duel tractors won something like 200 contests and drew a few others (no doubt someone can tell me the final scores) with few, if any losses. The ERF Fuel Duel really did lay down a marker in the sand and I doubt whether we'll see such a bold marketing approach again. Or given its confidence in its own D20 and D26 engines perhaps MAN might take it up again?
Could ERF have survived? Well here's a picture of its last true 'ERF' model--the ECX which I rather rated. Unfortunately time did for it but if they had been able to stick a Cummins Signature under the hood (which was what they always intended) and made the interior more attractive I believe they'd have had a real Swede basher...
Meanwhile, here's the official MAN statement in full: "Following the decision by Cummins not to provide a Euro-4 engine suitable for the ERF range of trucks, MAN has been equipping ERF models with its well proven MAN D20 engine.
This specification has been readily accepted by many ERF/Cummins customers. However, this change to MAN’s Euro 4 engine has resulted in a significant reduction in demand for ERF badged trucks.
MAN ERF UK pledged that, while significant demand for the ERF brand remained, the company would respond and keep the brand alive in the UK. Unfortunately this reduction in demand, together with the introduction of the new MAN TGX and TGS models, means the company has decided to cease production of ERF branded trucks.
MAN ERF UK will continue to support its customers, operating c. 20,000 ERF trucks on the road today, with the highest levels of back-up.
CEO of MAN ERF UK Ltd., Des Evans, explains: “We have always said that while there was a sustainable UK market demand for the ERF brand, we would continue to build and supply them. Sadly for this historic brand, due to the fact we no longer have a Cummins engine as a differentiator, that demand has shrunk to almost nothing and it is not economically viable to manufacture and market the ERF brand.
We are proud of our association with ERF and we have secured a very loyal customer base and a very experienced after sales network who are specialists in the supply and servicing of PET Reg and Hazardous Goods vehicles.
MAN ERF UK therefore, looks forward to a future supplying the new MAN TGX and TGS range which will continue the ERF tradition of providing excellent service support and good fuel economy.”
Which only leaves BLB to says wrap her up and take her away.
A quotation " CUMMINGS NO GOOD " this comment is years old, did apply to small commercial engines. Could this be true of the larger engine used with the ERF lady.
A quotation " CUMMINGS NO GOOD " this comment is years old, did apply to small commercial engines. Could this be true of the larger engine used with the ERF lady.
quotation " Cummings no good ." Is this true of the small commercial engine as lots of other makes around to compare with cummings ?
What of the larger Cummings engine which goes with ERF thankyou ?