I am gratefully indebted to Carl Jarman who has sent me these SCOOP! pictures and asks:"Is DAF looking to re introduce the Leyland Marathon. Could the enclosed picture be the prototype Marathon three (note the badge) it's a bit tongue in cheek but it might go down well in Truck & Driver!" To which Biglorryblog responds thanks Carl I'm sure it will---and stranger things have happened before too.
And if you want to see some real, Classic, Middle East Marathons click through here...
And here they are the fantastic BRS Marathons which went to the Mid-East. Picture courtesy of Ashley 'the Crane King' Coghill.
Now the interior of the 'long-haul' desert warrior. You can't help but admire the guys who drove these things to Ian and Iraq. And finally another shot of the Marathon in BRS Overland colours.
And complete with air con on the roof....
lovely! thanks for this.
WELL!!you,ve made my day with this piece of "delish"blogging Brian!!I used to go down my local boozer and see a driver putting all his gear into his Leyland Marathons longer sleeper cab,every few months or so,as he drove to the Middle East for Stoke-based KNIGHT+RILEY INTERNATIONAL.Before ever seeing the Marathon,with its all-yellow livery,with blue company name on both unit and its tandem axle tilt semitrailer,the only other Knight+Riley trucks i,d seen around had been old Austin 4 wheelers that were used on removals.(in fact,i helped a few to move all the school stuff from my junior school and a nearby junior school to another school in 1970,when the 1st "middle"schools became part of the UK education system)So to see the company name on the Marathon was amazing to see.Sadly, i never got to take any photo,s of the Marathon,or find out how many Knight+Riley operated either,but it certainly looked mighty impressive.
News of the Marathon revival had my old heart all of a flutter until I saw the Daf it was attached to - you are a tease.
I cut my HGV teeth driving a Marathon 2 in the late 1970s and for me there is no better truck. And with the 9 speed Fuller Roadranger gearbox, no swifter shift around - you can keep your modern semi-auotomated boxes and those other strange to learn Twin Splitters. Happy days for me in a cab with a flat floor and great driving position.
Me thinks we should be doing a feature for T&D on one of these great Classics.
Yeah that's great!! It looks like the truck is owned by my mate Steve Greenwood, a proper lorry man, and the restorer of a real-life Marathon too!
hello i am new to this ste but it looks awsome!!!!! i was wondering do any of the members know if i could purchas or obtain a set of blueprints or scale drawings for a leyland marathon as i want to build one to produce in 1/50 scale hope i did not offend anyone by asking just that i have looked everywhere and can not find one
anyone could contact me through my website or email
www.adescoolcustoms.com
adescoolcustoms@aol.com
many thanks
adrian
Ade, if you do find the blueprints or even a model Marathon, get in touch!
Hi to everyone Ive just found this site!should you wish a model marathon,go to www.kitformservices.co.uk,there you will find a transkit for the Marathon in 1.24th scale and a roadtrain,etc etc If you havent already discovered the site you wont be dissapointed!Good luck!Roger