We had some 67 E reg. Comets, they tilted but there was no hydraulics they had a huge torsion beam on the left hand side and you tilted them by hand if you were strong enough ! We had a beam break one day and the cab went right over and the front edge of the roof hit the deck, it done no serious damage but to fit a new torsion beam was hard work. I think we later fitted safety chains to stop it happening again.
IIRC the cabs were produced by Sankeys at Hadley castle Wellington.
bma.finland:
some says a britt draw the lb scania? ironic? cheersbenkku
Lionel Sherrow was the man. Yes, very ironic, given that British vehicle design of the 1960s was decidedly old-fashioned, but the LB was about as bold a statement of Modernism as it was possible to get, on wheels anyway! I love Ergos and LBs, by the way. 
[zb]
anorak:bma.finland:
some says a britt draw the lb scania? ironic? cheersbenkkuLionel Sherrow was the man. Yes, very ironic, given that British vehicle design of the 1960s was decidedly old-fashioned, but the LB was about as bold a statement of Modernism as it was possible to get, on wheels anyway! I love Ergos and LBs, by the way.
and iEXTRAORDINARY LB,s but ergo is cool too in a way, scania trusted then in guiaro and bertone ,so italian,s are everywhere inwolwed,cheers benkku (PS nowdays handymans and routemans look nice too)
Unfortunately for me i wasnt around when the ergo was launched but just look back at was available home and abroad at the time.They were a revelation compared with the wooden coachbuilt and fibreglass options from others.The problem was they never improved them ,never insulated them from noise or the weather.The cab should have been a sealed unit ,they shook to bits ,not sure wether this was due to poor design or poor quality.I`ve seen the test photos of the Marathon prototype which would have Carryfast getting very excited to say the least with its American influenced design.Maybe that was the way AEC were going to go until Leyland stepped in
Trev_H:
We had some 67 E reg. Comets, they tilted but there was no hydraulics they had a huge torsion beam on the left hand side and you tilted them by hand if you were strong enough ! We had a beam break one day and the cab went right over and the front edge of the roof hit the deck, it done no serious damage but to fit a new torsion beam was hard work. I think we later fitted safety chains to stop it happening again.
IIRC the cabs were produced by Sankeys at Hadley castle Wellington.
Just a little off-thread, but it’s as well to remember that even my favourite lorry had a few minor faults-
When the torsion bars on the F88 cab got too weak to assist with cab tilting, the usual method, especially when working alone, was to tie a rope over the cab roof to a suitable anchor point at the base of the rear cab wall, then tie the other end to one of the corner posts of the dutch barn. The driver would then reverse the vehicle away from the barn very slowly until the cab was just on the point of balance, when he would apply the handbrake, stop the engine and scramble out of the now considerably higher cab door.
Elf & safety? You MUST be joking!
Just a little off-thread, but it’s as well to remember that even my favourite lorry had a few minor faults-
When the torsion bars on the F88 cab got too weak to assist with cab tilting, the usual method, especially when working alone, was to tie a rope over the cab roof to a suitable anchor point at the base of the rear cab wall, then tie the other end to one of the corner posts of the dutch barn. The driver would then reverse the vehicle away from the barn very slowly until the cab was just on the point of balance, when he would apply the handbrake, stop the engine and scramble out of the now considerably higher cab door.
Elf & safety? You MUST be joking!
[/quote]
Evening all,ROF, even when new the F88 torsion bar could be a little tricky, so to demonstrate the advantages of the tilting cab it was advisable not to park facing uphill!!
Of course, “■■■■ sure” here overdid it parking in Roy Lowe`s sloping Cradley Heath yard…the cab flew up…oh so smooth…everyone was amazed!
But to get it down, four, then six, then seven big men hanging on…I did not repeat that trick ever!!
Happy days, …my Turbot awaits, Cheerio for now.
ramone:
I`ve seen the test photos of the Marathon prototype which would have Carryfast getting very excited to say the least with its American influenced design.Maybe that was the way AEC were going to go until Leyland stepped in
As I’ve said on many similar topics it was the American way or no way for the Brits and it probably would have been a merged AEC and Scammell left to go their own way which would have eventually built something more along those lines.But ironically the ERGO seems to have been the worst of all worlds of lots of time and investment being thrown away on a retrograde product depending on point of view regarding the comparison between something like a mid 1960’s Kenworth cab over v the ERGO even in AEC form.
Saviem:
Just a little off-thread, but it’s as well to remember that even my favourite lorry had a few minor faults-
When the torsion bars on the F88 cab got too weak to assist with cab tilting, the usual method, especially when working alone, was to tie a rope over the cab roof to a suitable anchor point at the base of the rear cab wall, then tie the other end to one of the corner posts of the dutch barn. The driver would then reverse the vehicle away from the barn very slowly until the cab was just on the point of balance, when he would apply the handbrake, stop the engine and scramble out of the now considerably higher cab door.
Elf & safety? You MUST be joking!
Evening all,ROF, even when new the F88 torsion bar could be a little tricky, so to demonstrate the advantages of the tilting cab it was advisable not to park facing uphill!!
Of course, “■■■■ sure” here overdid it parking in Roy Lowe`s sloping Cradley Heath yard…the cab flew up…oh so smooth…everyone was amazed!
But to get it down, four, then six, then seven big men hanging on…I did not repeat that trick ever!!
Happy days, …my Turbot awaits, Cheerio for now.
[/quote]
Previously mentioned method of cab tilting was employed on Saturday morning. Servicing was duly completed by about two o’clock, just in time for a couple of swift pints before closing time. The Volvo was left in it’s recumbent state until 4.00am on Monday when the other three drivers would be press-ganged into pushing the thing back into position ready for another week’s work.
Happy days!
As I’ve said on many similar topics it was the American way or no way for the Brits and it probably would have been a merged AEC and Scammell left to go their own way which would have eventually built something more along those lines.But ironically the ERGO seems to have been the worst of all worlds of lots of time and investment being thrown away on a retrograde product depending on point of view regarding the comparison between something like a mid 1960’s Kenworth cab over v the ERGO even in AEC form.
[/quote]
Oh dear Carryfast, if you have ever experienced the “comfort” of any 60s US cabover, with their universal short BBC, (bumper to back of cab) measurement,short sprung forward set axle, then you would never have made that post.
When I first established contact with the Texas company Freighters, I remember as I was being driven over to the “pump island” to see their new Midliner`s, we passed twenty, or so drivers going on shift. ALL, were carrying a form of auxillary seat cushion, plug in CB, and steel lunch box and flask.
Why? they were about to earn their daily crust , and live the American Dream, driving a variety of Kenworth, Mack, and Pete cabovers, (all, ■■■■■■■■ Fuller, Rockwell), Cab comfort? Forget it, those alloy boxes held less comfort than a Duramin, or even my Foden S20. They were not even in the same design league as an Ergomatic!
Im away, I hate cold Turbot, (but adore cold Bollinger, Cheerio for now.
But surely, all those dials made up for the lack of comfort? At least I could have a little snooze as I wound my way up Chalk Hill at about 20mph instead of worrying about temperatures and pressures of every nut and bolt!
Hey, It is true if you say that tilting an 88 or 89 was a heavy duty,And in de beginning the option hydro tilting pump was most too expensive to order, and by now they criticise when it is not electric.MAN had de best tilting system without hydro of my part.
The 88/89 had as others bad things like the air wipers and sure when they were mounted on the top,and not to speak about the operation bars inside. I think that they only realised on the first test drive when it was rainning oh we need wipers 
. They only came electric in '75 ages too late.By the comming of the 89 in '71 we made then electric by 12V wipermotors of cars, not easy the develop at first.
Cheers Eric,
tiptop495:
Hey, It is true if you say that tilting an 88 or 89 was a heavy duty,And in de beginning the option hydro tilting pump was most too expensive to order, and by now they criticise when it is not electric.MAN had de best tilting system without hydro of my part.
The 88/89 had as others bad things like the air wipers and sure when they were mounted on the top,and not to speak about the operation bars inside. I think that they only realised on the first test drive when it was rainning oh we need wipersCheers Eric,
Eric, Ive got to go…me fish is going cold, and me wife is getting hot…past the danger mark!!( and I do not run fast at my age)!
The MAN torsion bar tilt was the best balanced by far…but of course it was Saviems total cab design from 64!!!
Hope you get some sunshine in Belgium, who is going to win the Liege, Bastone, Liege on the 21st??( or the Paris Robaix on the 7th)?
Cheerio for now.
Saviem:
Oh dear Carryfast, if you have ever experienced the “comfort” of any 60s US cabover, with their universal short BBC, (bumper to back of cab) measurement,short sprung forward set axle, then you would never have made that post.When I first established contact with the Texas company Freighters, I remember as I was being driven over to the “pump island” to see their new Midliner`s, we passed twenty, or so drivers going on shift. ALL, were carrying a form of auxillary seat cushion,
I think there were probably more 1960’s KW’s etc fitted with Bostrom suspension seats than there were ERGOS or most Brit trucks even during the 1970’s let alone the 1960’s.Just like that issue the example which you’ve referred to probably had more to do with penny pinching guvnors who’d specced the wagons in not asking for those to be fitted than anything to do with US cab design of the period in general compared to that of the Brits. 
Saviem wrote:
Eric, Ive got to go…me fish is going cold, and me wife is getting hot…past the danger mark!!( and I do not run fast at my age)!
The MAN torsion bar tilt was the best balanced by far…but of course it was Saviems total cab design from 64!!!
Hope you get some sunshine in Belgium, who is going to win the Liege, Bastone, Liege on the 21st??( or the Paris Robaix on the 7th)?
Cheerio for now.
[/quote]
Hey Saviem,
Very coldly, but dry I think we are this year in Moskva.
For the cycling, let’s say the best may win. I only like doing Liège Bastogne by pushing my right foot down to the floor of my F88 
But the most importent is,never let your women boil over you can burn painfully “deinen kleinen Unterschied” 
.
In that way you are best slowly,the more time you need the more pleasure you gain 
Cheers Eric, bonne nuit,
Big factory Ergo double sleeper from start 1965
Best Ergomatic Cabbed-Lorry Model? PART 1.TRUCKNETUK.
Of the Leyland Motor Corporation-British Leyland Motor Corporation Ergomatic - cabbed AEC,Albion,Leyland-AEC and Leyland lorry ranges,the best Ergomatic-cabbed models were probably these:-
The most popular,most powerful and best Ergomatic rigid eight lorry model was:-
AEC Mammoth Major Eight 691/760 Ergomatic TG8 Dropside-bodied 8x2/8x4 Lorry,NPD 691D:-
The best and most powerful version of the standard Leyland Freightline Ergomatic lorry models was:-
Leyland Beaver 690 Turbocharged BV69.32R 4x2 Tractive Unit,advertisement:-
flickr.com/photos/andyc2011/8561587803/
The ultimate Ergomatic-cabbed,diesel-engined,Leyland was the special BRS Overland version of the Marathon,which had a sleeper cab,cooker,air conditioning,etc:-
Leyland-AEC Marathon Mk1 2T25/27 Sleeper-Cabbed 4x2 Curtainsider-bodied Articulated Lorry,LNU 138P,British Road Services Overland.Is the gentleman in the red shirt,and wearing sunglasses,the editor of TRUCK Magazine,the late lamented and great Pat Kennett?:-
More photographs on BIGLORRYBLOG:-
commercialmotor.com/big-lorr … VwfXtxwbvI
Did BRS Overland operate any Marathon Mk2’s?
But the ultimate and best Ergomatic-cabbed Leyland lorry just has to be this - 400 BHP and all! 
:-
Leyland GTT Gas Turbine 6x4 Tractive Unit,Motor Show Exhibit:-
Leyland GTT Gas Turbine 6x4 Tractive Unit,preserved by Tony Knowles:-
The ultimate and best AEC Ergomatic-cabbed lorry models (apart from the AEC-built Leyland-AEC Marathon)
were the AEC 800-Series and 801-Series V8 diesel-engined Mandator V8 and Mammoth Major Six V8 - when
these engines were running properly :-
AEC Mandator V8 VTG4R4406 4x2 Flat-bodied Articulated Lorry,LVL 164H,of 1969,preserved by John Mayle:-
AEC Mammoth Major Six V8 2VTG6R 6x4 Tractive Unit,VYE 632G,with the high datum cab,1969:-
flickr.com/photos/53717956@N … hotostream
But to think what could have been…probably a worldbeater,and it didn’t have the Ergomatic Cab - it had a better cab and an AEC V8 diesel engine :-
AEC 3VTG Prototype-Experimental 3VTG6R9AE O90 Mk1 V8-engined 6x4 Tractive Unit,looking for all the world like a magnificent Peterbilt 352 COE 6x4 Heavy Motor Truck-Tractive Unit :-
From what TruckNetUK member,Carryfast,has been saying in his last few posts,AEC pre-empted him in the early 1970s!
And here is a Peterbilt 352 COE 6x4 Heavy Motor Truck-Tractive Unit:-
VALKYRIE
VALKYRIE:
But to think what could have been…probably a worldbeater,and it didn’t have the Ergomatic Cab - it had a better cab and an AEC V8 diesel engine
AEC 3VTG Prototype-Experimental 3VTG6R9AE O90 Mk1 V8-engined 6x4 Tractive Unit,looking for all the world like a magnificent Peterbilt 352 COE 6x4 Heavy Motor Truck-Tractive Unit
From what TruckNetUK member,Carryfast,has been saying in his last few posts,AEC pre-empted him in the early 1970s!
And here is a Peterbilt 352 COE 6x4 Heavy Motor Truck-Tractive Unit:-
VALKYRIE
I think I’ve pre empted them because that’s what I’ve been saying that they should have had ready for production during the 1960’s.With the combined manufacturing capacity of Scammell and AEC to meet the demand.Not forgetting that where an AEC V8 could fit a turbocharged Detroit 8V71/92 and CAT 3408 could probably have fitted too.
Regarding the driver comfort of US trucks versus UK lorries of the 1960’s and 70’s, it seems that the two were comparable, according to many of the posts on this forum. Many times, American vehicles have been called “Yankee Atki” by people who have driven them. If an Ergo was streets ahead of a coachbuilt British cab, then it is reasonable to assume it had the same advantage over American designs. Mack tried no end of French cabs, then Motor Panels, in their attempts to enter the European market, despite having recently (1962) gone to the expense of engineering their F700 cab. Could this be because the F700 was simply too much of a “gaffers’ wagon” for the more advanced European market?
[zb]
anorak:
Regarding the driver comfort of US trucks versus UK lorries of the 1960’s and 70’s, it seems that the two were comparable, according to many of the posts on this forum. Many times, American vehicles have been called “Yankee Atki” by people who have driven them. If an Ergo was streets ahead of a coachbuilt British cab, then it is reasonable to assume it had the same advantage over American designs. Mack tried no end of French cabs, then Motor Panels, in their attempts to enter the European market, despite having recently (1962) gone to the expense of engineering their F700 cab. Could this be because the F700 was simply too much of a “gaffers’ wagon” for the more advanced European market?
How does this fit the description of a 1965 Atki and in what way is it inferior to an ERGO cabbed AEC or Leyland.
Carryfast:
Hahaha! Hook, line and sinker, every time. Just read the rest of the posts on this thread, from people who have actual experience.
PS That KW is lovely, though.