Recently in 4x4s Category

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...

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'.....

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...

Biglorryblog is holidaying in Norfolk but will be back soon.  Pour yourself a large glass of red wine and just stay calm!

Is this the oldest Unimog still working? According to Mercedes it is, having first been registered on 7 January 1953 (Blimey it's even older than Biglorryblog!) and it's still operational with a German construction company in Hessia. And for a pie what's the model? Now click through here for an equally-classic Moggie from 1963...

Biglorryblog is grateful to Craig Sheer (and congratulations to him and his missus on becoming the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy). Craig was with me on the recent Scania R-series launch and very kindly took a picture of this rather strange 4x4 we both spotted in the Swedish village of Trosa. So for a pie, what is it?

I stumbled upon this gem quite by mistake whilst looking for classic truck shows in the UK! It's a video clip on YouTube of a Chevrolet promotion from from 1957 showing a variety of Chevy pickups and trucks climbing Pike's Peak in (I think) Colorado. Quiet a promotional gamble back then I'd say! Anyway the caption for the video reads: A Chevrolet 4x4 promo showing these old classic NAPCO trucks at work! Come join our NAPCO Owner's Group at http://www.napco4x4.org start rebuilding your Napco 4x4 today!

Fancy doing a bit of hunting? Tramping through field and stream... Well clearly this is the beastie to do it with. What you see here is the very latest Specautotrans 4x4 'URAL' Truck 48072V complete with a 170hp Caterpillar engine and Allison 2000 series auto box - well let's face it, every creature-comfort counts when you're off-road right? Based in the Ural Mountains, Specautotrans has, and I quote: "Considerable expertise in building heavily modified off-road vehicles, including those for local and international hunting enthusiasts." Not surprisingly, highly-capable vehicles are needed to navigate the uncompromising terrain of the Ural Mountains but while most manufacturers spec a manual box in the belief that they're better suited to the arduous conditions, Specautotrans decided to experiment with a fully automatic Allison transmission and wouldn't you know it, they're now fitting the auto box in their 48072V making it "completely unique in the region." Now click through here for more....and a better look at the mighty 'URAL' truck

Thanks to www.roadtransport.com I note that there's a rather splendid 'here's mud in your eye' all-action video featuring the new uprated Ford ranger pick-up getting into all sorts of messy stuff. Only where are the terrible twins of roadtransport TV Julian and Ian? We should be told!

'Two-Stroke' writes me to say: "Following on from the Biglorryblog post on the Cargo-cabbed Ashok Leyland 6x6 in Africa. There was some interesting 4x4 solutions displayed on Ford Chassis at the recent Hospice of St Francis steam rally."

"In the forestry section next to the Latil (that Ron featured) was a 4x4 Thames Trader. Is it safe to assume this was County conversion? As Ford was not a big player in 4x4, compared to Bedford who had the military business." Well interesting questions TS. It could well have been, as you suggest, a County conversion. But equally active in the all-wheel drive conversion market was Newton Abbott Motor (NAM), United Services Garage (USG) the big Bedford dealer in Portsmouth and Reynolds Boughton to name but a few... Now click through here for more weird all-wheel-drive wonders!

That young PR whipper-snapper James Keeler clearly knows how to get a story into Biglorryblog - send it in with a picture of a Moggie! And not just any Moggie too, but a genuine 1968 ex-Belgian Army Mercedes Benz Unimog 404S, powered by a 2.2 litre petrol engine. And what's all that got to do with the price of fish... Welll click through here and you'll find our won't you?

Remember all those jokes about Skodas...? I.e. 'How do you double the value of a Skoda?' (Fill it with petrol) and 'What do you call a Skoda convertible?' (A skip)...Well I guess the Czechs and Germans are having the last laugh now. And to cap it all say 'hello' to the new Skoda 4x4 called 'The Yeti'. Fortunately, unlike the mysterious beastie of the mountains this looks much more welcoming! And with a starting price of just £13,750 and four models to choose from Biglorryblog reckons this could really put the domestic feline amongst the birdies....and click through here for the full story and more pictures.

We appear to builidng up a nice 'blogging stream' on Stonefield on Biglorryblog - not least from Stu who says: "Hello there Brian, I would have commented directly through the blog but it won't allow me to attach pictures for your viewing pleasure so I'll nag you via email instead!" Fair enoughski and he has sent me this picture and comments: "I don't know much about Stonefields but I did take a snap of a fire tender based on one at Doncaster Aeroventure aircraft museum last year. According to the chap I spoke with it was awaiting an engine. A mighty fine vehicle the Stonefield certainly is, I'm glad it's got some well deserved coverage on BLB. It's a shame they're not around anymore, it would be nice for a UK company to be providing some competition for the mighty Unimog." Now click through for a rather unusual remark regarding ther Stonefield's windscreen wipers!

Biglorryblog regular Alex Saville has sent me this shot of a very smart Atki (one for Chris G) from the recent Ayr Road Run but it's what's on the next page that really interests me... And should you too as there's a (Scots) pie quiz in it for everyone...

OK clever clogs... What's one of these then? (And the clue is in the number plate... DOH! What a giveaway...) Now click through here for the full story (and some nice pictures of Biglorryblog's favourite off-roader too.)

That Phil Sampson knows how to catch my attention. Ordinarily Biglorryblog wouldn't go overboard about a press release on fith wheels... OK they're important but hardly sexy. Well there's an exception to every rule - especially when said Jost fifth wheels and associated kit are fitted to BLB's favourite go - anywhere machine the magnificent Mercedes Unimog. And via Phil I learn that Mercedes-Benz has specced Jost fifth-wheels for an order of six Unimog U500 shortwheelbase specialist winter maintenance vehicles being supplied to the British Airports Authority. This takes to 23 the total number of Jost-equipped Moggies delivered to UK airports since 2003. Now click through here for an exciting picture of a new fifth wheel with fresh grease on it! (Admit it... Only Biglorryblog can cater to such strange perversions...)

Quote why I should suddenly be blogging about Inernational Scout 4x4 pickups I have absolutely no idea. But when Biglorryblog gets the ball you can bet he's going to run with it And naturally if you're looking for pictures and information on anything then surprise, surprise, Wikipedia has a fantastic section on IH WSCouts from the very beginning to the later models and that's where this picture of a (I think) 1961 Scout 80 model comes from. As far as I can tell the 80 was the one with the removable top and windscreen--the 800 series had the fixed windscreen (unless anyone can tell me different if so please post a comment. And here's the link to the Wikipedia page which is where the above picture comes from 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Harvester_Scout#Scout_80_and_Scout_800

AtikiPete Lynch has sent me this rather interesting image of an Aussie International Scout 4x4 and says (in is chirpy Aussie way) "G'day Brian,

I've just been out for a trip with the HCVC gang from Ballarat and came across a few interesting lorries in our travels."  Now this got Bigloprryblog thinking about a) the fabulous Adclassix website which has all sorts of terrific US truck ads (you can download large poster vwersions too for a price) at this weebsite http://www.adclassix.com/truckindex.htm

Have a browse as you'll be surprised what you can find--here's one for the Scout.

And b) the German publisher Taschen at www.taschen.com which produces some terrific books on vintage ads from the 50s, 60s and 70s (including a 60s Cars one Edited by Jim Heimann) under its 'Icon' series. I've got three of the books and they are great stuff to while away the odd hour or two aided by a sherbet or three... I seem to recall you could virtually dismantle all the superstructure of the Scout from the windscreen back so you ended up with a ultra-stripped down 4x4.

Changing the subject back to Pete's visit what's this when it's at home....and click through here for a few more shots from Ballarat and a quick pie quiz too.