It's amazing what you can learn from Biglorryblog...and this one's definitely a contender for the Michael Caine 'Not a lot of people know that...' award. Having blogged recently on the Scammell Commander and the use of the Motor Panel's cab on various other vehicles including the Foden and (in Holland) the FTF, Richard Stanier has sent me this picture together with the following comment: 'Hi Brian, here's an image that could be a good teaser for the blog. It's another picture of a Motor Panels Mark V cab, but what was the chassis?'
To be honest BLB's first reaction was well it's just a prototype presentatation from Motor Panels showing how the cab would look on a truck. However, Richard assures me (and simultaneously floors me) by saying that 'It's actually the prototype of the Ford Transcontinental of 1972, taken from an MP Brochure.' An MP cab on a Transconti? Well I never knew that. Or at least it never came to fruition as we all know what happened next don't we?
Yes the mighty Transconti ended up with the high cab taken from the Berliet TR range (this is a TR 300 from 1970 and you can see the resemblance between the two immediately).
But the question that I'd like answering is; 'Just how close did MP come to getting its cab on the big Ford? And what made them decide not to take it?' OK that's two questions...but while I'm at it did it also mean that when Ford said no, MP then decided to pursue Foden? If anyone out there knows the answers I'm all ears...
Presumably it was destined for the export market too, being LHD and sporting the Kysor? roof-mounted air-con unit and U.S.-style West Coast mirrors. Looks like window blinds too (for keeping the blazing sun out). Couldn't really have been for use in Britain then could it?