Berliet GLC 6M from 1960.
michel:
Berliet GLC 6M from 1960.
totaly fantastic 
Seen in Corsica a few years ago.
bma.finland:
michel:
Berliet GLC 6M from 1960.
totaly fantastic
Look at the size of the steering wheel in that 
, you can almost see a tiny Frenchman wearing a beret peering through that ! 
Like this one ?
I think Spardo will recognize the Gauthier family.
That is fascinating Michel, merci, very difficult but the man on the left definitely has the look of Paul (the present patron) about him but, of course can’t be him, so may be Henri his Dad. However the lady I would say is definitely Paul’s mother, Henri’s wife, so, as she is so obviously with the chap on the right, and assuming that everyone behaved properly in those days 
, he must be Henri.
I knew Henri as an old man in retirement but not the mother, I think she died with Alzheimers before my arrival. So, perhaps there was an uncle/brother when Henri set up the business just after the war, which is when I assume this picture was taken. I wonder if it is possible to date it from the reg. nos. at this distance of time?
Finally, the location, it looks familiar, I think it is St. Pardoux la Riviere and I think I know that junction, not far from Gauthier’s yard. I’ll go and have a look later on, very little of the buildings have changed over the years.
Je te remercie encore, mon copain. 
michel:
Like this one ?
I think Spardo will recognize the Gauthier family.
Thanks Michel, Yes that’s a classic photo. 
Sometimes you can look at a photo and not know which country it is, that really could be nowhere else than France and you have to admire the French for their individuality.
It is possible to date the picture in 1957, because I think the GLR on the right side is very new and its registration is from this year.
michel:
It is possible to date the picture in 1957, because I think the GLR on the right side is very new and its registration is from this year.
Later than I thought then, still too early to be Paul though, he’s about 10 years or so younger than me I think.
If I can work out how to copy the image or print it I’ll ask him next time I see him.
Talk about 'Smell the coffee? ’ - Smell the Baguette & taste the wine!! 
Those days will never come back.
Pure nostalgia for us TIR lads.
Give anything to turn the clock back.
France was France-GB was GB-Spain was Spain-Italy was Italy & Europe had character ,now its all a hand shandy.
Progress is a dirty word. imo
Especially for Mr.Saviem…Is this one of the original demonstration fleet a few years later on in its life?..
michel:
Like this one ?
I think Spardo will recognize the Gauthier family.
Evening Gentlemen, michel, what an evocative photograph…you can almost smell the warm diesels. Those “snapshots” burned into the brain when I first drove in France in the 60s, the “flanc blancs”, the imposing and tasteful designs of the French lorries, and it never diminished when I was working there, and it still does not today!! Thank you, I should think spardo is well pleased!
riverstick, now that is an interesting lorry, she was not a demonstrator, but was the very first Le Centaur sold to an operator…and after a long day in the cab of a John Deere, (ploughing at last)!! the name just will not come into this old head!!! (but it will)!! They were based in Lyon, and run by two brothers, the cab was trimmed in brown, not red. You can still see the chrome bumper, and spotlights, and only the side moulding has faded and become painted over in orange.
I arranged a ride for a freelance UK journalist in this lorry, at the request of my friend Pat Kennet, but do not know if anything appeared in the UK. (must have been a long day, Cannot even remember his name)!! But somewhere I will have a record! Handsome old girl, in her day a real beauty queen…and could she, (as all V8 Berliets could), go!!!..oh yes she could!!
Did you know that Berliet granted an assembly licence in Ireland to Smiths Engineering ltd, down in Wexford. I think the man who ran it was John Quinn. They also built ARO 4x4s from Romania, and I think worked in with Harris on Hino. They were also involved in a big way with Renault cars.
First Berliet they built was a TR280, which for some reason was “down specced”, and ran on 1100x20s, not 1200s. And there was some consternation in Venissieux because Smiths wished all cabs to only have a primer finish, not the “new” gloss yellow.
Will look the bits I cannot recall tonight, up when I get chance. Really makes you want to jump in her and go, does it not?
Im away for a Bollinger nightcap, more ploughing tommorow, lots of time to make up, Cheerio for now.
Saviem:
Shame that Leyland were not there, as they did have a trading record!
HI there, just noticed this thread again…
Leyland WAS present in Poland, engines on Leyland’s licence were quite popular in Poland. They bought license for the engine SW-400 (I am not sure, if it was the British number as well) and altough this engine was manufactured for short period, its derivatives became quite popular.There were also other deals with Leyland, but I don’t know much about it, I can research it for you if you are interested.
There was wide range of vehicles with Leyland engines and its derivatives developed in Poland, many of them are still popular on the road, such like Star 200:
Jelcz ( i forgot what model is it):
Autosan H9:
Bizon combine harvester:
I have no bloody idea how this machine is called in English, it has something to do with the harvest as well, it chops it into the small pieces, but this is well beyond my vocabulary
This machines are also using derivative from Leyland engine, and I think they are still made:
Sorry for the off-topic, Berliet fans
TLM 10 M from 1959.
Riverstick:
Especially for Mr.Saviem…Is this one of the original demonstration fleet a few years later on in its life?..
Evening Gentlemen, riverstick, I knew that it would come to me! I had just turned on the headland, and was just putting the plough down, when a florists van came down the lane, and the whole lot came back!!
Fleures de France, in the Perrache Market area of Lyon. The three Aquilino Brothers, two involved mainly in the transport side, (around 18/20 frigo outfits in 78/79 I think). Ran some SM300 V8 Saviems, as well as two V8 Berliets. Maurice, headed up the transport side. Nice, well run, high profile company.
Came into the barn to make this post, looked at your photograph…wham…64. 11. hl. 69, that sir is the original Le Centaure, the one that did all the shows, and was the star of all those dramatic posters, the one with the Helicopter, Monique, under the shower, The chauffeurs fairwell etc.
She was sold,complete with the specially finished Lamberet Frigo trailer to Fleures de France, via Lamberet, (also based in Lyon), as a prestige outfit for the Aquilino Bros operation. Within Venissieux it was thought that the deal was put together as Lamberet were under pressure from Chereau for F de F`s frigo business, and as the Aquilino Brothers were concerned at the future of the merged, (but fighting each other Saviem, and Berliet), and as Aquilinos operated a 100% Saviem/ Berliet fleet, this would “cement” relationships in the works “back yard”…oh yes it did!
She had all of the options, shower, wc, cooker, sink, 60litre hw capacity, heated drivers seat, ac, the (optional), St Nazaire built 13speed Fuller, (much better than the Berliet, or ZF options), behind the 14.8litre Turbo V8. And if I remember correctly a chrome upright exhaust. The orange mid band puzzled me when I first saw your photograph, but when I realised that this was the first Le Centaure then that band was on from build. It was a deep pearl type finish, that was very distinctive in the flesh, but less so on photographs.
That she was still running in 2011 is mast interesting, Maurice only used to run vehicles for three years, around 400/600000kms, and they ran only frigo`s. So,running up in the North, and with a tilt behind her, but still carrying the Fleures de France lettering…a mystery. Wonder if she is still about, if she is I would swop my LB76 for her, whatever her condition, she is a piece of automotive history!!!
Cheerio for now.
Afternoon all, neversweat1, Mike Tilley, (Sutton Truck Rental), and David Abbot, two pleasant Gentlemen as I recall. Which part of Gods most wonderful country do you reside in? Cheerio for now.
Saviem:
Afternoon all, neversweat1, Mike Tilley, (Sutton Truck Rental), and David Abbot, two pleasant Gentlemen as I recall. Which part of Gods most wonderful country do you reside in? Cheerio for now.
I can be found in Berkshire Mr Saviem
Steve
neversweat1:
Saviem:
Afternoon all, neversweat1, Mike Tilley, (Sutton Truck Rental), and David Abbot, two pleasant Gentlemen as I recall. Which part of Gods most wonderful country do you reside in? Cheerio for now.I can be found in Berkshire Mr Saviem
Steve
Hi Steve,
Did you work at Reading Garage Cork st / Renault Trucks and did you know Dudley Todd the salesman who moved from Tilburys Southampton when they finished, brought a lot of G290/R310/R340 Turboliners/Magnums from there.
Also had a nice trip to Mr Saviem’s old HQ at Lyon
Regards
Richard
MaggieD:
neversweat1:
Saviem:
Afternoon all, neversweat1, Mike Tilley, (Sutton Truck Rental), and David Abbot, two pleasant Gentlemen as I recall. Which part of Gods most wonderful country do you reside in? Cheerio for now.I can be found in Berkshire Mr Saviem
Steve
Hi Steve,
Did you work at Reading Garage Cork st / Renault Trucks and did you know Dudley Todd the salesman who moved from Tilburys Southampton when they finished, brought a lot of G290/R310/R340 Turboliners/Magnums from there.Also had a nice trip to Mr Saviem’s old HQ at Lyon
Regards
Richard
Hello Richard
I started in 1980 at Reading Garage Dodge Truck Centre which by this time was located at Penta House Basingstoke Road
It was during this time that Renault took over Dodge so we become Renault dealers - I stayed until 1990 when the people that then owned us gave up the franchise to become Leyland DAF dealers.Renault opened up a wholly owned dealership and myself and a few colleagues went there in July 1990 and i’ve been there ever since.
I remember Dudley very well - Always on the cusp of signing a “Major” deal that never came off
I remeber Tilburys as well - They were Dodge dealers in Soton and i think Seddon Atkinson in Winchester 
We also had a good relationship with Belbens at Poole.
I did Recovery at Reading Garage for a few years
And again at Renault Trucks
Hers some Berliets to keep the thread on track
Thanks
Steve