This one is from Martin Phippard and shows the civilian version of the Unipower tank hauling a transformer to (I think) Didcot power station.
And this is one of the bonneted Unipower with the Volvo cab and it's from RikkiChequer at www.TruckNetUK.com Now click through here for a Chinese Tractomas and another mystery waggon from Rich...
Not sure what the writing is on the front says...'Get out the blinking way!' perhaps? Anyway Rich has another brain teaser for you.
And here it is. Rich says: "I know we all love a Mystery Truck competition on the Blog, but this one is a real mystery to me - as I don't have a clue what it is!It's true that your Anorak Army are real troopers on road going trucks, and that earth moving and mining vehicles are a bit left-field for the regulars, but any help on this would be greatly appreciated - I am not going to hold my breath though. All I can say is that the picture comes from an Italian brochure of the 1960's and is captioned (rough translation from the original Italian) - "This photograph shows the evident quality in tough conditions of the T102/55 Dumper with the 120hp General Motors Diesel. Cheers, Richard." So for another pie what's the answer?
I understand that Alvis was sold with GKN and GVL(Hamble) to British Aerospace where they Joined the company whose name I have forgotten that assembles Pinzgauers in Guildford (Do they still assemble G Wagens?). Haulamatic- Heathfield was sold off many years ago and became the UK end of Bell dumpers. I am unsure what happened to Unipower except that a company called Oshkosh Unipower Ltd, based in Bristol manages certain aspects of the MOD and Fasttrax fleet of Oshkosh trucks. They may have sold the rights to the old Unipower range to Nicolas who now seem to be associated with Kamag and Scheurle.
Military Tank Transporter Contract won by Oshkosh / King Trailers
Nicolas provided the trailer and Unipower the tractor for the intended Military Contract in the UK.
Dennis Child is correct. Also, ALE's lead tractor, the Unipower M8875 8x8, was the actual tank tranporter prototype.
The M8875 is and was the most powerful road-going truck ever built in the UK.
Incidentally. Unipower acquired both Haulamatic and Heathfield. However, once risk-averse Alvis management got Unipower into its clutches, civilian markets, and therefore trucks, were a non-no.
Re. the Econofreight/ALE bonnetted Unipower in the Middle East - I was told that it was lost in a fire some time ago.
Tim
The connection between nicolas and unipower is correct.They got together for the HET contract for the British MOD.The M8875 is a incredable vehicle,i acctualy had the plesure of building this prototype vehicle.I also help build the only 3 unipower c series that were ever built.There are some photos of the het tank transporter and one of the c series long wheel base oilfeild vehicle that was built on my web site.here is the link. http://www.protruckservices.com
if i can help in anyway, on info required on scammell or unipower vehicles please feel free to contact me.If i can help i will.
cheers
clive
protruckservices.com
Hi all.
In reference to the Nicolas and Unipower conection,they got together on the British Army HET project.Pinzgauer was bought by BAE systems a couple of years ago, and I believe is now no longer producing vehicles.The ALE tractor unit is the only M8875 8x8 vehicle ever built, I know this as fact because I was one of the people who built it along with the only 3 C series ever built.
There are some photos of the tank transporter and one of the long wheel base Unipower C Series on my web site.Here is a link. http://www.protruckservices.com
If there is any info people require on Scammell or Unipower/Alivis Unipower Vehicles or work doing there is a contact page and email. If I can help I will I have lots of info on these vehicles
hope this info is of some help.
cheers
clive
protruckservices.com
Would it be a Euclid?
i can clarify the Nicolas - Unipower mystery
Nicolas Tractomas vehicles are offered in series
we have series B, C and D. B is 3m wide, C is 2m50 wide, D is the ultra heavy 3m30 wide rigs, like Rotran and others run.
a certain point Nicolas added to them the A series, which consisted of the Unipower trucks we see in the document above.
i own Nicolas documents where these trucks are integrated in the regular Nicolas lineup
however, as far as i know, no Nicolas-badged Unipower ever left production hall and subsequently that association ended.
dont ask me for precise dates. but proof in paper exists for a commercial cooperation
PS according to its brochures you can buy a Nicolas Tractomas that runs on Unipower axles. when you have a Tractomas product code with letter U in it, that means this truck has Unipower axles, like for example in TRB66 C6CU (just an example. that would be a 6x6 B series truck, thus 3 meter wide, with Cat 600 hp engine, Clark gearbox and Unipower axles)
I understand that the M series rights were retained by BAE after the production run of about 140 was completed in about 2000(most 8x8s, a few 6x6s and one or two 12x8s). a batch of ten or twelve 8x8s were licence built in 2008 for the French Army by a French firm called MPI, (could they be related to TTI Nicolas?), using cabs similar to the originals built by Penman Engineering. The C series boneted tractor is rather a mystery as production of these seems to have stopped after three were built (2 heavy haulage and 1 oilfield).
Did the C series have Scammell (Unipower) or Volvo axles/suspension?
Ive been told that the C series was repaired in the Middle East and still works.