Recently in Custom trucks Category

The things I get asked eh? Still it's all in a good cause. Sandy Austin has contacted Biglorryblog to say: "I'm getting married in May next year - I'm a truck driver, Scania being my favourite and since being with my partner she has grown to love them too--to the extent that her dream would be to have a white Scania longline as her wedding transport. Anybody out there know if this is possible at all and if so, how? Any ideas, contacts etc would be extremely welcome to sandy.a@hotmail.co.uk Sandy." Well I don't have a Longline myself (more's the pity) but I know a man who's been known to have the odd one or two now and then. Step forward that fine chap Mick, Mick Moody International fame (and you can visit the website) or call 01472 345600 http://www.moodyinternational.co.uk/trucks_for_sale I reckon Mick would be a good place to start...the picture above is one he used to have though  suspect it's now been sold...but if you're after the ultimate wagon for your wedding why not this one--and click through here to check it out?

Ron Johl has sent me these shots from Truckfest 2008 and says: "Here's a couple you need sun-glasses for! Starting with the very shiny Finnish 'Shogun' Scania--in fact I had to go back several times to get some decent shots as the vehicle was like a magnet attracting a large crowd so it was a case of picking your moments."

"And here's what you'd call "A Swedish Big Bonneted Bruiser"---a very smart 142M from (I think) the Netherlands. Only picture's simply cannot do justice to the two vehicles---they have to be seen in real life to appreciate the art work and what must be hours of polishing. All the best, Ron." Now click through here for more of them...

'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...

Ask... And you shall receice. Especially on Biglorryblog. Thanks to Brian Lomas 'Mr Foden' and especially John Ormandy BLB can proudly bring you not one immaculate 'Black Cat' but two! And the story behind both. Indeed, John O says; "Thanks for the comments regarding the Black Cat & Black Cat ll. Decent photos I couldn't find quickly, but I've included some snaps, including the CM cutting below with some very kind words about Black Cat which enhanced my reputation with Hank Kiefer at the time!

John continues: "Not many people know how the name came about (as Michael C might have said), but in early 1985 I had ordered our 'fully-specced' 6x4 demo (chassis 214205 - sad, or what?) in a metallic red livery that I had seen pictured in a Kenworth conventional brochure, complete with the colour-coded stripes. As delivery became imminent, and was eagerly awaited for TruckFest, I had a phone call from Ken Vickers to say there was a problem in production with metallics, so the truck would be delayed unless I could accept a 'plain' red - or other non-metallic. So I said 'Paint it Black, and deliver it asap!". Paul Brunning (my boss) then took quite some convincing (after the event, luckily!) Now cl;ick through here for more!

Biglorryblog is grateful to Shuttlespanker who recently tipped me off with as to his ongoing makeover of the Super-sized Daf XF95.530 originally created by Richard Rollinson but which, since earlier this year, has been under the proud ownership of Shuttlespanker. And what a fabulous job of renovation he's done so far---the outside looks immaculate and work on finishing off the inside is gathering pace too (click through for an interior picture...) My thanks go also to Rikki Chequer at TrucknetUK who provided me with the link to the appropriate forum page (DUH...I couldn't remember how to do it but got there in the end ) where these pictures can be found (and others too). And you can get to TruckNetUK via this link. http://www.roadtransport.com/StaticPages/drivers.htm

What I particularly like about the exterior paint job is that it's nice and restrained--and not one of those bonkers OTT coverall airbrushed jobs you see at the truck shows...if you know what I mean.  Don't get me wrong I do like them---but I reckon in this case less is more. And it perfectly matches its new name...'Big Blue'. What's more you wouldn't know it was stretched cab unless you knew what you were looking for.  But in case you need reminding just how much bigger 'Big Blue' is compared to a regular XF95 Space Cab----here's a earlier shot of it nose-to-nose with a 'regular' Scania Topline!

Now do you see what I mean...? We're talking Scania Longline/Volvo FH16 Globetrotter XXL territory here!

Hello... What's this venerable Streamline V8 doing in Andrew Cooper's paint shop? And you can see project Petebilt peeking through behind... Well Andrew explainsw all: "Hi Brian, a very excited Harry Cooper and I really enjoyed the 2009 Carmarthen truck show. As was mentioned in a recent blog posting. The show was to host the unveiling of a special truck in memory of a very special lady. Karen Thomas and her partner Andrew founded KBHS bulk haulage - A company which has gone from strength-to-strength over the years. Sadly at a very young age and on Xmas Eve in 2008 Karen very suddenly passed away. Andrew, being the strong character he has always been, has continued the hard work and dedication that any business needs to keep moving forward and grow."

Andrew continues: "We've had the pleasure of doing the paintwork on the KBHS fleet for several years now and when Andrew approached me several months ago to restore the scania in memory of Karen I was honoured." Now click through here to see how it all turned out... It's a fantastic job too!

All of which got me thinking--if Volvo and Mack can commemorate their servicemen and women on a truck why can't we Brits? The Australians recently did a similar thing with this stunning 'Remembrance' Kenworth.

And click through here for more on this topic....and some thoughts from BLB on the subject.

Bert de Vuyst makes a welcome return to Biglorryblog and knowing my penchant for the Scania Longline - shown above at its official RAI Show debut in 2003 (was it really that long ago?) - Bert says: "Hello Brian, here are some pictures of one of the first 'longlines' ever build. In 1956!"

Bert says "I found the next pictures on the blog of Iep van der Meer. These pictures are from Niels Jansen.Best regards, Bert." Well one good turn deserve another and both Iep's website at http://iepvandermeer.nl/ and Niel's picture gallery on Hank's truck pictures are well worth a visit! http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/niels_jansen.htm Meanwhile, click through here for more shots of the original Longline!

As ever I'm grateful to Volvo Trucks North America's engaging PR Wallah Jim McNamara for tipping me off on this story. I'm only sorry Jim I missed it for the 4th of July having been on my hols! Anyroadup, what you have here is a magnficently-decorated Volvo VNL670 tractor with airbrush murals commemorating the D-Day landings and recent D-Day anniversary. It's something that Volvo has a proud tradtion of doing and this year the graphics highlighted the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia and was developed by Volvo's New River Valley Plant (also in Virginia) in association with UAW Local 2069's Veterans Committee. And what a splendid reminder of the sacrifices made by allied troops on that fateful day. Wouldn't it be great if we had a UK equivalent? Meanwhile, click through here for a close up of the artwork.

Not that long ago Biglorryblog posted up some stuff from Cam and Pete on the recent Heritage Truck Show downunder held, I believe at Beenliegh? Anyroadup in particular my attention was grabbed by this immaculate Diamond T 950 (for a quick pie what year?) owned and restored by Ian and Dawn Lee. Thanks to some help from Cam I was put in touch with David Hecker who runs the excellent www.aussiebigbangers.4t.com (a site that all poms should visit!) and David has very kindly allowed me to reproduce a few more shots of the handsome Diamond from his website.

But what I really like is the way the sleeper box has slide out extensions on either side which effectively doubles the room inside. This is such a good idea you wonder whether any other manufacturer has ever tried to put this concept into produiction... Or have they? And was this just a 'local' Aussie sleeper solution or something common to all Diamond T tractors? BLB anorak army respond please! Anyway click through here for more shots from David's great website.

Thanks to my good chum Rikki Chequer community manager at TrucknetUK, the best ever website for drivers (and which you can find it and become a member by clicking on this link http://www.roadtransport.com/StaticPages/drivers.htm ) I learn that 'Kermit' the unique stretched XF 'Super Dooper' Space Cab  has changed hands. It was originally owned by Richard Rollinson (that's him pictured above with his pride and joy back in 2007) who up until recently was working and driving it along with his partner Annie Price. I met Richard and Annie up at Alconbury some time ago and found them to be great people---subsequently we featured both them and Kermit (in all its 530hp AS-tronic glory) in T&D back in August 2007.

However, some time ago Richard rang me to tell me that a combination of rising diesel prices and ill-health have forced him to call it a day----so very reluctantly he' put his unique Daf tractor up for sale. And when I say unique that's how much more room you have up against a Scania Topline! All very sad as the cab extension was done to a very impressive standard---although Richard and Annie had still to do a lot of work to finish off the interior. Anyway I'm now told it's in new hands and click through here to find out who's the lucky owner of Kermit and what they plan to do with it...

Regular Biglorryblog readers will know I recently drove and slept in the wonderful Iveco Strator bonneted artic built by Netherlands-based main Iveco dealer Charles Feijts Group (check out the Strator website at www.strator.nl) 

At the recent Iveco ride and drive day at Millbrook I was chatting with CFG boss George Simons who kindly promised to send me a DVD with pictures of all the Strators they have built to date..and true to his word it arrived in the post today.

So here for your delight is the complete Strator line up (what's the collective noun for a gropup of bonnted trucks...? A 'nose'?) Now click through here for the rest of them!

Beunos Dias! Biglorryblog's most treasured trucking traveller and ultimate curmudgeon 'The Boss' has been out on the road again and has come back with this stunner. "Brian, great thing company image," he says, "only how much do you want to spend?"

He then adds: "For those who like it 'OTT', this French outfit is the sister of the Volvo 'Jungle Book' I pinged over to you a few weeks ago, same company, and it has all been hand painted.Expect if the artist becomes famous then drops dead they will hang the whole rig in the Tate!" Surely with that Spanish theme the Prado?

Here's the other side with the gypsy caravan motif. Now click through here for something a little less, how shall we say,decorative... And British...

Behold the mighty Iveco Strator which I drove at Millbrook test track yesterday. Why not on the road? because Iveco didn't have a suitable 'short' trailer so naturally with it's own 13.6m loaded semi on the back it was a tad over-length... Hence the jaunt around the high-speed bowl and hill section of the Bedfordshire proving ground. Still and all, it was more than enough to get acquainted with the Dutch-built 'Torpedo Truck' which is based on a stretched left-hand-drive Stralis AS chassis with a Cursor 10 450hp six-pot up front and the cab moved back by 1600mm.

UPDATE: You can see the video here.

And before all you Aussies and Kiwis shout out 'It's a PowerStar Biglorryblog!' it's not. I repeat again, Strator is based on a stretched European Iveco Trakker or Stralis chassis (not an Aussie made PowerStar frame) with either the full-width Stralis AS or narrower Stralis AT cab repositioned on it and with full Iveco drivetrain including EuroTronic auto. I understand the bonnet IS the same as that used on the Aussie PowerStar - but believe me that's about it for the rest is very much 'home-built' by Iveco's Dutch dealer Charles Feijts Group.

Now click through here for more...

Guess what lucky blogger is goign to be sleeping in this tonight...and driving it tomorrowtoo? Yes Biglorryblog has got FINALLY his mits on the bonneted behemoth otherwise known as the Iveco Strator and tomorrow I'll tell you all about my night and day went in the Torpedo Truck... Now come on, it's dirty job but someone has to do it!

Never Globetrotter... It's a Hogtrotter! Yes 'Swine Fever' was spotted at Truckfest - and once again it's the little details on trucks that tickle the fancy of Biglorryblog whilst wandering around the truckparks and competitors areas...

The legend says: You'll believe that pigs can flu... Err... Fly... And for a pie what's the truck? Belongs to Countrywide (I think) and there was another nice one next to it...

I thought this was a nice tribute to Ronnie Barker and Arkwright et al. And such a nice change after all the air-brushing based on 'shoot 'em up, blow 'em up, etc, etc,' themes...

It was continued around the back to include this classic Two Ronnies portrait and the words underneath 'And it's goodnight from him...'

Still, no use fighting against the inevitable... Blockbuster movies ARE popular themes when it comes to truck air brushning but I thought this this 'Quantum' of Solace' OO7 Scania was commendably restrained in its execution... wonder who did it?

Nice line from 'The Master'... And to whom am I referring (for another pie)?

Ahhh... So... It's the little details that catch my eye...this was tucked away high up by the roof spoiler... But what's the truck? Now click through here (if you dare) for GIANT spiders...

Who says trucks aren't green? Now the one thing I can rely on week-in, week-out, is that Biglorryblog's favourite old curmudgeon 'The Boss' will come back with some interesting pictures from his weekly sojurns into France with his beloved Maggie (or maybe not so beloved as he says his back hurts!)...

Anyroad up he's sent me these shots of a wonderful air-brushed Volvo FH and matching trailer he spotted in a French truckstop---that's a real nature lover...Or as he says: "Brian, something special for all our younger blogging buddies,(tomorrow's truckers),who might view the blog over Mum or Dad's shoulder."

"They do seem to work better the larger they are" says The Boss.and who ids Bigloryblog to disagree..now click through here for the other side! 

Last one from Biglorryblog (I've got to do some real work) and it comes via Nick Garlick who's been up North lately and says: "Hi, called by VG Mathers depot at Kintore to catch up with Colin Mathers and snapped these fine looking trucks. They'd had a special livery done for their Volvo FH celebrating 40 years of service. Regards, Nick."

Nick described it as 'silver' in his e-mail but surely it's gold... Or are my eyes going?

Meanwhile the 'normal' V.G. Mathers livery is certainly smart enough and click through here for one more of the anniversary artic...

Goodness, she'll catch her death of cold wearing that... Behold the weekly offering from 'The Boss'---Biglorryblog's very own wandering contributor in la belle France. Though he tells me good trucks are a bit thin on the ground... "BLB, slim pickings this week but an opportunity to alert all Renault Magnum fans to an epic voyage beginning live on www.renault-trucks.fr on April 10th. The legendary Magnum or rather 3 latest models are about to arrive in the USA in Chicago then begin an epic journey down the equally legendary Route 66 or at least what still exists to Santa Monica,California."

Now this rings a bell with BLB as I thin that yound whippersnapper Will Shiers was trying to get a ride on the convoy... Now click through here for more...