Recently in Middle East trucking Category

It's a trailer Jim...but not as we know it  yes this is for real..and click through here for the full-story and equally over-sized vehicles. Only the weirdest wagons on Biglorryblog! 

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.

Ashley 'the Crane King' Coghill has some IMPORTANT NEWS! And it will be of great interest to all fans of Middle East trucking in particular. "Hi Biglorryblog, for the last 18 months I've been writing a book about Astran International. My research is now virtually complete and through BLB, I'd like to give 'the beloved anorak army' some information on my project: THE LONG HAUL PIONEERS - is a celebration of Astran International, leaders in overland transport to the Middle East for over 40 years. The book will be fully illustrated with 350 photographs (99% colour) and will be filled with stories, anecdotes and captions from the people who worked for the company over the years. The history of the company is included, from its inception in the mid 1960's as Asian Transport and coming right up to date with details of the business as it is today (and the future plans) as Astran Cargo Services Limited." Now click through here for all the details and how you can order and early copy!

Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' The Border' John Henderson writes""Hello Brian, here's a question for the BLB army. Did Volvo ever produce a special Middle East version of the original F12 Globetrotter?" Well did they? I think they did and if you have any pictures of one please send them in! 
 
Meanwhile John says: "I stumbled upon this picture of the cab-proud chap in Jean Christer Olsson & Henrik Moberger's Volvo 75 years book (published in 2002) and it would appear to show a Globetrotter with extra interior equipment." Well John if you want my opinion is that this is a 'staged' picture. No self-respecting driver would ever be seen dead doing the washing up in his Volvo---the 'real' photo shows his girlfriend doing it...Oi Biglorryblog YELLOW CARD! You've been warned.....Anyroadup click through here for more...

Gavin Smith has kindly sent me these pictures and he says: "Here is a photo of my Danish Spec 141 in Doha, and one of my 112 in Kuwait, when I was subbing for Astran. GS OVERLAND." And click through here for more..

Some time ago we had a young Saudi Arabian guy come and spend some time on work experience with us. Very engaging bloke called Abderlrahman Al-kuhaymi but he told us to use his nickname which was 'Boody'. We enjoyed having him with us and I think he felt the same not least as he got to drive a truck at the Chobham test track which I don't think he was expecting! As part of the exercise he wrote short editorial piece for Commercial Motor on the then prospects for middle-east transport. But we needed some pictures and as ever Ashley ('Mr Middle-East archives') Coghill stepped into the breach. I've had his shots kicking around my e-mail inbox for yonks and discovered them ths morning so sit back and enjoy some cracking middle-east memories starting with this pic of  a Volvo F88 and F89 from British companies parked on infamous H4 Tapline crossing the desert, late 1970s. And these are Ashley's captions by the way.

Now "Two more British trucks "thundering" across H4 with the obligatory cloud of dust. From the late 1970s" explains Ash.

The long and winding road! "View over the Tahif mountians near Jeddah." But what's the truck? Now click through here for more...

Biglorryblog regular Nick Garlick has obviously be rummaging in his 'Middle East' camera bag -- always a popular hunting ground for BLB readers. "Hi Brian, " he says, "Seeing those shots from China reminded me of these I took when crossing Saudi a couple of years ago. I think the car-carrying trailers are 18 metres long! The bonneted Mercs were Jordanian I think."

Interesting way of tilting the front truck too Nick... I wonder if those old sleeper-cabbed bonneted Mercs are still running?

Five artics x five trucks on five trailers... Must be delivering a fleet order but what are they? Can't quite make it out...

Nick continues: "I just wondered how these two Middle East rear ends would comply with the new EU trailer lighting regs re the reflective tape shown recently in CM!

Not sure Nick... But click through here for a great shot of areal Middle East warrior...!

Biglorryblog's 'Good man in Africa' and unashamed user of unreconstructed non-politically-correct comments has fired this delightful lot over to BLB with the accompanying comment:

"Interesting comparison looking at these between how the camel jockeys move their rigs around compared to us here, where our roads and bridges often don't even give you a conventional shipping containers width safely."

Jerry contunes: "In the mid East, width of no concern, or length for that matter either probably, as not too many roundabouts out in the desert when I was last there! Or low tree branches to smear your top drive off against... Still rather be here though."

It's true what JB says about width....now click through here for more and fun with winches too...

Andrew Cooper is obviously a fan of 'Tales from the Middle East run' as he says: "Hi Brian, I enjoyed the posting about the Middle-East spec. F88s and I thought I'd trawl through some of the poor-quality old photos that I have inherited over the years. During the 70's our business neighbour was a company called J&M Transport, they ran a fleet of around ten F88s doing UK and international work."

"During the boom times of the mid-seventies they did many trips to the Middle-East. I recall one regular job that they had was taking electric light bulbs to Baghdad. They also did many other jobs to Kabul, Iran and Rawalpindi. Sadly several of their drivers are no longer with us, although their legacy are these....albeit poor quality pictures."

"Eagle-eyed anoraks amongst us should recognise the building in the background of the two J&M 88s coming home piggyback as the one shown in "Destination Doha" when they are entering Belgrade."

"All these shots were taken during the mid-seventies when cameras were basic and as my dear departed (ex J&M Middle-East man) friend Sid Evans once told me, 'I had only ever been as far as Scotland before and J&M went and sent me to some place called Tehran!' Gentleman, says Andrew I salute you!"  Me and you both Andrew! The guys who did those earlty Mid-East runs were REAL pioneers!

Here's one to keep 'Crane King Cog' happy! A genuine 'Middle East' spec F88 unveiled at the opening of the special 'TIR' depot at Volvo's Chingford dealership back in 1975! And what a spec it was too---according to my copy of 'Ailsa News' kindly supplied to me by 'Two-Stroke' it featured the following extras: Air con; two-ring gas cooker, fridge, sink, food and water storage--with the water and gas all ready 'plumbed' in. Coooo--errr...On the outside there were dirt deflectors, headlamp wipers and those stout windscreen guards---'stout' enough to stop a camel I'd say (probably a Sopwith Camel at that...) And here's a schematic diagram of the TIR spec F88 layout...

If you can blow it up you might be able to read the writing! I've had to reduce it to be blog-compatible...damn you computer! Anyway the Chingford TIR depot was launched with a 'bit of a do' including the Lady Mayoress of Waltham Forest and Volvo's legendary UK boss Jim McKelvie. And Two-Stroke tells me back then Volvo had a 18.8% share of the UK tractor market.

And just to show you there's no favouritism towards one Swedish marque he's another magnificently-restored Middle East warrior...now clik through here for another shot of the same Scania.

Here's one for Crane King Cog! Biglorryblog has been contacted by his man 'North o' the Border' John Henderson who says: "Brian, I like the look of Richard 'The Brochure king' Stainer's Guy Big J4T, do you think he would be kind enough to share its history, specification and provenance with the BLB readers? It sure looks a real British workhorse, particularly with the substantial looking sleeper cab!"

John then adds: "Talking of brochures and workhorses, here's a nice Scottish cover from the mid 1970's Leyland Marathon 'pamphlet' to use a word of old. I could possibly be described as 'The Brochure Pauper,' as there are sadly too few commercial vehicle leaflets in my archive collection, but never mind. For a Scotch pie or a free range haggis, does anybody know where the Charles Alexander Leyland shot was taken in the Highlands? I'm ashamed to say I don't, but I'd like to find out. Cheers for now, John...." Now there's a challenge for all BLB readers..so what is the answer? And click through here for a proper Middle East Marathon too!

I am gratefully indebted to Carl Jarman who has sent me these SCOOP! pictures and asks:"Is DAF looking to re introduce the Leyland Marathon. Could the enclosed picture be the prototype Marathon three (note the badge) it's a bit tongue in cheek but it might go down well in Truck & Driver!" To which Biglorryblog responds thanks Carl I'm sure it will---and stranger things have happened before too.

And if you want to see some real, Classic, Middle East Marathons click through here...

Regular Biglorryblog contributor 'Two-Stroke' writes: "Being a mere nip of a boy when the N12 was about, Ollie Dixon's N12 featured in his BLB pictures from Iran etc is certainly interesting as it's not what you'd call a 'pure bred' Swedish N12---like the one from Mr Hammond's fine collection." Pictured below....

Two-Stroke goes on to say that the Iranian 'N12' is nought but an imposter: "It’s a US truck with an N12 grille done very tidily - but is it a White or even a Freightliner after that short association Volvo had with them in the late 1970s. However, it could have Volvo connections as it may have a TD120 engine...Or is it a Middle East 'special' based on a merger that was still waiting in the wings with Mack? Is there a brochure on it? If there is then I know a man who'll have one..."

Calling all Biglorryblog fans of that wonderful Belarusian bruiser the MZKT, my chum Vladimir Chekhuta has come back to me with information on the fabulous 12x12 I blogged the other day. "Hello Brian, sorry for delay I was in Moscow! This truck (was only one sample) was designed for transporting a 55-tonne Caterpillar D9R bulldozer. Its gross weight was 95-tonnes, and it was powered by a 720hp DEUTZ BF 8M1015CP. Transmission was an Allison automatic M6610 AR."

Well it's certainly impressive and Vladimir goes on to say: " It's maximum speed is 75km/h. It measures 14.8m long, by 3.4m wide, by 3.96m high.Tyres are Michelin 23,5R25 XLB." About the only thing that's less than impressive is the 12x12's turning circle--a cool 17m. Just imagine what it would be like without that steering rear axle!

Now THIS is what you'd call a BIG lorry! Behold the mighty MZKT-79086 (it's a 12x12 and if you don't believe me just count the driven axles) with the front three and the last one steering too. It's been sent to me by my new-found-BLB chum Vladimir Chekhuta, who I first encountered after previously blogging on the Super Kenworth which he responded to via Gerald Woodgate on www.tnn.co.uk.. Having seen my blog, Vladimir promptly came back with this picture of the Belarusian Bruiser the MZKT. Only the first one he sent me (below) was clearly just a baby!

BLB understands that the MZKT is clearly bucking to be 'King of the Desert' not least with this specification.
Manufacturer: MZKT
* Engine: 550hp Caterpillar Ñ-15
* Transmission: Allison Ì5610A
* Tyres: Michelin 23.5R25
* GVW: 73,000kg
* Payload: 45,000kg
* Equipment: Winch ITAG WPH450-V
* Dimensions: Length 13,000mm,width 3,660mm, height 3,850 mm.

And I believe that's just the 8x8!

Vladimir has also put me on to a special Liebherr vehicle which I'll try and track down for him and you. But in the meantime enjoy this monster from Vladimir!

Biglorryblog's man 'North 'o the Border' (and, so I'm told, a very "tidy" HGV driver too) John Henderson has obviously had his memory jogged by yesterday's posts from Nick Garlick on the Middle East run and has sent me this old shots on the same topic, together with this message: "Hi Brian, re Nick Garlick's recent excellent photos, please find attached a better-loaded Ford taken on a Scotland/Middle East run circa 1977. The good old Ford D-series was (and still is?) a popular choice there and at least five examples can be seen in this shot."

John goes on to say: "The white Mack was driven by a regular acquaintance of our Scottish drivers (sorry can't remember his name) whose command of the English language and sense of humour, was superb.

The two border queue images are taken at the Iran/Iraq border, perhaps in safer days and looking back along the queue the trio of Eskside International's Dafs can be seen with their low height tilts for the road rail part of the journey.