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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."
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"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!
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"Regarding their originality.Yes they were genuine ex factory 8x4s.Wacol,Brisbane factory.They are all,in fact,Aust spec Volvos hence the spider wheels which are Australian made Malco items. Closer inspection will reveal that they have Rockwell bogie drives on Hendrickson walking beam suspensions(steel springs/steel beams).I think the 8x4 was initially intended for the NZ market but some were definately sold in WA and probably elsewhere in Aust.The Australian N-Series and F86 got similar driveline and wheel equipement.F86s were in 8x4 form too,ex Wacol. Flat West Coast mirrors were also standard fitment. Note too,that many of the 88s(in NZ) came with an Aust one piece sunvisor, as on Paul Hammond's truck(ID 1211) and the other two old ones.Others acquired a similar,but two piece,visor made by Visor Distributors of Auckland.This is distinguishable by the bright end brackets and joint cover in the centre as on Don Rennie's. The last pic above is an 88 belonging to Scott's Transport Industries (now Ascot Haulage) pulling tankers out of Darwin in 1974.Rufo."
Great Stuff Rufo - fantastic to see. And fancy a Quad operating in the mid 1970s. Even on heavy haulage that seems way ahead of its time.