How about this for a family reunion?. Sharp-eyed Biglorryblog readers will have already worked out that it's celebrating the the 75th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows racing cars which first blazed to victory on the world's racetracks back in 1934. The men who handled these magnificent racing throughbreds have long become legends--men like Rudolf Caracciola and Manfred von Brauchitsch. However, neither the Silver Arrows of yesteryear nor those of today rolled to the racetrack under their own power.

And there you have it in a nutshell---race car transporters...I thought this selection might amuse and entertain, not least Clutchslip who I seem to recall is one of the hallowed few who has driven the 1955 'Blue Wonder'--the 'fastest truck in the world' according to M-B and the truck that hauled Moss and Jenk's famous Mille Miglia race winner down to Italy. So here we are, old and new together from the 1954 transporter, through the aforementioned Blue Wonder to the Actros transporter that will be used by the 2010 Mercedes Grand Prix works team....click and enjoy.

Seeing Tony MIller's two-headed tunnel washer reminded me of a previous Biglorryblog story I posted up some time ago and it features this twin-cabbed pushme-pullyou MAN fire truck that works in the Mont Blanc tunnel.. ..I can't recall whether it has two engines as well but I do remember that it went equally fast in either direction....if any BLB MAN buffs know more about it do post up a comment..now click through here for more shots of it in action....

Tony Miller has e-mail me this commercial vehicle curiosity and to say: "I thoroughly enjoy your well put together and informative blog on big and unusual trucks. Here are a couple strange ones my company, Fabco Automotive Corp, built in the 1960's.  The 'two headed' vehicle was built by Fabco to clean tunnels in the San Francisco Bay Area."

 
And how about that MP? All of which begs the question what truck chassis was it based on Tony?  Meanwhile he says: "I have hundreds of photos, brochures and article about unusual or extreme vehicles we built of have been involved with since 1917.  I'll see about gathering up some for your site if you like. Best regards, Tony." Well naturally I LIKE very much Tony, Please fire them over as they sound perfect Biglorryblog fodder..and to prove it click through here for another of Tony's odd-ball trucks which you can see by clicking through here.... 

And who might this Sepia-toned Superstar be? yes it's Ray 'Digging Australia out of debt' Jay' and his Big Mack to go (or it wil go once he's done with it). And if you haven't already seen his video walkaround on the truck on www.aussiebigbangers.4t.com the brilliant website created by Dave Hecker then I'd suggest you extract the digit and get clicking now. Ray JJay of course will be familiar to all BLB regulars as both a commentator and owner of an Aussie Atki--and there's a YouTube clip of his Atki too...keep ';em running Ray Jay!.  

I have 'Two-Stroke' to thank for this and yes it's a real live person hitching a lift (or hanging on for dear life depending on your point of view) to the doors of a container on the back of an artic in South Africa recently. I don't know who to credit for the picture, unfortunately, though it's obviously shot through the windscreen of a following car on a cell-phone. However, I wouldn't mind betting this has already gone around the global blogosphere three times if not more!  He must have very strong hands...and his feet are resting on the locking bar handles...now click through here to see what happened next.....

I was just wondering where that slack-jawed idler Agent Reg had got to when he fires this over to me...it's Northchapel Transport's spanking new FH-440 8x2 rigid. "Why Volvo?" says owner Shane Lucking, boss of the West Sussex plant and general transport operator: "Because they're extremely reliable and they do everything we ask of them, since we can get them built to our exact specification. We need our vehicles to be able to handle anything from a mini-digger to a 26-tonne crane to a multi-modal container. They're comfortable, too - this FH is very much a driver's truck, pleasant to work in with plenty of cab space."  Now click through here to find out more....

 "Good Morrow Sire" says a very polite 'Kepper of the Flame Martin Phippard."Not that it's any great shakes here at present what with murderous skies, howling winds the ever-present precipitation. Oh, me lumbago! But at least we can hope to add a glimmer of sunlight to Gary (hop-along) Richards' day. His affection for the big old Bulldog knows no bounds."

"So herewith a selection of what I hope are interesting (or inneresting if you're from the far side of the pond) images from the early/mid 1970s, some from Aus, a couple from Canada (the G M Smith outfits) and the massive Aycock heavy hauler from the U.S. Gotta love those Bulldogs!  BR Martin P.".  And click through here for more.....

My good cloggie mate Henk Kruit has sent me this "Hi Brian, more pictures of FIAT-Ferraris!
This is a 1957 FIAT 682R Transporter." And by way of contrast here's a picture of the modern day equivalent from Ron Johl....

And Ron lights the blue touch paper by saying: "Brian, now here is a modern transporter from Truckfest Peterborough---complete with its racing car, and much nicer looking than that old Fiat!!" Hmmmm I'm not sure you'll have the Biglorryblog cognescenti with you on that mate...! And click through here for more old-time transporters from Henk!

"Hi mate," says David Hecker from the wonderful www.aussiebigbangers.4t.com website 
"There's another Ray Jay movie on YouTube " and here's the link for it which shows yer man talking about his latest restoration project---an unusual resin cab (yes that's right) Mack 700.
http://www.youtube.com/user/aussiebigbangers#p/u/1/ySJLVPT9-pg

So get clicking---as it's a wonderful bit of history and thanks to Dave and Ray Jay for the great walkround..

Oh hellooo....what's all this. A strange truck and an even stranger story...it could only mean one thing. yes Biglorryblog's 'Good Man in Africa' jerry Burley is back with more bizarre tales from the Dark Continent....and he says: "BLB, I think the midday sun is finally doing it for me, but let me squeeze out one further missive before checking in for my on-going Friday pm elbow-flexing therapy. After a 9 months 'gestation period', followed by a long and difficult trip along the 'delivery canal', our Tatra 815 has finally arrived here.  It has been a long wait.....

"But first 'Nature Notes'", combined with a bit of an OIA moment, and the back of a slightly strange minibus. Owned by two Ugandan ex-national team rugby players I have known here for years, who run this surprisingly successful mobile disco business, under the name of PlatinumDJSug - as you would! 'Uganda's Illest' is some claim, believe me, although they may actually not be too far off the mark...Now click through hee for the full story on the Tatra...

Can you guess what it is yet? Cam McFadyen of Queensland Tilt Tray fame has kindly e-mailed me to say: "Hi Brian, there has been a little bit of activity on the paint front. It is probably finished as we speak, However, I`m about to board the Kerosene Kangaroo and head off to what isn`t the tropical paradice of Melbourne to check the famous Sandown truck show.So more pictures will have to wait until next week. No doubt Pete will have the pics of Sandown, I`ll see if I can do a cameo appearance in the back ground! All the best,Cam." And click through here for more shots of Cam's Reo in the paint booth....

Got a big old lump you need to shift? And I'm talking 'indivisible loads' here not the mother-in-law (oh I don't know though..)...well thanks to that young whipper-snapper James keeler Biglorryblog learns that specialist heavy haulage trailer manufacturer Goldhofer has developed a new heavy-duty, expandable semi-trailer designed for demanding transport operations with a variety of payloads--and naturally you can get one in the UK and Ireland through Goldhofer's partner, Andover Trailers, Apparently the STZ-H8 trailer can be adjusted to suit your load simply adding or removing axles.. All you do is uncouple the extension tubes, unhook the gooseneck and after disconnecting the electrical and hydraulic systems, remove or add bogies with either a crane or fork-lift to suit your needs. Or as they donw my way."Bob's you Dad's brother."..And when you don't need the bogies they can be stored as they are supported by steady legs..neat eh? Now click through here for more and the ultimate heavy haulager gricer pie-quiz!

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?

Last one for tonight and it's a Biglorryblog evening Pie Quizzer! So look sharp anorak army! It's from Pete Jones who says: "This photo is of a 1950s Ferrari racing car transporter---a bit different to the transporters of today's racing teams in Formula 1.Any one know the make of truck?" So coem on...let's be having you!