October 2009 Archives

HELP! He's after me in his super Scheuerle shifter....Is this what you'd call a Smart move? Anyroadup last one for tonight and as ever Biglorryblog finds his inspiration from the fabulous German heavy haulage equipment specialists http://www.scheuerle.com/en/home.html and they have set up a great photo competitition for operators using their kit and click through here for just some of the entries....

Alex Saville, BLB's travelling man in Scotland has sent me this rather smart Swedish nose-job (with trainer wheels all very neatly tucked away behind the side skirts) and says: "Brian, I spotted these two smart looking vehicles parked behind me at Kinross Services on the M90 today.Alex." Now click through for more...

Hellooooo....what's coming this way on Biglorryblog. Why, I do believe it's a truck that Mr Lynch might recognise! And the snapper has captioned it: "Tons of fun!" And why not? Meanwhile I am much in debt to Eric Roche who has sent me this and other photos and says: "These are a few photos of our '81 ATKINSON chassis number K00006. Here are its' specs: 8V92TTA  14-sp DOD Spicer running through 4.11 Rockwell diffs on 6rod.We use the old girl on the farm in the s/w of WA. Me and my brothers get a real buzz out of driving her around,we are looking for a owners/parts manual or any info on where we might start looking, as we trying to keep the truck in original condition." Well know I am sure a few of BLB's Aussie readers would be only to pleased to help out. And Eric's e-mail address is eric.roche@bigpond.com so get helping! Now click through here for a whole sheldload of super shots from down-under...

Ivan Benic has kindly sent me these pictures of his 'van' to me at Biglorryblog@googlemail.com and says: " Hi, I looked through your site and thought you might like to include my van. It started life as a 73 Chev van . body is custom built and about the only original part is the door handles  and hinges . Nothing else survived the torches, cut off wheels and welded sheet metal."

"You can see more at www.ivanbenic.com  go to Cosmic Cruiser photos At one time I had twin 350s in it---- but now runs a 454. But am looking at Detroit Diesels---that's how I wound up on your site!" And why wouldn't you Ivan? Now click through here for more... 

Hello what's this and where's it going...? I've been getting rather behind on my 'Heavy hitters from South Africa' lately, so apologies to Dennis Child, Biglorryblog's man at ROTRAN and provider of top special types phtos sent me this on my birthday! Thanks Dennis and here's a 150-ton generator stator on ALE LASTRA Nicolas 16-axle modular trailer pulled by an MAN and pushed by a Merc Powerliner....now click through here for more..

One of the reasons why I wasn't busy posting up fresh meat on Biglorryblog was because I was up at Mercedes in Milton keynes doing a 'Truckers' test' for Truck & Driver on a Mercedes Actros with Simon 'Wee Georgie' Wood. As the conversation turned to search esoteric matters as catwalks he was pointing out something in the truck pound when my eyes were naturally drawn to BLB's favourite off-road warrior...yes a brace of Unimogs! But can you tell me the model? And click through here for oen more tucked away in the corner...

Sorry about the gap in your favourite trucking blog -- BLB was out working yesterday...no jokes please. Anyroadup Ron Johl has a Saturday 'Pie competition'. "Here's a truck for you", he says..."but what is it? the vehicle in question will be restored though the owner is unsure whether to use the original engine or put in something 'modernish'. All the best,Ron." Well I expect lots of 'project photos' Ron whatever it is!

Biglorryblog is always pleased to help promote websites which celebrate British road transport and so I was delighted to get this e-mail from Paul Anderson who says: "I was wondering if you had seen the website I am building about Northwest Haulage companies which you may find interesting I cannot believe the interest there has been in the site in such a short time i am now receiving around 40 to 60 emails a day."And if you want to see Pauls' website go to http://northwesttrucks.fotopic.net/  it's got some great photos on it including this early Scania Vabis!

Thanks Paul and all the best for the website.

I've just (re)discovered these shots from Ron Johl which have been hiding in my e-mail inbox for far too long so Biglorryblog's apologies Ron! He says: "Hello Brian , could this be the only time these Texas trucks are brought together only as pics or will we ever see them at a Rally side by side? First pic was taken at Santa Pod the Marmon is/was (it's up for sale) owned by P Nash he also owns the Peterbilt." Have things moved on since then wonders BLB? Now click through here for more....

Paul Hodgkinson has an interesting problem and he needs the help of Biglorryblog's anorak army! Paul e-mails me to say: "I have a 4x4 Mercedes 914AK-31 which was Dutch Nato and had Michelin M+S4 tyres on when new. Michelin does not make this tyre now and I need a serious winter tyre to use in the mountains of Norway on VERY SLIPPERY rural mountain roads. Would need studs/spikes also as last wintertime the roads in some areas were undrivable in new Vredestein Snowtrac 2 (Friction Tyres) on a VW T4 SYNCRO with a locking back axle. Local Norwegians said we were brave/foolish to attempt the roads without studs/spikes!! I would like to purchase six rims and have them fitted with tyres in England. (Changing wheels/tyres at Immingham Port before going on the ship to Brevik) I'm told 10R x 22.5 is oddball size now but 11R x 22.5 should fit onto 7.50 rims.Regards Paul."

Perhaps Young James K knows someone at Michelin who might help? Or what about my man at Conti?

Nice truck...and click through here to see the rig that carries it around!

Aaron Hunt in New Zealand kindly says: "You have a top site going mate! Thought you might be interested in this logger that went on the road here in NZ a couple of months back." Well how could I resist a Western Star called 'Renegade'? Biglorryblog wonders whether Rodders or 'The Old Vic' have spotted this beauty? 

SCOOP! Move over Volvo 'Vision 2020'...thanks to young Nikolay Suslov I can bring you an unique and exclusive preview of Renault's 'Roadtrain for 2020' (well possibly...). Nikolay has e-mailed me to say: "Hi! I am a designer from Russia. This summer I graduated from Saint Petersburg State Academy Of Art And Design. I want to post my diploma project on your blog, if it possible. Here it is:  http://mikola-piterskiy.blogspot.com/  Best regards. Nikolay."

And how about this for its interior layout? I never cease to be amzed by the imagination and inventitiveness of today's young automotive designers and Nikolay's work looks really interesting. Now click through here for more!

Tim Cotton has dug these up from his archives and e-mails me: "Brian, here are some holiday photos from Lake Iseo, Italy in 2007.  The hotel room looked down on the main road so some of these were taken looking down from there. There's a Fiat-cabbed OM and an Astra cement mixer. Tim."

Anmd for a pizza...who were the original members of Iveco? And what's happened to them since? Now click through here for a couple more... 

Biglorryblog's wandering reporter Nick Garlick has returned from a holiday in Iran and says: "Here are some more pix---MACKS, Internationals, Whites and a whole host of older European trucks ply their trade under the blazing sun in this interesting country.
Nick."

And for a pie what's this? Now click through here for more....

Biglorryblog's wandering reporter Nick Garlick has (I'm delighted to say) returned back to Blighty after his trip to far flung locations and he says: "Hi Brian, back safe and sound from Iran. What a great country the only downside was I couldn't get enough truck photos!! Not easy trying to get a coach to stop with 18 people who don't like trucks...!"

Nick adds: " I would definitely go back there again if I get the chance. Nearly finished the piece for T&D about my short time there. Here are a few pics for the blog. More to follow...regards, Nick." And click through here for ore from Nick including a most unusual 'Volvo'....

As a long time partner of fire-fighters (or as we on Biglorryblog say Sapeurs and Pompiers) as well as local authority fire-fighting and rescue departments, Renault Trucks has set up a dedicated 'Urban Fire-fighting Bodybuilder Department', offering emergency services a single contact capable of responding rapidly to their specific needs. And to further cement that relationship Renault has launched a new, extended cab, Midlum Fire Tender and here it is...

'The Old Vic' Hungerford also attended the recent truck show in Auckland and says: "Hi Brian, I know you have already had photos of some of the trucks in this show from Rod, but if you have room to spare on the blog here are some more of just a few of the truck (includign a lot of Internationals) that were there. After all, how could I not, since I almost live in one of the modern versions of this famous make? It was the most amazing truck show, and I've included this Leyland Buffalo just to keep you Poms happy.Cheers, Vic." OK Biglorryblog anoraks...click through here for Vic's International extravaganza!

Hello...what's this doing neatly parked away in a quiet suburb,,,? For a quick pie can you recognise what it is. (AtkiPete is excused this one as he's bound to get it....) Mike Davies sent it in to me and says: "Brian, RayJay's doing a good job with the Atki. So I thought I'd send you a couple of pics taken on a trip to Sydney, this pristine old girl's parked in a side street just below the harbour bridge. Mike." Now click through here for a better 'view'.....

'Keeper of the Flame' Martin Phippard has a message for Biglorryblog's favourite old curmudgeon..."Hi Brian, in response to the comments from 'Le Boss' about the bargain prices of the International Lonestar and KW W-900L, maybe he should go the whole hog and buy a Powerhouse Coach such as the example shown for the equivalent of a mere 215,000 EUROS. Cheers,Martin P." Now click through here for more...

Tom Gormley saw Bob Tuck's recent contribution on Collie Transport and says "You mentioned that operators here were not as impressive as in some other areas. Here in Ayrshire, JST Services run an impressive fleet of wagons on timber haulage and some other rather specialised bits of kit. I am not too sure what he is currently operating but here are a few photos. I believe that there is 3 or 4 lorry-mounted cranes on 6 and 8-wheeled Scanias and Volvos, a couple of FH 8 wheel tractors that tow a pair of cranes for timber and port handling."

"The crane attaches to the fifth wheel similiar to a swan neck, and the rear attached to a 4 axle bogie. I also believe he runs some 6x6 Volvo FMs and a John Deere Challenger 5x4 tractor (one big wheel up front to steer with) for low ground pressure and forwarding the timber out to the other wagons." Now click through for more...

Peter Murray in Oz has sent me this wonderful glimpse into the past and he says: "Hello Brian, your recent posting of the 'Royal Mail' video clip about the new 'safety features' fitted to their modern Homeland rigs - prompted me to dig out this small selection of a C.1948 Aussie Royal Mail Rig featuring the 'safety/security' system of that era."
 
Peter continues: "As Australia was/is (in 1948) a Colony of the (then) King, our postage system was operated under the 'Royal Mail' name - by a specially appointed Post Master General. In the cities and towns the 'mail' was delivered by a Postman (Civil Servant) riding a bicycle (as you would expect). However - getting letters and parcels to the remote Australian outback cattle stations was done by private contractors who 'won' the privilege to carry the Kings Mail by a rigid contract/tendering process."...now click through here for more and an unusual fact about Aussie outback mail 'security'....

Check out this fantastic Scania horsebox, which has been drawn by 8-year old Erin Kane from Co Kildare. It's one of 50 fantastic truck pictures that you'll find on Truck & Driver's new Drawing Board blog?

Have you got any children/grandchildren/nephews or nieces who fancy themselves as truck artists? If so, why not submit some of their artwork? You can either email it to me at will.shiers@rbi.co.uk or post it to Drawing Board, Truck & Driver, Quadrant House, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5AS.  

And here's another brilliant picture for you - as drawn by 7-year old James Davies. Clearly it's carrying Quavers, but for a pie, can you tell us what truck it is? And we want the exact year, make and model please.

Last one for today on BLB and I thought it was time we saw another of those wonderful MZKT double-tough trucks from the good folk at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (VOLAT) in the Republic of Belarus and click through here http://www.mzkt.by/eng/index.php?module=foto to visit their excellent photo gallery...everytime I see that cab I can't help being reminded of early ERF E-Series--heaven knows why! And for a real big bruiser carry on reading....

Thought you might be missing some decent BIG lorries on Biglorryblog so where best than to visit the Western Star Australia website where you'll find some fabulous 'Star's including this selection of cream-of-the-crop cattle carriers....

Chalmers triple-trailer outfit kicking up the dust....now click through here for one more...

Fancy a change of direction....? Having taken 'early retirement' from my previous life as Editor-in-Chief of the UK's favourite transport magazines, BLB's attention has shifted to exploring 'career options' and to that end I've been taking a look through the latest jobs on www.roadtransport.com There's no less than 425 jobs on the site today and by the look of it Mercedes is on a bit of a recruitment drive with umpteen opportunities available for truck and van sales and workshop posts throughout the country. Clearly the three-pointed star is preparing for the upturn and will no doubt have its pick of those currently in the unenviable position of searching for work. Elsewhere those looking for transport management jobs have a selection of posts to choose from Barron Wood Distribution is looking for traffic operators in Preston, Newport and Glasgow, while Fowler Welch is on the hunt for a fleet manager in Lincolnshire. The site has a growing number of jobs to be filled and BLB will be bringing you some of the highlights each week, if you're job hunting go take a look www.roadtransport.com/jobs 

Biglorryblog is constantly surprised by the different vehicles that can be fitted with an Allison automatic box....And thanks to these pictures from Gerald Woodgate my opposite number at www.tnn.co.uk you might be surprised too...the clue is that it's fitted in the truck pulling this low-loader out of the muck, rather than the dump truck...and to find out exactly what it is click through here....like I say, it will come as a surprise..

Many of you have no doubt been wondering where Biglorryblog's 'Good Man in Africa' Jerry Burley has been lately. Well so have I...and he tells me he's been busier than a one-armed paper hanger in a thunderstorm...To prove it here's a picture he's just sent me of some of his trucks in action (or should that be 'inaction' as they're parked up). Alternatively he describes it thus:" Oshkosh meets slimline Tata tipper (one someone under it) meets Foden Multidrive meets Chinooks - the Mad Hatters teaparty! With a Bedford TM 6x6 plus telehandler on it just out of shot. We need to teach the Yanks a thing or two periodically!" And what they are all doing there I have absolutely no idea. You'll just have to wait for his next 'Only in Africa' communique!

This is either the bizarre experiment into crossing a Volvo FM eight-legger with an excavator...or a rather clever idea to speed up productivity in the timber industry that's been uncovered by Bob 'Mr Classic' Tuck and offered to Biglorryblog..and if you click through here you'll find out which it is...!

Three Big Bulldogs sitting in a row...one says stop the others say go...Well not exactly Wordsworth I grant you but close enough for Jazz (or poetry) for Biglorryblog. Yes it's Big Macks to go time courtesy of Gary 'Hopalong' Richards who says: "Hey Brian, this time I have some REAL truck working shots to share - a bevy of big Macks belonging to Lampson - probably the largest fleet of heavy haulers in Oz, and part of the US based Lampson group."

And here's two more at the back of whatever it is they're pushing and pulling...and click through here to see for yourselves exactly what it is!  

Whenever Biglorryblog posts a story on the quirky International LoneStar tractor it attracts a fair amount of brickbats. Indeed one recent commentator says: "What was Navistar thinking of?" Well I can tell you that the inspiration for the LoneStar's distinctive grille and sloped hood was, in fact, from International's venerable D-Series trucks from the 30s and 40s, (pictured above and below) which, I'm told, " helped transform America's cross-country transportation in the early 20th Century."

And who is Biglorryblog to argue with that? What I like about the LoneStar is that it's different in a world where everything increasingly looks the same. However, there's more to the LoneStar than just looks and click through here to find out what...... 

Move over Eddie Stobart..there's a new Eddie on the road..yes comedian, actor and master of whimsy Eddie Izzard who is using a truck to advertise his latest tour (or at least I think that's what it's doing). And you can find it on this website and post a commment too http://twitpic.com/mhbe3 Wonder who's doing the transport for the tour...? Something new for the Eddie spotters to look out for perhaps.....and no I don't have the list of girls' names on Stobart trucks---to get it you need to join the fan club on http://www.clubstobart.co.uk/  so quit asking me for it!

I've just returned from a tin-hunting trip through the 'Deep South'. I actually managed to visit eight states in a week in my search for unloved classic cars.

As usual I relied on the tin-hunter's bible (Roy's Wrecking Yard Roster) to locate the salvage yards specialising in older cars, but on this occasion it wasn't much use. Of the 25 yards I visited, only two still had old cars. The others had either closed down or had simply crushed anything big and old.

But one yard I did find (that's well worth a visit if ever you find yourself in White, Georgia), is Old Car City.  Here's a very brief taster of what you can expect to find lurking in the 36 acres of forest.  

This is what happens if you park your car over a very small tree, and then leave it for 30 years! Yes, believe it or not the tree really has lifted the car 8 inches off the ground.

And exactly the same has happened to this VW T1 camper.

Who says American pickup trucks are bad for the environment? This one is definitely 'green'.

Ray Jay's Aussie Atki can now be seen on YouTube thanks to the boys at Aussie Bigbanger http://www.youtube.com/user/aussiebigbangers#p/u

There I was, quietly snoozing away when I was rudely awakened by our brave leader 'Young Mr Salter' who asks me: "Pay attention! Any chance of a regular weekly post looking at the best products for sale in RT.com/buy & sell...sort of a Biglorryblog 'Pick of the Classified'? You can choose what you like." Well, like a boy let loose in a sweet shop I promptly checked out http://www.roadtransport.com/buyandsell/default.aspx 

And guess what I found? Some rather smart ERFs for sale. But not just any ERFs oh no. These are ECTs with, yes, Cummins engines! The retailers of such fine road-going provender are the good folk at EVS (UK) who have a few to choose from far as I can see looking at their rt.com http://www.roadtransport.com/buyandsell/sellers/evs_uk_ltd-1621.htm pages 

They're based at Belton, Doncaster, and Anthony and Carl on 01427 875306 are the men to talk to. And I'm grateful to Carl for sending me these shots too. Cummins-powered ECTs? Got to be some interest in those--and I don't just mean from the BLB anorak army! But for a rather more unusual bit of kit from EVS click through here....

Mark Graham, has sent me this gem and says; "Brian, having purchased the 'Destination Doha' DVD after it was recommended by Biglorryblog, I ventured into the loft this afternoon to find a couple of Astran items I knew I had somewhere. And I found them!  These date from well before the 1977 documentary and feature rigid Scania 110 lorries which might well be the one rescued towards the end of the documentary. It also might start a new discussion string about flagging out....I've also attached this  scan of an advertisement from 'Headlight' magazine which I believe is from 1970. I hope you find it interesting and worth showing on the blog."

"Best regards, Mark." And in return here's the wonderfully-restored Scania 141 to go with it.

Biglorryblog has had a few more 'Dutch Treats' sent in to me by Sil van Wanrooij including these three so for a Sunday night pie quiz what are they?

And click through here for more...

Dayle is back on Biglorryblog and says: "I love the heavy haul trucks, here are a couple I took while on holiday in Kwa-Zulu Natal.It shows trucks hauling sections of three gantry cranes for Durban harbour....

Rufo has got in on the act regarding previous posts on Antipodean Oshkosh tractors and says: "Hi Brian, continuing with the NZ Oshkosh theme here are a couple more pics for the Army. The first is the F-Series Conventional new to Freightways and GM8V-71 powered seen here in Whangarei in 1979.This is the current Tranzcarr truck."  Now click through here for more....

Biglorrybog's Krafty Kiwi Rod Simmonds has sent me a shed-load of stuff from a truck show in New Zealand (I Thinki in Auckland) and to kick off here are his kids! Start 'em, young and they'll be truckies for ever....but for goodness sake keepthem out of the muck or the missus will go spare!

It seems to have involved a trip to a junk yard too...nice LP merc on the right...now click through here for more..

No doubt prompted by recent Biglorryblog postings on steel-cabbed ERFs Colin Wallace has sent me these shots of an ERF heavy hitter...anyone know anything about it other tha  than fact that it has a Cummins 335 and a Jake Brake?

Now click through here for one more....

Now here's an interesting diversion.....Scania laid-back PR man Phil Sampson has sent me this picture and tells me: "We're just back from the Ski Show at Olympia where, parked up in a corner of the Grand Hall, I stumbled across the PR man's dream truck. It's a Ural (a 4320, methinks).  Why a PR man's dream?  One, 'cos it comes with its own integral bar and, two, it can't carry any payload, therefore no chance that you'll actually have to do any work.  Need I say more?" Now clcick through here for the ultimate truck sat-nav system!

The trucks that made Volvo's name in Blighty! Bruce Abraham has sent this to me and says: "Here are some old volvo photos from EW BRAYBROOKE of Rushden, Northamptonshire.
My Dad Terry drove the F88 . Bruce the trucking gooner!" Now click through here for some shots of the F86!

Tim Cotton has fired this selection over to me and says: "Brian, here are a few Scania T Cabs for you from the last few years. The first one is this---Roger Jones with a large steel box destined for the Air Products factory in Acrefair, N Wales. This unit is now an 8x4. " Now click through here for more....

"G'day Brian," says AtkiPete Lynch.."Just a few more Kiwi lorries and a little challenge for your Anorak Army..The eight wheeler and dog setups are everywhere." And what better one than an Argosy! Now click through here for more...

How about this for an eight-legger? An Actros high-cab 500hp V8! Now you're cooking....anyroadup James Higgins has sent Biglorryblog these shots and says: "Hi, over in Olensvag Norway with my work, the oil rig is getting some work done to it at Westcon Shipyard. I've managed to get the camera out and here is a few snaps for the site,James." Now click through here for more Norse warriors....

Last one for tonight....Graeme Neilson has sent me this roadtrain triple and says: "Hello, Airroad is an express freight company in Australia, we run 3 of these combinations from Sydney to Perth weekly 8,000km round trip. The trailers are our own design using a 10 pallet A trailer 16 pallet link trailer and a 22 pallet B trailer all at 4.6mtr high. With 2 drivers it's an average of 47hrs one way, only stopping for fuel along the way and driver changes. We also have a fleet of these B Doubles trailers servicing Melbourne and Brisbane daily as well Regards Graeme."

Is it me or is Biglorryblog the only one to notice a passing similarity between the livery on the six smart new Scania P230 curtainsider rigids belonging to Highway Express and err...another 'slightly better known operator'?  Are they in any way related?

I think we should be told...meanwhile click through here for more....

Jason Dean e-mails Biglorryblog to say: "Hi there, just started looking at your site as every one keeps on about......well the rest of the steelboys . Well I've got a quest for you.... here's a picture of our F10, we bought it from Tollbar Racing a few years ago, but have never been able to find any pictures of it in its working days as a race car transporter. It started life with team LOTUS and stayed within the race teams for the rest of its working days, until its retirement where she just plods around with our F88 on the back (which thinking about it is most probably heavier than a race car !) Any info would be great! Cheers, the Dean family." So who knows anything about the F10?

How's this for a loyal and trusty off-road servant? It's from Ray O'Halloran who says: "Here's a pic of our 1958 Nissan Patrol. It is one of 6 that came to Australia for military trials but was rejected in favour of Land Rover. It has a 6-cyl side-valve engine, 4-speed gearbox with creeper first gear (no low range) It is believed to be the only one still on the road in Australia." And in immacuklate condition too by the looks of iot Ray and thanks. Now click through here for something a tad more 'esoteric'.....

I've been slowly catching up with my Biglorryblog googlemail and find I've got one from a certain young man down in New Zealand..yes it's the Old Vic' Hungerford himself who, 'Shock horror, uproar !' has given his beloved International a miss to drive somethign else..ahhh...but can you guess what it is? Click through here to find out...

Gary 'Two Hats..and a busted pin' Richards, Biglorryblog's man for Macks and Volvos down-under, is currently a bit fed-up and says: "While wandering around the photo files, thought I best include these two Mack pics - just to complete this narration on vintage Aussie trucking..The two Macks in the first pic belong to a once large Northern territory fleet - Co-Ord Transport. The combination of a rigid truck towing two or three trailers was popular in the 60's. This mixed load of pipes and fuel on a asphalt road would have been a 'gravy" run for the drivers!" Now click through here for one more Classic Aussie Bulldog!

Now here's one for all your car transporter fans--Biglorryblog has ben neglecting you I know....anyroadup word reaches me that Renault Trucks UK has been busy working beavering away with leading car transporter manufacturer, Transporter Engineering, to develop the first transporter capable of maximising loads of vans and chassis cabs, including large jumbo vans, as well as passenger cars. And here it is...the new 'Plus 10 Maxicom' transporter mounted to a Renault Premium 450, 6x2, three-axle rigid chassis.  Though with a wheelbase that short I always think it's a tractor! Anyroadup click through here for the full story and a picture of it carrying three 'bigguns'.... 

Yikes! It's coming straight at me! My blogging co-evil Ollie Dixon (he of World Trucks Blog on www.roadtransport.com has tipped me off to this site http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_5148-Peterbilt-281-1955.html which allows you to speculate as to what exactly the above truck is.....you'll of course recognise it from the movie 'Duel' (and for a pie when was it released?) as the rather nasty tanker than bullied poor Dennis Weaver....but what was it exactly? Use the link to post your suggestion. Now click through here for more movie memorabilia...

How about this for a low rider? Biglorryblog is proud to bring you a real 'exclusive'. This is the first public journo glimpse of the new Volvo FE 'LEC' which as you've probably guessed is short for low entry cab. And around November/December time it will officially enter the low-entry arena to do battle with the likes of the Dennis Eagle Elite and Mercedes Econic. (And before anyone weisenheimer from Scania e-mails me to say: 'We've got as low entry cab too' yes I know. But the Elite and Econic are the ones to go for!

Biglorryblog was in Warwick this morning for a special BLB preview of this smart-looking pre-production 6x2 rear steer tag evaulation unit on all-round air. Now click through here for more photos and details! 

Now here's an interesting fact. There are approximately three million trucks on U.S. roads hauling 70% of America's freight. What's more, over 80% of American communities are exclusively supplied by trucks.  So if you have it, a truck most likely brought it to you. And Biglorrryblog has Volvo Trucks North America's PR Wallah Jim McNamara for these unconssidered trifles which I am happy to snap up....Naturally, when the men and women who drive these trucks stop to take a break or their daily rest period then their cab becomes their home---and as in any home, the need power for heating or cooling, a refrigerator, a microwave, and the other little necessities of US long-haul trucking life. Only now here's where the green message comes in as Volvo says: "To date, the majority of that power has come from idling the truck's engine - a necessity for the driver, but not so good for the environment.  A typical diesel truck can burn as much as 10 gallons of fuel during one of these daily rest breaks - meaning as much as 220 pounds of the greenhouse gas CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere." So what to do? Well click through here for the answer....

Now this is a CRACKING picture! And meeets all the Biglorryblog 'how to take a nice truck picture' criteria! How so you ask? Well for a start what with the low sun the colours really leap out against the grey gravel background. Then the body is raised on the tipper to create a nice shape, and there's also a driver in the cab too doing something. Add a bit of the old dynamic tilt and you've got yourself a winner. Not sure who took it but whoever did 9/10 (the missing ingredient?) I'd have put the lights on...but hey it's good enough without them! Now click through here to see another and get the full story....

What's 25.25m long, voluminous and can trun on a sixpence? Answer: the Dick Denby Eco-Link B-Double and Dick tells me that the Dutch trailer maker Jumbo. "Has just produced their first 'B' Double with active steer under license from Denby Transport. Another British idea is developed abroad!" Even if the DfT  won't allow the Eco-Link to run in the UK! And that's the Deby/Jumbo B-Double above--an exclusive unveiling on Biglorryblog!

However, Dick says: "Their version has active steer on both axles of the link trailer but also active steer on two of the three axles on the rear trailer. A very smart tool." Now click through here for more.... 

Rod Simmonds in New Zealand has been following the Kiwi Oshkosh thread on Biglorryblog and offers the following for your perusal...

And it's started me wondering...what engine choice could you get in an Oshkosh cabover tractor?

I happened to bump into 'Two-Stroke' yesterday who politely told me that he'd seen Biglorryblog that afternoon and had read everything on it. (I think it was a subtle hint that he wanted some new stuff up!)  Well cop this lot! From Sil van Wanrooij archives to me and the rest of the anorak army...name those cloggie carriers starting with this little pickup!
 

Red lorry...and click through here foe more.....

Seeing these shots from Tim Cotton of 'pristine' Latvian tippers reminds me of the Commercial Motor 'Economy Runs' we used to run around the country for artics and rigids. We organised the event, scrutimised the vehicles checked all the tachos, did all the fuel measuring and, with artics, provided up to a dozen identical spec new curtainsiders..The only thing the manufacturers had to provide was the truck and driver. Our organising secretary then was none other than the legendary Stan Thomas, former fleet engineerr for Allied Breweries who was also the original inventer of the expression 'For a Pie....' (Since stolen by BLB for his quizzes!) Anyroadup on completing one economy run for Euro-3 artrics Stan and I were chatting and he said (strictly tongue-in-cheek): "You know what you should do is a midnight tipper run, where you get points deducted for running legally!  And if the judges find all your lights are working they go around with a hammer a break a few at the back. We could also award points for dropping stuff on the road and a special bonus for anyone who can fly-tip the load before dawn without being spotted!" Naturally we declined his imaginative suggestion...although at the time I did think there were one or two UK operators who were running in it already...and before anyone from Latvia tries to sue me I'm not suggesting for one minute that the above tippers are anything other than 100% road legal run by highly-professional operators who obey every single traffic law..

Mick Flynn has kindly sent this camper curiosity to me and says: " On the subject of camper vans, I snapped this one in Southern Utah.Regards. Mick." And rather like a modern day covered wagon too! But what's it based on? To see more click through here...

From the sublime to the ridiculous! Gary 'Two Hat's Richards (BLB's man at Mack and Volvo down-under) has clearly been in the wars as he tells me he's suffering from a major puncture...."Hi Brian, one of the few upsides of having a broken 'drive axle' (leg) is that you get time at home to do some research (fiddle around!!). When I was wandering through the photo section of the State library of West Australia, I can across a couple of great pics of G88s. I thought they follow on from the recent blogs on the Kiwi '88s'. What could be more Aussie than the G88 brewery truck posed with that other famous form of transport - the Mini Moke. Check out the bullbar of the Volvo - with that forward rake, looks like you could clear forests with it !!! It could have been quite possible that the Moke and G88 could have come from the same assembly plant here in Brisbane - Volvo acquired the Leyland plant in 1972. I would guess that this pic is around the same vintage!" Now click through here for more....

Sil van Wanrooij has sent me this selection of 'Dutch Treats'---a real barrowload of Bussings: "Kamphuis one with the nose...and a 3-axle trailer on the back..."

And here's one without a nose too....and it's a special in so far as it's an underfloor engine with a reefer body. Now click through here for more...

Last weekend saw a huge turnout for the Hawkes Bay Charity Truck Ride and Show--or so Rod Simmonds tells me. And here's a selection of shots from Rodders to prove it...

Rufo returns to Biglorryblogo andf says: "Hi Brian, on October 12, Bob Tuck posted pictures of a couple of well-used NZ G88s and you asked 'Where are they now?' and especially about the originality of the 8x4s. Well this is 'Where they once were'. North Otago Road Metals (NORM) tipper No11 was working on the Twizel Power Project in 1975 when this pic was taken with its tandem pig trailer in attendance."

"The other truck in Bob's pic is HJ7186 ex-Brightlings seen here loading a new CAT machine on the Lyttleton Wharf also in mid 1975. No! that is not the CAT's exhaust stack,that belongs to the floating steam crane alongside and...Yes! If I ever find him, I am going to cause GBH to that 'stevedore' walking across my line of sight at the critical moment.I didn't realise he had been there until the film was developed some days later. 'Murder!,bloody murder!' yelled the Man from Ironbark (if I can quote poet Banjo Patterson). Also,the Volvo must recently have been doing some house moving judging by the 'Wide House' sign on the front!" Now click through here for more!

Evan Jellicoe has sent this classic eight-legger shot to Biglorryblog and says: "Hi BLB, I saw this at Corwen steam rally,what a gorgeous truck!" Gorgeous indeed. Who knows anything about it? Is that a KV cab?

Hello...what's this then? It looks pretty 'chunky' whatever it is...especially with that axle. Now click through here to find out exactly what it is.... 

Yes it seems there is an Oshkosh heavy hitter still at work in New Zealand trundling for Tranzcarr Drury--in this case hauling 440-tonne power station parts! 

With a bit of help from a Kenworth so it seems...and click through here for more..

Last one for tonight. And it's from Gyles Carpenter. "Good afternoon Brian, the AEC Mammoth Major Mk V and Leyland Octopus from the magnificent William Gilder fleet, taken with the kind help of Noel and Matt shunting the two beauties around the countryside.
Kind Regards Gyles."

And click through here for more....

Last of your 'Five a day' Biglorryblog posts (or anyway at least for this morning). And it's by way of a request from my beloved anorak army. In addition to this (I assume) all metal cab ERF also produced a boxy square 'European' export model, again ion steel. I seem to recall TRUCK magazine testing it over its Eurotest route. And I'd rather like to get hold of some pictures of it to put up on the blog. Something 'The Brochure King' might be able to help me with? Meanwhile, where did this cab pictured above come from and click through here for a quick pie quiz....

Across the muddy plain a truck approaches, leaping over deep puddles, raising dust and mud in equal proportion with a mighty roar of its engine, proving an unstoppable force in the face of all of nature's barriers (OK, OK, we get the picture Biglorryblog...don't egg the pudding) But what is it..? And more importantly where can see more of its kind too? Well if you haven't already worked it out (for a pie) click through here where all will be revealed!

Mmmm...this looks interesting. Forget your European Iveco Stralis. THIS is what the Stralis should really look like! Yes it's an Aussie Iveco Stralis B-Double with a big 500hp Cursor 13 under the Active Space cab hood, EuroTronic auto and Meritor (yes that's right) double-drive back bogie all ready to run at 65-tonnes with an A and B trailer in back...

Looking good with all those shiny new chrome wheels too...I believe this one took part in a recent  nationwide Aussie tour (maybe some of my Biglorryblog army saw it?) and considering just how big the country is down-under that would have taken a fair bit of time--and diesel to get around it. Now click through here for one more..

Word reaches Biglorryblog that Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has unveiled two new heavy-duty Class 8 trucks including an updated Freightliner Coronado for on-highway use and the above Freightliner Coronado 'Severe Duty' (SD) for construction companies and municipalities. Naturally, they're both available with the all-new Detroit Diesel 'HDEP' DD13, DD15 and DD16 engines from 350 to 600hp. Rumour has it that the as-yet-to-be-launched new Actros will gain the HDEP diesels, which already meet the future EPA 2010 emissions standard, replacing the long-serving current V6 and V8 engines. And compared with more 'chunky-looking' US dump trucks this looks rather smart don't you think? Now click through here for more... 

"Hi Brian, " says Vic, "This is why that Oshkosh camper which AtkiPete sent a photo of had 3 axles. It is certain to be one of the approximately 12 that the Freightways group imported into NZ from Australia in the 1970s. They were 6x4 models, some had GM 2-strokes and some had Cat motors; I think they all had Roadranger 13-speeds and Rockwell diffs. There was also one bonnetted truck imported at the same time; it is now owned and used by Tranzcarr Heavy Haulage.Cheers, Vic." Now click through here for that bonneted Oshkosh... 

If there's one thing Biglorryblog likes it's a glimpse of the 'truck of the future'. So I welcome the contribution to BLB from Marek Bandyszewski who has sent me these superb design studies of tomorrow's tractors from MAN, Scania and Volvo....

Meanwhile Marek says: "I often visit your website where I find lots of interesting ideas. I live in Poland and have always been interested in 'motorisation', trucks in particular. Drawing trucks is my biggest hobby.  By the means of your website I'd like to present a small sample of a few drawings----more pictures are available at http://embeembe.deviantart.com/gallery/." Now click through here for the Scania concept and couple of excellent old-timers too!

AtkiPete Lynch is (as far as I know) back in Oz now after his recent trip tp Kiwi land...and he says: "G'day Brian, here's a rather heavy duty Kiwi Camper sent to be by senior anorak Hugh Schofield of Christchurch. Are the Kiwi weight limits so restrictive that even a camper van needs 3-axles or is there something more about this one than meets the eye?" Meanwhile click through here for a Kiwi camper that's altogether in a class of its own!

Crikey that's one hell of a colour to paint a truck cab! Meanwhile, word reaches Biglorryblog that Volvo Trucks' cab factory in Umeå, (that's in Sweden err...duh!)  will soon be an entirely CO2-neutral factory. "How so BLB?" I hear you ask. Well those clever folk have achieved it by replacing propane with DME and by cutting energy consumption through the use of an ice-cold underground river to cool the production machinery. At the same time, considerable environmental improvements in the paintshop have helped create the world's cleanest and most energy-efficient paintshop...now click through here for more...

Tim Cotton has provided yours truly with this 4x4 fire tender and says: "Brian, yet more holiday snaps! The tracked fire engine made me think about this Renault Fire engine I saw in Limoux France in 2007"

 Now click through here for a BIglorryblog mystery fire engine from Italy...and a pizza quiz!

OK so Mark Knopfler's latest album has a song about an Albion reiver. Well I'll see you and raise you as SUPER Reiver says Bigloryblog. And to prove it here's a ad from Commercial Motor from nineteen umptyforth (guess the real year for a pie). Of course in those days if you had a truck to sell it had to be called a "SUPER xxxx" Don't believe me?

Well here's the SUPER Commet from Leyland! And if you need any help with the year of the Albion the ad featured, and I quote, the following line, "..a triple braking system that fully meets the resvied regulations for 1968..." Now click through here for a coloured Comet.

Dennis Child the man in charge at ROTRAN multi-axle has been out playing with his 'toys' again in South Africa and naturally he's sent Biglorryblog the pictures. And here are two of his 950hp Tractomas D75 8x8s (as driven by 'Clutchslip'---he's a lucky swine!) hauling a with 147-ton transformer on the back!

And if you think that's impressive click through here for some real awesome Tractomas haulers!

"Behold!" says Biglorryblog. It's the mighty two-section full-track carrier 'Vityaz DT-2P' can transport people in harsh road and climatic conditions, in temperatures of -40 to +45 ºC. So what is this unusual emergency response vehicle doing on BLB? Well, it, and an number of other Russian fire engines fitted with Allison auto transmissions www.allisontransmission.com recently appeared 

at a special emergency vehicle show...and click through here and you can read all about it! Plus there's a photo pie quiz too....

Brendan Hale (who is South African but lives in Taiwan--you work it out!) has kindly sent Biglorryblog these shots of South East Asian shifters and says: "Good day Brian, I was in Vietnam in 2005 or 2006."

Brendan continues: " Many of these pictures were taken through the windscreen of the bus on the way to Halong Bay. Many Eastern Bloc trucks, especially IFA trucks. Plenty of KAMAZ as well." And we start with this typical street scene including motorcylists with sun helmet! Now click through here for more!!!

Tim Cotton returns to BLB with this bonneted French bruiser (or should that be le bruiser?) and to say: "Continuing the theme of trucks spotted whilst on holidays - here are three Renault tippers seen on two seperate trips to France. The bonneted one was in Nimes back in 2006 and the other two were by a beach on the South coast in 2007.It was the bonneted one which prompted this email, as I thought it was a little different Tim." Well it is different Tim, and a great lead in to a pie (sorry quiche) quiz thus: Who can tell me anything about the cab on this truck...and what would it have been badged at before it had a Renault diamond on the front? Now click through here for a sure-fire way to get a decent spot on the beach....

James Higgins is back on Biglorryblog with shots of trucks from the most beautiful Island in the world...(and I don't mean Canvey Island) "Here is some thing cheesy," he says: "The fleet of Volvo milk tankers for local company Orkney Cheese---a very nice fleet. James."

And nice cheese too---light and crumbly. Talk about from newer to old and back again...and click through here for more....when was the last time you saw an FL7 still working?

Dean Jutilla hs e-mailed me to say that "Biglorryblog readers may have interest in this: an eBay listing of over 1M fruit pies - estimated to be about 130 pallets worth of goods - is getting some genuine interest.  As of a few minutes ago, nearly 150 bids had been placed with a top bid over £100,000.  The auction has eight days remaining.  http://bit.ly/Pm2BJ" Dean continues: "Your readers may even want a shot at this transport job by bidding on it - assuming it gets posted on uShip, a U.S.-based online shipping marketplace that just enhanced its service in the UK.  http://www.uship.com/uk  If you have any questions, I'm happy to help. Dean." And in case you're wondering Dean is director of marketing communications at uship and you can reach him on dean@uship.com

Meanhile, BLB replies one million fruit pies sounds attractive but I'm holding out for one million Pukka Pies! Then you'd be talking something! And meaty...? I'm starting to salivate now!  As the good folk at Pukka say: For the piefectionist! (Guilty as charged) STOP PRESS Click through here for an update as of 7:00am this morning!

Following the mystery Dutch truck picture from Fangio Sil van Wanrooij has sent these two pictures to me and re-confirms to me that the truck in Fangio's picture was/is a Busssing. Sil says: " These pictures are from wikipedia [and if anyone knows who took them let me know and I'll gladly credit them-BLB] there's no radiator at the front the engine is hanging (underfloor) beneath the chassis which gave the truck a spacious cabin." Now click through here for one more....but before you do, what's the blue truck next to it? (For a pie).

Apparently, some people think REAL men drive Kenworths......well Biglorryblog is here to tell you that 'real' men drive Rowe Hillmasters! (With the odd day out in a Commer Imp van too I should imagine...). Aah...but what do 'real' men clean their Kenworth's with? That's the question...and click through here for the answer....

Fancy a bit of free publicity says BLB? As long as you can transport a 10-tonne ice bear sculpture to Copenhagen for free in return! The Ice Bear Project needs a lift and asks Biglorrryblog: "We are looking for a transport operator to help us haul an ice sculpture of a polar bear from the UK to Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference this December. Given the organisations and individuals involved in this project, the transport operator will receive considerable publicity in return.  Please note the vehicle does not have to be refrigerated! Now click through here for more....and who to contact...

Master model maker Matthias Ommert from Germany needs your help! Aside from creating such excellent miniature versions of the Titan Actros, complete with chequer-plate mud-wings, he has made all sorts of other heavy haulage models in 1:87 scale. And you can see plenty examples of his handiwork via these links

http://www.hansebubeforum.de/showtopic.php?threadid=9602&s=2f154470db59c61631f5a712c51d36b9

http://www.hansebubeforum.de/showtopic.php?threadid=8948&s=2f154470db59c61631f5a712c51d36b9

http://www.schwerlast-rhein-main.de/modellbau/mommert/

http://www.mhtmodels.de/9529/33242.html

However, he needs your help and click through here to find out how...

Is it Biglorryblog or has anyone else noticed the remarkable (if not uncanny) similarity between a Scammell Townsman and the Cadbury's Smash Martians? Was someone in Watford's design office doing a bit of 'moonlighting'? I think we should be told!

A pair of Scammell Townsmans...

A Smash Martian... Now click through here for more...

Maxine Gover has kindly sent me more shots from the Bakers Transport (Southampton) company archives including this presentation card showing a heavy haulage job to the Continent and this candid shot of the annual works Christmas Party from the 1950s!

At the risk of being called an old softie I always find these photographs extremely poignant. Where are they all now I wonder? These guys were the 'Lions' of the industry. Now click through ere for one more...

"There's nothing's new under the sun  Horatio...!" (Or whatever it was the great Bard said). And to prove it here's a pretty good example. Another ad from Commercial Motor in 1966 extolling the virture of wide single tyres on a tractor's drive axle..i.e lower weight, improved brake cooling, no trapped stones between the tyres....yadda-yadda-yadda. And it was Goodyear who came up with the name 'Super Single' which like many things quickly became the accepted industry generic term for a wide single tyre. Yet it wasn't for at least another 35 years before operators began to take them seriously on a tractors--and then mainly on the Continent.....now click through here to see what I mean.

Commer, Commer, Commer, chameleons...Six of the err..best from the Rootes Group including the nippy Commer Imp van... Must have been great getting to the engine once you'd loaded it up. But click through here for more on the Imp van... And why didn't they call it 'The Cob' after the other Hillman light vans?

"Attention all you hard-pressed operators!" says Biglorryblog. "Is your website doing enough for you? And have you even got a website?" If you answered no to both those questions then it's probably time to do something about it.Which is where Biglorryblog's chum (and former deputy editor of Commercial Motor) Louise Cole might just be able to help you. Having taken the plunge into becoming a freelancer some time ago Louise has since set up her own web design operation which now includes such big name customers as Elddis Transport and The Pallet Network. So how might Louise help you? Click through here for the full SP!

Fangio Van Wynsberghe has very kindly provided some links to some shots of Tractomas heavy hitters on their way to Dennis Child in South Africa. Seen these Dennis? Fangio says: "As I know you're interested in Nicolas heavy haulers,these pics were taken at the port off Antwerp, at the dockside,waiting for to be shipped to South Africa Fangio." However, While BLB was getting the pictures from photobucket I noticed this strange beast... Pictured above and curiosity got the better of me. So what is it? And if it's not one of Fangio's I trust whoever did take it doesn't mind me putting it up on BLB. So come on anorak army get yer thinking caps on... And click through here for more shots of a Tractomas heavy hitter sitting on the dock of the bay!

Biglorryblog has Tim Cotton to thank for this selection and especially as it follows on my recent blog on the trip I did to Russia with MAN and MAZ trucks. "Brian, these were taken in Feb 2007 in Latvia - mainly in Riga." Now can you see what I eman about the similarity of the old MAZ cab and the original Iveco TurboStar?

I raised this with the chief engineer at MAZ at the time but he was insistent that the MAZ design was all -home-built' with no influences from any other truck maker... What do you think? Anyroadup click through here for more...

AtkiPete Lynch continues his truckie tour of NZ with a new sslection of vintage and classic Kiwi kroozers. "G'day Brian, from my recent trip to the South Island of NZ, a real lorry spotter's paradise.Part of our group on the truck run, your serious Anoraks should be able to identify these lorries." The one above Pete captions as: "heading home for a nightcap!" So what can you identify?

Long and the short and the tall here... (Well maybe not so tall) Now click through to see a superb collection of lost classics...

Good way to start the Biglorryblog day! Rod Simmonds kindly sent me this YouTube link of a Jimmy Barnes music video 'Driving Wheels' trather good though with all the smoke behind him I wonder if he's been using an old Gardner-powered Atkinson as a pop...! Rodders tells me 'It's the Aussie truckers' anthem'. I can believe it. I said to Rod that his voice reminded me of Rod Stewart and Long John Baldry... Though I don't expect him to have heard of LJB! (He's far too young... Though I expect Vic does.)

Here's a couple of pics from the Kent Scammell gathering at the Chatham Historic Dockyard, featuring part of the ever immaculate fleet of Paul Hammond - courtesy of Gyles Carpenter. So for a quick late-night pie name that line-up! Now click through here for one more...

Talking about venerable old-timers Bob 'Mr Classic' Tuck has sent me these shots and says: "Brian, the recent superb posting about the collection of Volvo G88s down under obviously caught my eye." And he starts off with these ones in a need of a bit of TLC... Or renovation anyway.

Where they originally factory-built eight-leggers or locally-converted I wonder?

These ones have seen the best of their days... Unless someone restores them - now click through here for the REAL story!

Dennis Child, general manager at ROTRAN has been out with his camera again and has sent me these shots starting off with Mammoet's mighty MANs in action "..and a 152-ton transformer failed unit arriving!"

Now click through here for more South African heavy hitters!

"Hi" says Dayle. "I wonder if you can identify this truck/lorry for me, you are welcome to put in on your blog, the photo was taken in South Africa this year at an annual Tractor and Engine show, the photographer is a friend of mine (Danie van den Berg) who sends me tons of pictures but unfortunately no description for this one. Thanks in advance, Dayle. Webmaster www.sa-transport.co.za" So Biglorryblog anorak army - put the man out of his misery!

STOP PRESS

Make that woman out her misery! A red-faced BLB has received this update from Dayle who says: "Thanks tons for putting the picture on the blog, I look forward to the replies, one small correction though "So Biglorryblog anorak army - put the man out of his misery!", should sort of be 'put the woman out of her misery', :-). Unusual hobby for a woman I know, but I have petrol instead of blood, or so my kids say.

Cheers

Dayle

Well I've been put in my place before but never so nicely!

Henk-Jan Aukema says: "Greetings from the Netherlands!! How are things BLB? I noticed your question that came with my Mack mixer photos. If there are more Macks (Or indeed Yankee trucks) Driving around in Europe.)."

"Well here is the answer. At the last Mack and special transport show in Utrecht two weeks ago I found the answer. First this smart looking Kenworth Aerodyne. And then a very good looking Pete. which has a fourth axle."

"A nice row of old B model Macks." Now click through  here for more!

Having recently postred up his pictures of the mighty Kirovec tractor Andrzej Lazar has sent me this shot from Spotters.net.un of one doing some hard work towing a rather large plane....and for a pie what is it? Meanwhile, Andrzej says, "the plane weighs 100,000kg empty---do you think a 'Western' tractor could pull it? Meranwhile click throguh here for links to more interesting Russian sites...

Gawd bless 'The Brochure King' Wherenever I ask him for something he never disappoints! And having recently mentioned that MAN used to use 'local badging' from famous, though discontinued, marques in Austria to help sell its trucks he's supplied me with these pictures. First the OAF (nee MAN) Commander eight-legger (built at the old OAF Graft and Stift plant in Vienna which is now used by MAN for it's specials like heavy haulage machines and 4x4s etc).

Meanwhile Rich says: "Hi Brian, just catching up with BLB and saw your request for photos of Austrian trucks. I agree with you that the Steyr grille on the large MAN F2000 (Roadhaus) cab made for a smart-looking tractor unit, and here's a brochure scan of a 19S46, so equipped." Now click through here for more!

John Ormandy clearly likes to travel to the Iberian peninsular (where the word Foden is best not said in certain parts!) He's sent me these shots and says: "Hola Brian, if only you had a 'Small Lorry Blog', these might be of interest. They are both working daily in this part of Spain (Lebrija, near Jerez). The Sherry tanker is readily identifiable (I think!), but it would take more than a pie to identify the chassis beneath the pantechnicon... Regards,John O." And click through here for that mystery Spaniard.

"Here's one for the Aussies," says Vic Hungerford in New Zealand."...so Pete, Cam, Rayjay, in Oz what do you make of this? On Monday I parked at the Interislander ferry terminal next to this 8-wheeler stock truck with its 4-axle trailer. The normal International T-Line cab, Atkinson grille but with an Eagle in place of the Big A, F4870 badge, Cummins 444 engine and 15-speed Roadranger. According to the driver, it was bought new like that as an International Eagle. A New Zealand special, or were they sold like that in Oz as well? Cheers, Vic." Now click through here for one more....

How about this for as 'classic' line-up? "Hi Brian," says Alex in New Zealand. "Here are some pics of Kinsman Contractings six G88 Volvos." And every one a legend too!

Now click through here for more of them!

It's Saturday morning and while I'm waiting for the gunk to clean the limescale off the shower (well what else do you do on a Saturday?) I thought I'd offer you this little story about a trip I did back in 1989 from Munich to Moscow with MAN and MAZ. At that time MAN was selling 12-litre engines to MAZ for its top-weight tractor (that's it on the right) so some PR bright-spark decided to run two MAN artics to MInsk, where MAZ was based, then having been joined by two MAZ tractors, we'd continue our journey to Mosciow where yours truly would bail out and flight home. The outward bound leg took 10-days at a time when there wasn't much mobile phone coverage east of the West German border (and not much around there either!)

At the end of the trip (which I made with four other journos from across Europe - talk about a polyglot bunch) we ended up parking the trucks in Red Square by St Peter's Basilica - I wouldn't try it now. Remember this was before the well came down...) Now click through here for more...

Thanks to my old mate Henk Kruit now I know what goes on the front of an orange KAMAZ six-wheeler... And here's a couple of pictures from Henk to prove it! So now you know too.

Phone camera in hand our brave hero and Biglorryblog blogging co-eveil Ollie Dixon (he of the excellent World Trucks Blog on http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/world-trucks-blog/) sends me this along with the comment; "Here's a pic of a fire engine giving it large amounts at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. Given that I am trying to leave from the same, I suspect delays may be a safe bet...!"

And what's OD been doing in 'Lost Wages'? Holding down another season in the lounge? Breaking the crap tables? Or at the Las Vegas Truck Show... Time will tell.

Fancy a trip to one of the most interesting websites Biglorryblog has encountered for a long while. Where you'll find splendid pictures like this and lots of stuff on ultra-strong heavy haulage kit? Then what are you waiting for...? Click through here now!

"Hi Brian," says Gyles Carpenter. "Friday at last with a weekend of Scammell action at Chatham Dockyard ahead,(.....mmmmmm Scammells ). To get in the mood and seeing that brochure of a Contractor, here's a shot of John Attlee's much photographed Contractor exiting Medway Tunnel after the 2007 Scammell Gathering. Have a great weekend. Gyles."

Biglorryblog's wandering reporter Nick Garlick has once again suppplied me with some unusual shots and says: "Hi Brian, well it looks like Van den Bosch has got a complete set of bonneted trucks from the T cab Scania to the big KW spotted at Assen. The VN being a combination of both Swedish and American ideas in one vehicle. Nick."

Now click through here for the KayWhoppa....

Ring any bells? The brand new Seddon 32:four:220 with Rolls Eagle, David Brown six=speed box, plated for 32-tons but designed ready for 38! So what was the year this 'Friendly Giant' first appeared at the Scottish Motor Show (now there's a giveaway...) Now click through for more

Andrzej Lazar is back with this monster Kirovec 700 series tractor which is still in use in Gdynia.(on public roads too!) Well you wouldn';t want to meet it on a dark night now would you? Click through here for more 

I might be getting the wrong end of the stick but I think that Andrzej Lazar in Gdynia,Poland may have identified the mystery Argentinian truck sent to me by Simon Adamson as a KRAZ 257--or at least a KRAZ or some sort. And you can click through here to see if he's right---but I reckon it's close enough for jazz  http://www.oldrussiancars.com/category/trucks/kraz-257/
Andrzej says: "You can still see similiar Kraz 255 and 256s on Polish roads especially in Gdynia,because near there town there's a military base and Kraz trucks from the '70s are still in use there..Last month I talked with driver of a Kraz 255 who told me  it was 27-years old but had only done 6000km!!! (He normally only drives it in the military base)." Now click through here for some Russian dumpers!

'The Old Vic' Hungerford is back on Biglorryblog and has picked up on the subject of horseboxes...or as they call them in New Zealand 'Horse Floats'."Hi Brian," he says, "I liked Rod's photo of that horse float, but not all horse floats in NZ are quite like that. I was in the far north a couple of days ago, where most things are done a bit differently; I believe that is the case in Australia too." Now click through here for more....

Biglorryblog's wandering reporter Nick Garlick send me this classic cloggies and says: "Brian, I took these Dutch classics at the Zandvoort truck show earlier this year. Very nice wagon and drags..Regards,Nick." Now click through here for more!

Mark Graham has sent me these shots and says: "Brian,I've just been on holiday in a town south of Vienna called Moedling. The local direct services refuse team still use a number of Steyr vehicles for regular duties.I'm sure you're familiar with the classic angular Steyr cab, but I don't recall you having featured the badge-engineered MAN cab." Good call. Steyr was always a strong brand in Austria, so when MAN bought the company in the 90s it continued to provide a local 'Steyr grille' on MAN trucks sold in Austria as you can see here---funnily enough I always thought the 'Steyr' MAN tractor looked particularly attractive. If anyone has shots of it perhaps they'd send me some....I seem to recall they also badged some MAN's as OAF's too (another strong 'local brand. perhaps ''The Brochure King' has some stuff on OAF? Meanwhile, click through here for the tradtional wedge cab from Steyr... .

How's this for a bit of advertising chutzpah? Back in may 1966 the then 'motiring correspondent of the Daily Express, Basil Cardew declared: "The Scammell Contractor is a goods express which brings a new era to commercial motoring; yet it's as easy to handle as a oprivate car." To which all Biglorryblog can say is he must have spent many years driving some pretty rough old cars!

Here's one that John Henderson, Biglorryblog's man 'North 'o' the Border' should get with his eyes closed! So what was the year...and where was it taken John? And whatever happened to York trailers?!

Last one for today. Andrzej Lazar from Gdynia in Poland (BLB readers may remember him for his immaculate restoration of an F10 Eurotrotter) has kindly sent me this selection of shots of a Scheuerle super shifter and says :"This is an interesing truck from one firm near the container port in Gdynia." Interesting it certainly is Andrzej as it's one of those modular moving platforms (usually powered by a Duetz enguine) for shifting around heavy loads like half-completed sections of ships!  

The driving compartment could do with a bit more bling though--- and it's obviously a 'bring your own cushion' cabin too!  Now shift through here for more of this weird and wonderful machine....

How about this for a bit of custom airbrushing 'down on the farm'? The other day I travelled down to Dorset to meet up with Robert McLean and his son George---whose Scania V8 I recently featured as part of a story about the company's new Andover low loader. While I was chatting with George and Robert it seemed too good an opportunity to waste so I climbed up onto the low loader and shot this short video clip of the airbrushed artwork on the back of the V8! UI'll post up another one shortly showing the front of the truck. The airbrushing was done by Adam Haydon of St Austell while the overall paint job was handled by Haydon Autospray of Radstock (and no they're not related!)

"G'day Brian," says AtkiPete Lynch in that chirpy Aussie manner we've all come to love. "Just back from a brilliant week of lorry spotting over in NZ. I went on the Southern Classic Commercials run classic truck run way down South and I think Alex Vincent has sent you some photos of this already.   Anyhow here are a few photos of modern lorries I saw when running about. Starting with this Classic Kiwi sheep shifter, they are always spotless and nicely painted.." Well next time Pete ask huim not to park in fron of the sign will you?

"Next here's a massive Pacific, not sure of the type, used for shifting houses---or anything else that's reluctant to move!" It's moved me already mate! Now click through here for more....

Who says you can't get a old dog to perform new tricks? Dennis Child in South Africa has sent me these pictures and says: "This from today. A 130-ton transformer being shifted by the 'old faithfulls' still going strong' in action - my Pacific P12s with 650hp Cummins." And what a beautifully-restored pair of pullers who are obviously still eager for a run-out!

And these aren't just any old Pacifics..oh no. They're 'Ultra' Pacifics! Now click through here for one more photo....and an unusual 'only in Africa' house-visitor...