Recently in US truck manufacturers Category

Browsing through the excellent 'owners' photo gallery' bit of the drivers' lounge section of the Kenworth website - find it here http://www.kenworth.com/5400_own_gal.asp and Biglorryblog's eye was caught by this clever little devil! They both belong to Jacques Auger of (I think) Ontario (the state abbreviation was given as ON so is that right Martin?)  And it says the big one is used for real work while the little one is not only perfect in every detail, it also has its own little tank trailer to pull too....neat eh? Now click through here for another one from the gallery...

Now that's what I call a 'hot tip(per)'...trawling through my in-box this afternoon I stumbled across these pictures sent to me yonks ago by Steve Sturgess. As far as I can tell they're from Shell's annual truck beauty show and calendar shoot for its Shell Rotella Superrigs calendar which took place in June (so you can see how upt-to-date this is) in Oak Grove Petro truckstop just outside of Kansas City, Missouri. These shots show the first runner up Pat Eilen's spectacular black Peterbilt and MAC tub trailer pictured above...and click through here for more....

Whenever Biglorryblog posts a story on the quirky International LoneStar tractor it attracts a fair amount of brickbats. Indeed one recent commentator says: "What was Navistar thinking of?" Well I can tell you that the inspiration for the LoneStar's distinctive grille and sloped hood was, in fact, from International's venerable D-Series trucks from the 30s and 40s, (pictured above and below) which, I'm told, " helped transform America's cross-country transportation in the early 20th Century."

And who is Biglorryblog to argue with that? What I like about the LoneStar is that it's different in a world where everything increasingly looks the same. However, there's more to the LoneStar than just looks and click through here to find out what...... 

It's obviously 'Kiwi Night' on BLB - as I've just had this curio sent to me by Vic Hungerford in NZ. Vic says: "Hi Brian, maybe these will light your fire, then of course, maybe not as this truck has a Roadranger gearbox and it's not an auto! I know that Marmons have featured occasionally on BLB, but I think that they are rare enough to rate another photo or... 3." Darn tootin' Vic! So click through here for the fill story on the Texas tractor!

Don't forget, as if you need reminding, that it's Peterbilt's 70th anniversary and you can join in the fun on their website especially via this link which takes you to the Peterbilt History pages at http://www.peterbilt.com/history.aspx but there's lots more on their site too once you get there, including some great 'road stories' stuff in the Paccar Life section. And for a pie what's this stake truck?

Fancy a 'European' Yankee Clipper? 'The Boss' has been busy drooling over a few that are for sale in France and he tells me: "Blog Meister, back to proper rigs and as promised a few prices which I have added.Truck Isere Rhone (check out their website on www.american-trucks.fr) is the exclusive importer of Kenworths into Europe and does seem even in these harsh times to be doing rather well.He seems to sell all makes of American trucks or at least those he can get his hands on - there does seem to be a ready market for what I think is an expensive bit of gear but as this small selection of his stock shows they do hold their price well and expensive? Maybe not if the pound wasn't worthless!" And for more harrumphing and loveable curmudgeonliness from 'The Boss' click through...

Hello, what's going on here? Why it's someone putting AdBlue in a truck..but wait a miniute... 'gasp'.....that's an AMERICAN truck! And he's not wearing a full protective, flameproof, diving suit to do it either! Surely that can't be happening...? Well click through here for the full story from Biglorryblog...

Last one from BLB for today. When you're the kind of truck manufacturer like Peterbilt it's only right that you should celebrate your heritage and that's exactly what you'll find on the Peterbilt website via this link - a complete company history celebrating 70 years of quality on http://www.peterbilt.com/history.aspx. And while I'm at it Biglorryblog has also found these terrific B&W shots of classic Pete's too! So for a pie name those models!

Fire in the paint-locker!

Yes they don't make 'em like that any more... And click through here to see why!

I'm grateful to Neil Temple who sent me this video link of a guy driving a 197I Kenworth cabover with a Cummins and two gear levers and no power steering! As Neil says it looks like he's got his work cut out.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0QPajx2xnk To Biglorryblog he looks more like a one-armed paper hanger in a thunder storm---but he can sure drive that thing! All of which reminded me about the terrific DVD on 2 Stick Trucks I got some time ago and click through here to find out all about it...

Volvo Trucks North America's press wallah Jim McNamara has sent me this picture of a smart new red lorry and says: "Volvo Trucks North America again demonstrated readiness for the EPA2010 emissions regulations when, on July 2, the first production-level EPA'10 Volvo VN (above) was driven off the line at the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, VA. The Volvo VN670, including its production-ready selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, was fully assembled on the NRV production line. As previously announced, production of customer trucks with EPA'10 systems will begin in the Fall." No doubt I'll soon get similar phtos from Mack, Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt...

I thought it was about time that my beloved anorak army got to see some shots of the impressively muscular Kenworth C500 which is offered as both a rigid and tractor for all those little 'heavy-duty' jobs that you might have down a mine or in a quarry, carrying timber or in an oil-field--you know the kind of things I mean. I seem to recall Biglorryblog's 'Good Man in Africa' (who has been unusually quiet of late) has one. I trust JB is well. In the past I've put up some C500 tractors so this time I thought I'd show you some rigids.

And you can have all sorts of big-bangers in your C500 up to 15-litres which presumably would include a Cat C15 or Cummins ISX/Signature. And here's a shot of one with a yellow diesel...now click through here for one more C500--a dump truck this time..

"Hello Brian," says Ron Johl, before asking: "Could this be the only time these Texas trucks are brought together only as pics or will we ever see them at a Rally side-by-side? First pic was taken at Santa Pod the Marmon is/was (its up for sale) owned by P Nash he also owns the Peterbilt."

"Marmon two is owned by Dancer Haulage pic taken at the Redbourn Rally today. All the best, Ron." Well Ron, if it's Marmon's you want... Then it's Marmons you'll get starting with this one shot by Ollie Dixon!

Quite a late model at that too... Now click through here for more!

Ron Johl has sent me this picture of a Peterbilt grille from Santa Pod 09 as a test for picture resizing. So why am I running it on Biglorryblog? Because I rather like it... Fair enoughski? And for a pie what model is it?

Trust 'The Brochure King' to come up with something appropriate on hearing the sad news concerning GM. "Hi Brian," he says, "In the light of GM filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, I thought it would be a good opportunity to pay tribute to happier times when the 'General' was a major force in heavy truck making. Staring off with this, a late model Astro 95 tractor unit. These were built in massive numbers and were also available badged as a Chevrolet Titan."

"Next is a Detroit Diesel-powered 'crackerbox' model from 1967. It looks like one of the 'Detroit Specials' with the multi-axle trailer." Now click through here for a really old-time 'Jimmy'...

This morning as I drive the M20 (where so many strange things happen to Biglorryblog) I spy this rather strange logo on the back of a Dutch reefer (no pun intended)... As I peer closer what do I see?

Somebody ought to tell this Daf-loving driver that Mack has already got 'first dibs' on the Bulldog! And if you don't believe me better click through here...

Biglorryblog knows what you've been thinking. Lately you've considered buying a new Kenworth http://www.kenworth.com/1000_hom.asp hybrid middleweight truck - but you've been put off by the lack of an optional crew cab. Well not any more as Paccar has just added an aftermarket crew cab conversion for its Kenworth T270 and T370 medium duty diesel-electric hybrids in pickup and delivery and utility applications. The 157-inch BBC crew cab uses a one-piece fiberglass roof with 4-inch raised rear section, which provides up to 61 inches of interior height. The remaining crew cab structure is aluminum and provides an additional 52 inches of length and is 84 inches wide at the rear. Also standard are those neat Kenworth 'DayLite' door assemblies and door panels, Granite Gray vinyl interior trim, Kenworth interior upper B-pillar and exterior grab handles, and DuPont Imron Elite single stage paint. Now click through here for more