The premier showcase for the UK's forestry industry, the APF Exhibition, is currently being held at Cannock Chase until Saturday, 20 September. You'll be able to read a full report on the new kit in Commercial Motor on 2 October, but here's a selection of some of the classic sights that probably won't be in the report.
New Forest purveyor of agricultural equipment and confirmed old truck fan, Mark Osborne, has taken over the spares supply business for County tractors. So it's only natural that he should own, not only the unique Golden Anniversary 1174 tractor from 1979, but County's original 1980 ERF to transport it. Mark reckons the Gardner 180, uprated at new to 193hp, recently took the rig to Ireland running at 29 tonnes and returning over 10mpg.
To the uninitiated, myself included, this could be an AEC Matador. In fact, it's actually a 1949 Douglas, albeit built on a Matador chassis.
This, however, definitely is a Matador (with friend).
87 year-old Marcherman Jo Lawley explains the workings of his 19th century saw bench. The Cargo, with its unique signwriting, isn't quite that old.
Not exactly a Winnnebago, but Daf 45 motorhome does the job.
One of BLB's non-fattening virtual pies to the first person to identify this "Ute". Clue: it was tested by CM a few years back.
Finally, BLB likes big kit, so how about this dinky little tree harvester?
I reckon the ute is a Ford Falcon.
I reckon it's a Ford Falcon Ute. Not the latest model mind, and clearly not as good as a Holden!
The ute is a Ford Falcon (??AU model). You don't need quotation marks around the word, Brian. Ute is a proper word in Australia and NZ, even if the Poms call it by some other long-winded name like pick-up truck.
It's great to see the ERF in the County livery and still earning its' keep.
I learnt to drive HGVs in a Gardner powered ERF B series; Happy days!
The Wynn's Douglas was bought from Arlington Motors as a Matador and sent to F L Douglas for
renovation. They replaced worn parts with new AEC ones and rebuilt the cab finally adding their own 'Douglas Fir' radiator badge in place of the AEC triangle.
Ford Falcon? Sorry guys, no, that would have been too easy.
If that's not a Ford Falcon I'll eat my hat! I'll bet it's a Ford Falcon body shell, anyway. Maybe they are renamed in the UK or somewhere in the same way that you guy's call a Holden Monaro a Vauxhall, which is sacrilege!
OK. in 2002, the people then behind AC Cars imported a batch (about 15 as I remember) of what started life as Ford Falcons into the UK. Unfortunately Ford didn't approve so the Blue Ovals were removed and they were renamed as the Verte Tempest. Only available with spark ignition in a diesel market, the only hope of selling any was to convert them to run on LPG, a process dependent on the whim of the government to maintain a tax benefit over petrol. A number of factors conspired to ensure that no more were believed to have been shipped to the UK.
Thanks for that story, Colin, I didn't know about that episode. A good quiz question, that; I know I don't qualify for a pie but I don't think I should have to eat my hat either, as that ute WAS a Ford Falcon when it was manufactured.
Cheers, Vic