The 'Keeper of the Flame' Martin P has e-mailed me to say that following the recent blog on White and White GMC/Autocar "I was unable to locate my Volvo-White file this morning but did stumble across a few fairly unusual little trucks during my search! First is this little 1930s White tractor with what can only be described as a very streamlined and futuristically-styled trailer built by Smith Bros. of Toronto, Canada." Mmm..this reminds me of (I think) a similar cabover Mack(?) from the same period and possibly also from the Labatts stable. It was certainly a brewery artic. Funny how the good folk from across the pond seemed to have given up on aerodynamics like this by the time the 50s, 60s and 70s came along---probably a result of cheap fuel!"
Meanwhile, Martin goes on to say: "For a while during the 1980s White had a dealer in Lyss, Switzerland where they sold 8x4 rigid conversions such as this. Maximum gross weight at the time of course was 28-tonnes and I guess that the trucks did not conform to the 2.3-metre width restriction." Well it certainly brings back memories, having joined Commercial Motor in September 1978 (as the junior snapper) one of the first jobs I did was the (first) combined truck/car NEC show at Brum and White had a stand with a Road Commander 2 on it.
Here's another example from Suisse says Martin--note the Bedford dealership sign in the background.It's now long since gone but there used to be a Geneva Truck Show which took place every other year (like Turin and Brussels). It was fun to go over there and see all these strange, high-horsepower, tractors with 2.3m cabs---Volvo Irvine used to build such 'specials' for the Swiss market. I wonder whether 'Two-Stroke' has some pictures of them?
Finally, says Martin, "Here's a bulker on Trade Plates. This was destined for work hauling animal feeds."
Now click through here for a classic UK White advert...
It's from 1978 (again) and this ad is from Commercial Motor and in Peter Gilder's colours.
Biglorryblog spotted this rather nice preserved version at the 2007 show at Gaydon --a 1979 6x4 artic with a Cummins 14-litre lump which started life in the US with central transport of High Point North Carolina before ending up over here where it was still working until 2005.
Comments (6)
as an eyes wide open passenger in many trucks,i seem to recall regularly passing a white trucks building near bromborough on the wirral uk in the late 70,s and early eighties?
Posted by andrew cooper | August 10, 2008 3:02 PM
Posted on August 10, 2008 15:02
Yeah, White Truck Concessionaires UK were based at Croft Industrial Estate, Bromborough for a couple of years after they moved up from Coleshill.
Posted by Richard Stanier | August 10, 2008 5:18 PM
Posted on August 10, 2008 17:18
I think the streamlined cabover brewery artic from the 30's was also a White.
I've never seen 8x4 Road Commander 2's before - very interesting.
Did you ever spot the mighty Mowag 8x4 on your Swiss travels, Martin?
Posted by Richard Stanier | August 10, 2008 5:24 PM
Posted on August 10, 2008 17:24
No Richard, I managed to "miss the Mowag" as it were. However, I was lucky enough over the years to catch just about every FBW 8-wheeler ever built. That was another class act of course. But the Mowag, unfortunately, no.
Posted by Martin Phippard | August 10, 2008 6:02 PM
Posted on August 10, 2008 18:02
The FBW was a very handsome machine. It would be great if you could dig out some photos of those for the Blog.
Posted by Richard Stanier | August 11, 2008 2:12 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 14:12
I'm looking for imformation or clubs or restorations of 30's Smith Electric Milk trucks.Thought maybe you might have something in your archives.
Earl
Posted by Earl McMillan | September 7, 2008 8:04 PM
Posted on September 7, 2008 20:04