To usher the New Year in, I come bearing fresh material to the table!
You may remember that we got a lot of very useful material about NGC development from articles by the well-respected journalist Phil Reed in Motor Transport 20th May 1977, including a most revealing interview with Jack Cook.
I have just seen yet another article in that same issue, again by Phil Reed, that provides us with yet more insight into how the NGC (7MW) came about. As the copy is too poor to reproduce here, I have taken the trouble of transcribing a section of it for you below.
The A-series was the first step towards a more rationalised range. It started to be developed just as the ERF European went into production, and the first feedback from the model, from Belgian operators, provided useful data for ERF engineers working on the home market truck.
It was decided to align the A-series with the European and make it capable of accepting a 13-tonne capacity rear axle. It was felt in 1971 there was a strong possibility that greater axle weights would result during the model’s life. “But this was not to be and as a result we were saddled with the increased weight of the larger bracketry and fittings,” said Jack Cook, ERF’s engineering director.
A new chassis was developed for the A-series tractor units, a 37-in wide design which replaced the 40-in wide tractor frames. This was to be shared with the second generation European truck, the 7MW. ………The steering layouot incorporated the first ERF application of ZF power steering.
But the suspension was something of which Jack Cook and his team were especially proud. “With this design we have one hell of a good suspension,” the design was so successful it was on of the major carry-overs from the A-series to the 7MW European range and the B-series. The ERF team were so pleased with the design because it gave a soft ride using simple conventional leaf springs and dispensed with expensive and complicated anti-roll bars.
The 7MW European was ERF’s first tilt cab vehicle. A great deal was learnt from this model and the findings used in developing the B-series. “We were not anxious to leap into large scale production of tilt cabs too soon like some other manufacturers,” Jack Cook said. “As a result of our European experience and the problems that developed on other makers’ cabs we learnt a lot about cab suspension and steering arrangements.”
The final rear cab suspension development for the B-series was a system using coil springs, simple but effective. In the life of the A-series and the 7MW European the cross member design was changed to allow eventual standardization of this on all models. [The article then expands on B-series development].
Here’s one of GL Baker’s '70s ERFs on the NYK container contract. We know about their NGC in GL Baker livery. We still need photo evidence of their 2nd NGC, allegedly painted in Ommeren livery that was used on the NYK contract. Keep your eyes peeled!
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Missed this on ebay last night, it had some ngc pics in, one of the rigid outside the dealership and one of richard reads with a fridge trailer.
Quite a price for a motor transport suppliment!
Steve
Yes, it’s quite a rarity that one. I ducked out early in the bidding as I have scans of some of those pages. I notice you haven’t lost your nose for a good NGC lead! 
Buzzer:
Buzzer
Yes, you’re right: Chapman & Ball’s 5MW-cabbed ERF on Middle-East work
Indirectly connected to E.R.F. and perhaps some of the three following wreckers had an European on the hook.
More information later as I guess the Autocar had a ■■■■■■■ under the hood.
From time to time I stumble on some new snippet about the ERF NGC and share it on here.
Here’s a new reference to NGCs in books for you. Not sure how I missed this one when I was researching my own books but somehow I missed this publication.
For anyone updating their bibliography on this subject, the book is:
Peter Davies (2012) Britain’s Lorries in the ‘70s. Roundoak Publishing, Nynehead, UK.
The book’s a well-photographed & useful reference. Here is a page from it:
Ro
ERF-NGC-European:
From time to time I stumble on some new snippet about the ERF NGC and share it on here.Here’s a new reference to NGCs in books for you. Not sure how I missed this one when I was researching my own books but somehow I missed this publication.
For anyone updating their bibliography on this subject, the book is:Peter Davies (2012) Britain’s Lorries in the ‘70s. Roundoak Publishing, Nynehead, UK.
The book’s a well-photographed & useful reference. Here is a page from it:
0
Ro
The caption reads that it was announced in 1974 at the motor show. Wasn’t it 1973?
Les Sylphides:
ERF-NGC-European:
From time to time I stumble on some new snippet about the ERF NGC and share it on here.Here’s a new reference to NGCs in books for you. Not sure how I missed this one when I was researching my own books but somehow I missed this publication.
For anyone updating their bibliography on this subject, the book is:Peter Davies (2012) Britain’s Lorries in the ‘70s. Roundoak Publishing, Nynehead, UK.
The book’s a well-photographed & useful reference. Here is a page from it:
Ro
The caption reads that it was announced in 1974 at the motor show. Wasn’t it 1973?
Yep: Brussels motor show on January 19th 1973 to be exact. 
^^^To be fair on Peter Davies, the world of transport history would be impoverished without his massive contribution over the years. When I was writing my books he managed to fish out some superb NGC photos for me.
By the way, I’ve just realised that the Peter Davies pic is also a new one on here
This French one still remains a bit of a mystery. Reg No. 7650DA93 believed to be a '74 motor. Looks to be still in factory colours. It’s No. 40 on my register.
No discussion (anymore, as nobody KNOWS the exact number anymore) probably this one (also) ended a short or long life being active locally?
Deduction of the whole (known) number will end in a very small number unknown where and when their end was.
From Van Steenbergen: 5 out of six (one had a severe accident and ended as spare-parts-partner at the end of the yard and garage) had a TOP
active role during their long life in Belgium and Germany.