"Just for the record," says Ed Burrows, "the Willeme 245-tonne GCW bonnet 4-axle outfit was most definitely NOT the first with this configuration. The oldest truck I am aware of this nature was - wait for it - a Guy 'experimental' built in 1930." And here's a picture that Ed has kindly supplied--I bet 'The Brochure King ' hasn't seen one of these (although knowing his collection he probably has!) Either way it looks surprisingly modern to Biglorryblog... Almost 'Germanic' (No! what am I saying?) Meanwhile, Ed continues, "Would you credit it? The good old Brits, eh? But better than that even, this particular Wolves Wonder was an 8x8! And again as far as I can tell, it was the world's first truck with four axle all-wheel-drive." Now click through here for another great British 8x8... (In colour)
Ed carries on with his post: "The only other British 8x8 load carrying trucks (I emphasise load carrying... There have been one or two Albion etc funnies along the way) were the fleet of Unipower 8x8 BR90 bridging system vehicles (pic above) built for the British Army during the 1999. So - there you go! 'Eight by Great by Britain!" And for a pie what piowered the Unipower? Ed concludes his tale: "By the way. In trials, the Guy 8x8 had such a narrow margin of superiority over its 6x6 derivative the result seems to have been too close to call. Best regards." Super stuff - and you could probabaly find a report on it in Commercial Motor too... If we could only get to our @#&*=$ archives!
There was that 8x8 AEC road train prime mover supplied to Australia in the 1930s, used to haul two self tracking trailers to outback properties.
I think they may be slightly newer but there were three AEC 8x8s built as road train tractors (1 for Australia and 2 for Russia). There was a 'copy' of one of these on the rally circuit a few years ago which had been built from two Matadors, it had a tilting Matador like cab, steered on axles 1 and 4 and was badged as a 'Mammoth Mongrel'.
Regarding the Unipower, I understand that the rights to the airport crash tender chassis were sold to AMDAC but does anyone know what happened to the forward control truck (in 6x6, 8x8 and 12x8 forms) and the bonneted 6x6 C series (3 built, 2 for heavy haulage and 1 for oilfield use).