The Classic Machinery Network

essexpete wrote:Were the sliding doors sported by the Bedford and BMC vans of that era dropped for safety reasons? People carriers still have them?

Pete I believe they were originally offered by the manufacturers of vans for the purpose of multi-drop delivery the idea being that the driver could quickly and easily enter and exit the vehicle by the sliding door, they were an option that was why some of the vans had conventional opening doors. I think they were thinking of the likes of milk floats where the driver is on and off the vehicle for much of his round.

Jeremy

Another Scammell Heavy.... In its day anyway...
Another one from my own stable. Bought her to cart my Steam Roller around on ....If it ever gets finished.
It was a long drive home from Cheshire to Watford which left me a mental wreck!!

Hi Nigel,
The Highwayman is a credit to you, great to see these old trucks.
I did what was virtualy a nuts & bolts rebuild on a couple of them, one, ( C reg. 65) had the 680 Leyland and the other older truck a 150 Gardner.
I used to take them out occasionaly if they were short of a driver, 36 MPH up the motorway with a following wind
I can understand the mental strain of your long trip and of course they were hard sprung, not a comfortable ride, especialy without a load.
We had a wide bed trailer 9'6" behind the C reg. I converted both units & trailers from the original single line piston brakes and miltipull hand brake, and from Scammell "Pan Couplings" to 5th wheel.

Fred

What a beautiful truck and trailer. I'd give an eyetooth for one that nice. Chances are that tooth would fall out driving it anyway. Thanks for the pictures.

that sure is a classy bit of gear you have got there

The mind will unravel in the end along with the knots in your stomach LOL just sit back and enjoy the ride

Paul

Here are the next two in line for some restoration work

1960's Super Constructor. Originally shipped out to Cyprus with a ballast body, 1 of 2 made as a special order.
RR super charged engine and a cab that has probably gone too far to salvage so if anyone knows the whereabouts of one please let me know


100 Ton Scammell Amazon, EX BNFL, glows in the dark. On the button mechanically but needs some TLC in the cab dept!! Don't they all eh?

thats some fairly heavy duty gear you have there and like most of this older gear the body gives out before the mechanical does

Paul

I can vouch for that, my back is not what it used to be!

How about this 1925 Scammell. Originally it had a petrol engine, now it has a later 5 cylinder Gardener dating from 1931. Note the "petrol" tank across the dash! Also the state of the art ECU fuse box . Not the original tyres which would have probably been solid. Oh and the original style fifth wheel ready for the horseshoe clip on the top. And don't forget it was CHAIN drive and no front brakes!!!

PS have a look at the spilt rims, and yes that's how they are with the wobbly faces where they meet!

Nice one Clive a great idea swapping the petrol engine for the Garner 5LW

Jeremy