“BIG WILLY” 
Another Ancient Brit photo with no story 
What a mean looking machine!!!
I have heard various rumours that “someone” drove it out and based themselves in Eastern Turkey with the specific idea of towing stricken motors.
Pictured here with one of Cantrells Berliets on tow. Anyone know anything, or did you come across it at all?
I wonder how long it took them to get there in it.
Wonderful photos and great thread.
I passed that crashed Willhire trailer at the bottom of Tahir countless times!
Wonder if anyone has photos of the Union Cold Store boys who were running out at the same time as those Asian Transport trucks.
Also Roger Pliszka’s UK Asia Express with Johnny Unsworth. That company pulled some amazing stunts, owing Avis Truck rental thousand of pounds which they never paid. There was also the story of Gulliver’s bringing a V8 ■■■■■■■ Dodge for them to try out round Dover while they were supposed to decide if they wanted to rent it. Straight on the ferry and off to Italy it went. needless to say gullible Gulliver’s also were never paid!
Straight on the ferry and off to Italy it went. needless to say gullible Gulliver’s also were never paid!
Tiny Lee (RIP) pulled that stunt several times.
Hiya …i’ve seen photo’s of that willhire trailer many times…i’ve only just noticed the axles have been nicked.
Top marks for starting the site i just love it…the asian AEC!! do you know the comfort level is.nt even as good
as a motorbike, however they did the runs with the noise constantly god only knows…top marks for the photo’s.
I’ll have to do a video in my truck you’ll be godsmacked. thats a job for next week.
John
You`d have to like the bloke you were working with to double man something like that AEC on trips like that. Great pics again ash.
truckerash:
How could this thread not include this fine example?
New to Asian Transport in Oct 1966, Gordon Pearce and Bob Paul shared it for almost 2 years sharing the driving between London and Tehran!
Pictured above is Cyril (Bunty) Parlane posing for an article by Revellie Magazine in 1968. AEC shown loaded and ready to roll at Baxter’s warehouse London.
And here loading the Triumph spares bound for Tehran.
Brother’s Bunty and Eddie Parlane shared the AEC after Gordon moved onto a new Vabis!
Here the brother’s pose for Revellie Magazine.
Although the sleeper was “grafted” on professionally, it was Mike Woodman and Bob Paul who finished the interior and fitted it out.
Just look at that cab!!!
And some of Gordon Pearce’s photos “on the road” to Iran 1967.
It’s unclear what happened to the AEC after Bob Paul part ex’d it for a new Scania. Nevertheless, some years later it appeared in Oldhams livery.
Unbelievable, how on earth did they travel to Tehran for 2 years in that.Was it reliable and when did they eventually get awarded the George Cross ,oh and are they still here to tell the tales.What brilliant pictures Ash.It looks a very cold and lonely setting of the AEC pulling up that hill in the snow
At the time ramone , that was not an old banger but a sought after lorry, dont forget it was top of the range at the time. I think that is the trouble with most of us , we forget what it was like years ago and what you put up with and no questions asked. seems different in this modern age.
Never drove AEC wagon but drove plenty AEC buses of that era always a good drive syncro boxes & good brakes.
Syncro box ?
ramone:
New to Asian Transport in Oct 1966, Gordon Pearce and Bob Paul shared it for almost 2 years
Unbelievable, how on earth did they travel to Tehran for 2 years in that.Was it reliable and when did they eventually get awarded the George Cross ,oh and are they still here to tell the tales.What brilliant pictures Ash.It looks a very cold and lonely setting of the AEC pulling up that hill in the snow
Ramone; Have you heard of a book entitled THE LONG HAUL PIONEERS? Its about Asian Transport/Astran and documents the complete history from 1964. Included is a complete chapter entitled “Gordon’s Adventures” in which Gordon Pearce describes in UNBELIEVABLE details, his adventures in this AEC. In my opinion; the best bit is when he tells the INCREDIBLE story of how he and Bob Paul got stranded in Eastern Turkey and almost died together in the cab at temps of -20 at night!!! They literally huddled and cuddled each other for 2 days to keep warm until help arrived…
I would highly recommend The Long Haul Pioneers Ramone; it’s “probably” the best book I’ve ever read!
Try amazon for the best prices 
All the detailed info about the AEC plus many more great photos and stories from the men who drove it and its original design by Bob Paul is all in the book. 
The main men who drove it; Gordon Pearce - alive. Bob Paul - sadly passed away. Bunty Parlane - sadly passed away. Eddie Parlane - alive.
Others who drove it for Asian; Ray Scutts - alive. Graham (One lump) Wainwright - alive. Ron (jock) Bell - sadly passed away.
truckerash:
“BIG WILLY”
I have heard various rumours that “someone” drove it out and based themselves in Eastern Turkey with the specific idea of towing stricken motors.Pictured here with one of Cantrells Berliets on tow. Anyone know anything, or did you come across it at all?
Ash,
How about this?
bestbooties:
Ash,How about this?
I wondered if you’d put that pic up mate. Nice one. Got any info then?
A couple more pics of the AEC and a section from Gordons Adventures; This was his very first trip to Tehran, October 1966.
(especially for Ramone)
"Although the men were travelling during the winter, daytime driving was relatively easy because there were beautiful blue skies and a fair amount of warmth from the sun. However, the days were short and as soon as darkness fell in the afternoons, the temperatures dropped drastically. The truck became sluggish, losing power. Pearce had never driven in those conditions before and thought it must have been some sort of fuel starvation or worse still, he wondered if the truck was running out. There was no fuel gauge on the dashboard, so he got out and checked the gauge built into the side of the tank. It showed all was well, but when he shone his torch inside to check, he noticed the fuel looked waxy.
“I hadn’t heard of the waxing up in which diesel fuel becomes thick and unable to pass through the filters” Pearce admitted. “And I didnt know about lighting fires under the fuel tanks to warm the fuel and thin it out again”.
Pearce and Bob Paul kept driving as far as they could until the truck finally stalled and wouldn’t re-start. They had no choice but to spend the night right where they were, perched on a narrow road half way up a mountain pass.
Photo taken next morning as the sun was coming round. Pearce and Paul had to wait until it had warmed the fuel up enough for the engine to start again.
“Stuck” on a mountain track and sliding backwards causing the trailer to jacknife! Bob Paul (just visible) with shovel about to do some hard digging!
LB76:
At the time ramone , that was not an old banger but a sought after lorry, dont forget it was top of the range at the time. I think that is the trouble with most of us , we forget what it was like years ago and what you put up with and no questions asked. seems different in this modern age.
Yeah my dad always says that they were the best on the road at the time and they didnt know any different its just difficult to comprehend in this day and age,i may see you down at Newark this year i think i should be able to make it
truckerash:
ramone:
New to Asian Transport in Oct 1966, Gordon Pearce and Bob Paul shared it for almost 2 years
Unbelievable, how on earth did they travel to Tehran for 2 years in that.Was it reliable and when did they eventually get awarded the George Cross ,oh and are they still here to tell the tales.What brilliant pictures Ash.It looks a very cold and lonely setting of the AEC pulling up that hill in the snowRamone; Have you heard of a book entitled THE LONG HAUL PIONEERS? Its about Asian Transport/Astran and documents the complete history from 1964. Included is a complete chapter entitled “Gordon’s Adventures” in which Gordon Pearce describes in UNBELIEVABLE details, his adventures in this AEC. In my opinion; the best bit is when he tells the INCREDIBLE story of how he and Bob Paul got stranded in Eastern Turkey and almost died together in the cab at temps of -20 at night!!! They literally huddled and cuddled each other for 2 days to keep warm until help arrived…
I would highly recommend The Long Haul Pioneers Ramone; it’s “probably” the best book I’ve ever read!
Try amazon for the best pricesAll the detailed info about the AEC plus many more great photos and stories from the men who drove it and its original design by Bob Paul is all in the book.
The main men who drove it; Gordon Pearce - alive. Bob Paul - sadly passed away. Bunty Parlane - sadly passed away. Eddie Parlane - alive.
Others who drove it for Asian; Ray Scutts - alive. Graham (One lump) Wainwright - alive. Ron (jock) Bell - sadly passed away.
Thanks for the information Ash i will certainly buy it ,i had heard of it but never realised what it contained thanks again
In the process of reading the book, and yes it is a great read.
hutpik:
Hi Ian.Thats interesting to know,that Goldy went to OZ.
As to the reg,it was Jimmy Withers motor.Nice guy,we ran together a couple of times.It may have been me that posted a pic of his motor some time ago on here.Mike
Is this the photo you were referring to?
Hi All
just a few more pics of british trucks heading east inc foden,seddon,scammel,erf brave,stupid or desparate who knows,anybody recognise who the guys are in the photos these were taken in jeddah around “77” ? i think these trucks earnt a lot of money doing internal work.
cheers for now enjoy the photos. Glynn50
Glynn; Great photos mate! Love the Scammell! Do you know anymore about the pics? Wonder if the ERF,Foden (back views) were from Wilkes Transport - Leicester area and who’s was the Berliet? That’s Leicester too.
Glad it’s not just me putting up the pics 
Reckon there MUST be loads more Ancient Brit photos out there…
Come on lads - Don’t be shy! I know they were old nails and looking back now, probably embarrassing to drive, but lets see your pics
