I remember having Matchbox SuperKings Scammell Contractor when I was a kid. It was bright purple, absolutely fantastic, and came with a handful of bright orange pipes. Unfortunately our dog was rather partial to plastic, and all got chewed to pieces within a few weeks of ownership. From that point onwards the Contractor was forced to carry pencils! If I'd known it was good for 300 tons up a 1 in 16 slope I might have found it a more challenging load.
This advertisement appeared in Motor Transport more than 40 years ago.
First of all Brian, please try and learn how to spell Scammell. To the many purists around, we all cringe when our beloved Scammell doesn't have a double m and a double l. To me the Contractor with either the small cab like the one you show or the big crew cab version was the real King of the Road. Having two pedal control, the semi-automatic boxes were a also a doddle to drive. And the six MkII (fully automatic) Contractors which were built were Super Kings - if there was such a thing. I do however, strangely, take your advert to task. I have seen a Contractor move 1000 tonnes unassisted. Yes, 1000 but the image you show seems to be a lightweight Contractor - note the small rear hubs. And I doubt whether that would live up to the claim. I belive ALE are still using some Contractors in various places around the world even though the last ones were built about 1983. Great stuff.