I'm in trouble with Bobby Tuck again! He's obviously sent me a picture for Biglorryblog which I've carefully filed away (so carefully I..errr...can't find it). Anyroadup Bob e-mails me: "Hi Brian,obviously disappointed you didn't want to use those images of WH Malcolm's latest wrecker on the blog [well I've asked him to send it to me again] but in view of recent your mention of Oban Express this concern, I thought you might be interested in these images taken in their yard at the end of September."
Bob continues: "Since the annual West Coast Road Run was started in 1997, Tommy Owens of Oban Express always gave us hospitality and allowed us to fill his yard to overflowing for safe overnight parking when we called into town. Sadly, Tommy recently passed away so this year there was a small carnival/parade held in his memory through Oban on the Saturday afternoon of our visit. The company made up a music float on the back of the Merc but as you can see the weather was foul. Other shots taken in the yard include the motor I was driving - the Scania Vabis LB76 artic tipper." Now click through here for the carnival Actros...but before I forget Bob [says he bracing himself for a withering retort and pointed remark about my lack of knowledge of old trucks] why is the top artic called a 'Commer' and not a 'Dodge'. As surely it has a Dodge Commando cab on it? Meanwhile Bob says: "I might send you some shots of the run." Please do.
I'm sure that despite the weather everyone had a good time. Thanks for the shots Bob. And are those balloons or Merc's new airbag frontal impact reduction system?
Comments (4)
The Commando artic has a Commer badge as the owner (I think his name is Neil Bollan)of B and L of Carnwath is a Commer enthusiast (he also rallies a Maxiload type artic and rigid.)
and has replaced the Dodge lettering with Commer. You will also note that on the Commando he has replaced the Renault diamond with a circular Rootes badge.
Posted by Dave Powell | October 11, 2008 7:09 PM
Posted on October 11, 2008 19:09
Maybe I'll get in before Bob Tuck!
The Commer Commando in the picture was designed and built in the late 60s by Commer, part of the Rootes Group, so that is why it has a Commer badge. When the Rootes Group was taken over by Chrysler, the Commer and Karrier trucks and vans were rebranded as Dodges.
Posted by Vic Hungerford | October 11, 2008 11:31 PM
Posted on October 11, 2008 23:31
Yeah, and it was a shocker Vic - not really a Commer as far as true Commer fans are concerned. It would be better if it had a Chrysler badge on it. Chrysler thought trucks were cars with a bit on the back - hence these had car door handles and mechanisms, car type accelerator linkages, etc, etc. All of which lead to problems, problems, problems. I have the draft sketch for the cab for the truck that the TS4 motor, mentioned a while back, was going to be mounted in, and it looks remarkably like the 100 series or the RG as we know them, pictured here.
Cheers
Posted by Howard Pettigrew | October 12, 2008 1:14 AM
Posted on October 12, 2008 01:14
Well, I didn't know that, Howard, I never had anything to do with that model at all and have never even sat in one. Perhaps it's just as well that the TS4 truck didn't eventuate; it would have been a disaster if a motor like that got a bad reputation because it was mounted in a shoddy truck.
It doesn't sound as if Chrysler have improved much if you read Jeremy Clarkson's article on page B9 of today's Sunday Star-Times (NZ). It's worth a read.
Cheers, Vic
Posted by Vic Hungerford | October 12, 2008 6:30 AM
Posted on October 12, 2008 06:30