BigLorryBlog

i think it best for bob tuck to answer that easy one,as i know he is a massive fan of their vehicles.

That looks like a Scammell Mountaineer.

Beach hut? that looks like a classic Aussie Federation style weatherboard house on the move. Any clues on the location Roy?

How about a Scammell Pioneer!

Of course this is a Scammell Pioneer and what's even better I've driven this vehicle around New Zealand's Hastings (its in the Hawkes Bay area, probably the location of this photograph) about 5 years ago in the company of its owner Kevin Watkins. This ex New Zealand Army motor (I think it's a 1942 off the top of my head) has done all sorts of house moves for Kevin and his father before him. Yes, this isn't a beach hut - it's a house. It's still a working vehicle although Kevin is now doing more work as a Councillor and the Pioneer doesn't go out much. Because it has been used so much, it must be the nicest Pioneer in the world to drive - honestly. But it's major claim to fame is that it did the first ever house move in the new millenium - honestly. Kevin and the Scammell moved a house at 1 minite past midnight at the start of the new millenium.

Well Bob, if this one was still with the NZ Army in 1957-60 then I have driven it as well. I was driving in the army in those years, and if this is one the army had in those years then I have certainly driven it. What a fantastic machine it was then, we used to use it for towing out Land Rovers, Ford/Chev quads and GMC 6x6's that got stuck in the training grounds off the Desert Rd.

So, if you have driven it and I have driven it, then it must be really famous!

And yes, I did know it was a Pioneer, my comment wasn't meant to be a question.

Cheers, Vic

Peter,

Not sure of the location but the good folk at Scammell told me it was thought to be New Zealand. I suspect from Bob's post that the good folk were not far wrong.

Sorry Vic I wasn't gettint at you (and what's the odds of us two sharing the same driving seat?) but Cam's suggestion it was a Mountaineer is worse than some of Brian's ideas when he sees a Scammell 'Crinklie'. I'm sure it'll be the same motor you drove as I recall that Kevin said he bought it about 1973? He drove it back from Auckland and it took something like 13 hours. Not sure if that's right but I would have loved to have been with him and shared the drive over the tops from Taupo to Hastings - no matter how long it took. What an animal. I wasn't into digital photography when I drove it bit I'll try and raise Kevin Watkins to see if he has any good digital images to share.

13 hours sounds about right, Bob - depending on what part of Auckland he left from it would be approx 280 miles, so with a top speed of about 28mph 13 hours sounds like pretty good going. Auckland to Hastings is one of my regular runs; in fact I am going there on Monday, and even nowadays it takes me 6 hours plus when loaded to 45 tonnes; the road is made up of lots of long steep hills, as I am sure you know.

I would have been quite happy to share the driving, too!

For a brief article on the Scammell, check out
http://www.watkins-fhs.org/Photos/photos/captions/Millennium.html

Hi Bob and Vic,

The house shifting photo is one from my collection, yes a very faithful 1941 Pioneer doing the hard work. This pic was taken approaching the Stortford Lodge intersection in Hastings City, New Zealand. This house is sited just around the corner from where I live.

Would like to hear from you Vic, if you are passing through hastings anytime. The Pioneer is still under cover, one push of the button and she ticks over sweet as only a gardner can tick over.
I will try and get some pics up on the computer for you to have a look at in the next few days.
Bob, your memory is as good as your words in the many publications you have published....

will look forward to watching this space.

Cheers to all Scammell boys around the world.