Retro Power Lining

Last week I had an enjoyable couple of days on a course up at Wen2rth Park near Barnsley. The notion was to understand all about the wonders and advances of Mercedes-Benz trucks compared to it competitors and even from exactly where I’m standing it is challenging to see why you wouldn’t run MB on your fleet in some capacity. Absolutely everyone knows and thinks it’s funny I’m such a Scania fan but I function for Mercedes-Benz, but as my typical readers will know back in the days of operating my personal trucks Mercedes had been the only choice for me. I’ve techniques maintained that if I was ever to commence once again I would have an all MB fleet but have some old Scania or 2 for the show circuit. The only factor that has changed considering that my time at Orwell Trucks Mercedes-Benz is that I believe if possibly have to have an old SK or Powerliner for the show season too.
So picture my delight when parked close to the entrance of my education course was this delightfully restored 1834LS. The automobile has been restored by MB and is to be kept and utilised at various shows, in truth some of you would have noticed it at the Retro Truck Show at Gaydon last year.

The vehicle was originally sold by Rygor Commercials to a business known as Premier Waste. It should have then been returned after contract hire to Mercedes-Benz where it was as soon as once again bought by Rygor Commercials (this was most likely to be a paperwork exercise and the car would have stayed at Rygors). In 2003 Rygor loaned the automobile to SDC, a division of Honda at Swindon, exactly where it was utilised as a shunter. Then in 2009 it was bought once more by MB Authorized Utilized Commercials. Because then the truck has been restored and repainted making use of genuine components where feasible. I consider she’s lovely though I’m sorry to say we didn’t have time for a lesson in driving an EPS gearbox correctly….1 day. I have located a nice LHD 1953 for sale in Holland, tempting. The truck spec is listed as follows

- 1st registered 6 November 1995 (N reg)
– Engine V6 Turbo 340hp
– 8 Speed Split EPS Gearbox
– L Sleeper cab
– ABS brakes
– Drivers electric window
– Electric rear view mirror
– Luxury suspension seat for the driver
– Sunvisor
– 400 Litre fuel tank

What a small gem. I’m back at Wen2rth Park in a handful of weeks so I hope to attain the EPS coaching, if your reading Nick Smith?!? Any way this not the only retro truck, there had been also 2 original Long Distance cabbed Mercedes-Benz Actros. Both trucks have genuine mileages of only a handful of hundred thousand Kilometres on the clock and are in excellent condition although I had forgotten how garishly awful the original seat covers and door cards had been. Any way lots to see on this course so I hope the next one is just as enjoyable.

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Retro Power Lining

Honda N-Box Slash: Retro Appears, Puzzling Name, In no way Coming to America

Check out this boxy little flivver. It is the Honda N/, which you’re meant to pronounce “N-Box Slash.” It’s an effective tiny runabout that packs 10 pounds of retro style in a 5-ounce bag. And it’s by no means, ever coming to the U.S. industry. Sorry.

The N-Box Slash is the fifth model in Honda’s N-Series of kei automobiles, Japanese domestic market place subcompacts that appreciate tax breaks and urban parking perks in exchange for their postage-stamp size. By law, kei cars are no much more than 133.8 inches long, 58.2 inches wide, and 78.7 inches tall–in other words, they’ll match in an 11-foot-by-5-foot parking space.

Tiny size doesn’t mean absent style, though–the N-Box Slash comes in retro flavors ranging from Fiat 500-style gumdrop pastels to the black and chrome aesthetic of a pint-size hot rod. Inside, purchasers can decide on colors that evoke a 1950s diner or the wood paneling from Ron Burgundy’s pad, with seats that fold flat enough for, uh, sleeping?

This rolling box of kitsch will likely be powered by the .6-liter turbo 3-cylinder that motivates the rest of Honda’s N-Series microcars, according to Left Lane News. It goes on sale in Japan starting December 22nd. Aching for this retro style to come to North America? You’re out of luck. Possibly stick some dog-dish hubcaps on the box your refrigerator came in.

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Honda N-Box Slash: Retro Appears, Puzzling Name, In no way Coming to America

Retro Trailer Rescue

A fridge trailer in a field, (put your M&S advert voice on!) but it is not just any fridge trailer in a field, it’s a 1982, Gray & Adams, tandem spread axle fridge trailer in a field! On top of that if the farmers memory serves him correctly he says he acquired the trailer (for fresh poultry storage) in 1990, which implies that it served Christian Salveson for just 8 years prior to becoming parked up, which would explain it’s surprisingly great situation. Anyway, this trailer has been parked on the road between Hadleigh and Sudbury in Suffolk for as extended as I can keep in mind. So me becoming me, curiosity won and I went to discover it a year or so ago. I drove in the farm yard and appropriate through it and located the trailer. I had a contact around to attempt and locate an individual with no luck, so I took a couple of images and left. I do like to know exactly where these trailers are lurking incase any person desires a single. At Truckstar Festival this year a certain young man with a known collection of classic trucks, pointed out for the duration of a beery conversation that he had started hunting for a 2nd fridge trailer to turn into yet another caravan trailer. Luckily I hadn’t had as well numerous so I piped up and showed a photo of mentioned trailer. A positive response. So I volunteered to go and speak to the farmer.

Once again a optimistic response. It turns out that it was the perfect time to enquire as the choice had currently been produced to rid the farm of the trailer. I took a few newer photos of the trailer and it is common condition and identified the makers plate and photoed that also. I spoke cash with the farmer and that was that. I forwarded all information onto the interested party, he said yes to me straight away, so I put him in touch with the farmer and a deal was done.

Nowadays was collection day. I managed to get more than to see the very skilled farmer pushing the fridge up the ramps with a chain and a dolly, straight as a die and up she went. Fortunately the fridge had a folding rear bumper which helped with clearance both going up the ramps and also to clear the neck of the stepframe. Once on board it was all strapped and chained down and to beat the school targeted traffic via the tiny Suffolk village higher street, a quick exit was created. I ran ahead in my vehicle and just asked a few locals to remain still which the whole outfit gently weaved by way of the higher street. That was that and off to its new owners residence.

The program is to restore the trailer to its former glory and maintain the well-known blue and white livery then convert the inside into living accommodation.
As you can see this is a excellent discover and a great trailer that has gone to a man who wants to preserve it just as it began life. If you know of any old trailers that want rescuing please please let me know. In my book trailers are in as much need to have to be saved as the trucks that pull them. Most trailers have long rusted away or been chopped down so any that are still in one particular piece must be saved. Now I’m not suggesting that every trailer can be purchased and restored but at least if we know about them then probably we can assist a few which will make the likes of The Retro Truck Show at Gaydon all the much more enjoyable for us. Hopefully by Truckfest Peterborough next year this tiny restoration project will be total. Fingers crossed.

Lastly if anybody knows exactly where their is a Petter fridge unit, please get in touch.

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Retro Trailer Rescue

Retro Truck Show – 2014

THE BEST TRUCK SHOW IN THE UK. FACT.

Why?? I will tell you why, it’s a truck show, organised by a truck nut for other truck nuts, who love their trucks. Get it? a truck show is about the truck. Its not a truck show come Sunday market where you can buy chunky garden furniture and dog treats. It’s a show full of trucks from the best few decades of truck manufacturing that will ever be and the ladies and gents who bring their pride and joys to the show are all passionate enough about them to spend their spare time looking after them and in some cases still working them. Its a great show and the big boys of the show world would do exceedingly well to learn a few lessons of the simplicity of a great show. The premise for the show is any truck that was built between 1960 and 2000 can enter, although there are a few newer trucks too. Just to prove it is a show for the real enthusiast, there are no trophies or prizes to be won, its purely a meet for one and all to enjoy and meet other like minded truck nuts.

What an amazing Scammell Crusader! Its gems like this that appear that make the show what it is. If its your pride and joy you can guarantee that there will be others at the show that feel the same. I was only at the show on the Saturday which isn’t the official show day so unfortunately I didn’t get to see a full show ground, but what was there on Saturday was plenty. Lots of ERF’s, Seddon Atkinsons, Volvo’s, Scania’s, some Mercedes-Benz and many more. As with all shows these day’s a few trucks came with authentic trailers……….

The reason I was at Gaydon on the Saturday was, there was a Middle East drivers reunion and seminar. This year mainly to celebrate 50 Years of Astran and the start of the legendary Middle East run. Writer of the The Long Haul Pioneers, Ashley Coghill organised a truly memorable event, that incorporated hundreds of unseen photos from the pioneers of the Middle East run and even some cine-camera footage that was just incredible and made me realise just how difficult/amazing and unknown those early years must have been. You have to remember the modern day newbie truck driver can’t get from Heathrow to Cardiff without a Satnav, so how on earth these transport heroes got from London to Kabul/Bandar Abbass/Oman and even Doha with no twat-nav or mobile phones is bearly imaginable. The event was sold out and Ashley told me he could have easily sold twice as many tickets. The highlight for me was meeting the men who actually made these monumental trips week after week, month after month through scorching summers and freezing winters. I shook them all by the hand, real gents, and found myself stood between Peter Cannon, Graham Wainwright, John Frost and Gordon Pearce (read the The Long Haul Pioneers!) to name drop a few. I could have stood  their for days listening to the stories, some one needs to get all their stories written down, they are just epic. I also took my copy of Ashleys book and managed to get them all to sign it. To say I was chuffed is an understatement, just ask the lady wife. All in all it was a truly unforgettable day.

Once again I will try to tell you that it’s an awesome little show, approx. 300-350 truck, but each one is the stuff of boy-hood dreams if you have your HGV license that is, no matter what your preference. For me an F series Globetrotter like the black one below or a 143 Streamline are my ultimate trucks they are just the nuts!! Incidently more from the Flee2od F16 to come in the next few weeks.

From all over the UK, Belgium, Holland and Germany with trucks from the 1960’s through to the turn of the millennium you won’t find a better selection of trucks from yester-year. With a great atmosphere and every person being a bit of a truck nut, you can find some one with the same likes or even some one to have a bit of banter with about which is better. You have to put it in your diary for next year people, you’ll be missing out if you don’t.

Finally a big thank you and well done to Lee Herbert and Ashley Coghill for organising an amazing weekend with both the truck show itself and also the Middle East reunion, a really unique event.

Retro Truck Show – 2014