Hey, an other Gruwerz,
This picture showing the inspection panels on a demo NGC appears in Commercial Motor’s excellent little book called The ERF Story, which was made in the days of the E-series. The picture had also appeared in an article in Chassis magazine (seen earlier on this thread). In the CM book, the ERF NGC only gets a brief mention, in which it is described as being a ‘striking’ and ‘futuristic’ ‘Eurotruck’ with a metal cab. Robert 
A brilliant picnic area in the shade, useful to hang wet clothes on too…
newmercman:
A brilliant picnic area in the shade, useful to hang wet clothes on too…
I often used to do just that with my old Eurostar in Morocco! Looking again at that picture, notice how cleverly the light picks out the lines of that Motor Panels cab. Robert H (HGV-positive but retired), ERF & trailer; TIR & cord; WC & chain.
I ‘blew up’ one of A-J’s lurking NGCs from the Van Steenbergen stable. He’s right, you know: it would be nice if they restored the French one in the forest in Arendonk’s colours. Robert 
Hello!
@A-J: have you kept your list of NGCs exported to the Continent? I still have your original version of the list but I imagine that you have updated it since then. I know I was critical of it at the time, but I now think that an accurate list of NGCs exported to the Continent would be a really valuable asset for those who wish to keep a record of these things. I would certainly be grateful for your re-posting this document. If ERF enthusiasts want to know the list of UK operated NGCs or Middle-East operated NGCs there is no reason why I cannot supply this information separately - and in any case my book will give the comprehensive list. Robert
@Robert…you’ve changed, no longer the happy driver in ex-Eyckmans NGC?
Well to be honest…I was re-starting to go over old CDB-archives, pffff, but
I keep in touch with some genuine ERF-leads as Gruwez, Thibaut (5 or 7MW),
Groenenboom and Peelhultra aka Calor/Coulier now. I could influence you all
with spectacular excel-files, but as there are no pictures or details of them,
then where are we…assuming we reach 100 NGC’s? Would be good for the
Volume 2 of Lorries of Arabia…but I dislike to make people too curious!
Will try to update…also on 5MW and B-series
ERF-Continental:
@Robert…you’ve changed, no longer the happy driver in ex-Eyckmans NGC?Well to be honest…I was re-starting to go over old CDB-archives, pffff, but
I keep in touch with some genuine ERF-leads as Gruwez, Thibaut (5 or 7MW),
Groenenboom and Peelhultra aka Calor/Coulier now. I could influence you all
with spectacular excel-files, but as there are no pictures or details of them,
then where are we…assuming we reach 100 NGC’s? Would be good for the
Volume 2 of Lorries of Arabia…but I dislike to make people too curious!Will try to update…also on 5MW and B-series
Nice reply. I haven’t changed, but I’ve learnt to trust you better! It was Wobbe who reached for the 100 NGCs, not me: I’ve always reckoned about 70. Lorries of Arabia vol 2, if it ever comes out (and I’d be quite happy to write one!) will only fill in the gaps I think, and perhaps I could supply many of the interesting but inferior images that I now have. The problem with images is that publishers nowadays want only the best definition images, rather than the most interesting and evocative ones. This is not a new problem: over many years I have observed that the French truck magazines were always prepared to reproduce poor photos with ‘atmosphere’, where British (and even Dutch) ones were not. So we ended up with dry, perfect magazines; whereas the French produced many poor but inspiring and romantic pictures of TIR trucking sur la route. I don’t suppose for a moment that there will be a Vol 2, but I’ll make damned sure that any spare material ends up on this thread one way or another!! Robert
What a warm and genuine reply! Well…knowing who owned/operated ERF’s and where one have been seen
is one thing but as you know, we all in the '70’s threw away a lot and/or neglected the value for later, then
being not proud at all on our heritage…with all regrets.
I noticed within Scania since long that employees and their employers are NOT interested in their history and
their successes, but everything nowadays is driven by figures, facts and sales, preferably paid sales…but as
you know a lot of it is fancy leasing…but to have trucks operationably run with profit is something else.
In the que are:
Damco-Goedkoop&de Geus of Rotterdam with at least 2 NGC’s
■■? of Gemappes with also at least 2 NGC’s
Further on our contacts might ‘deliver’ useful information on other operators/owners…to proceed with.
I also assumed/hoped we might reach a century, 12 times a 6, 6 times a 4 and 2 times 2 runs in cricket,
for the NGC to leave with 100…I however assume/expect it were 75…which is a nice figure/jubilee
An update on the Van Steenbergen Group…
You might be familiar with Viana & Fernandes and Q-trucking? Perhaps O’Neill? Vastelux?
Now 50 MB Actros 1845 are operational…for Portugese Viana & Fernandes
Well! You have certainly whetted my appetite with your reminders that Damco-Goedkoop, de Geus and a couple of Gemappes units hang in the air! The de Geus lead is new to me. Oh, and your new input on Van Steenbergen is most interesting.
This leads me to admit that in addition to trusting you more, your are right in that I probably have changed insofar as I have learnt to respect your excellent contributions to a wide range of subjects on this forum; I have learnt to accept that you are at the very least equal to anyone else as a worthy custodian of the history of the ERF NGC; I have learnt to enjoy and relish your attention to detail, your merciless quest for accuracy, and above all your astonishing ability to overcome all barriers by being courageous with the English language. In this last regard, you have won an outright battle: you have kept your head above water, fought your corner and made your all your superb contributions IN ENGLISH. You have my complete respect as a Dutch ERF man, a highly-informed expert on trucks and trucking and as a massively useful cross-channel link on all trucking subjects. My suggestion that you re-post your Continental NGCs list was no idle request: it was an urge for meaningful material! Robert
@Robert…you make me shy…but when WE go to Stockholm for the Nobel-prize…let’s have
Anorak aboard on this nice and simple railroad to Södertälje to visit Wallenberg’s museum for his
Scania-Vabis LV …regretably a marque Van Steenbergen so very much disliked out of service!
It was a right choice to focus and collect…on ERF, that being said with a dealer 20miles ahead,
just as you had your Hoveringhams as neighbours.
You can count on my expertise and archives, and I am happily contributing the content over here!
@Robert…not to correct you but DAMCO (later Nedlloyd-P&O) was earlier connected to Goedkoop & De Geus (one company
after a merge and with a relation to Van Swieten) so, I speak of at least 2 ERF’s NGC operational for ICI in Rotterdam-region.
I guess you’ll remember Estron, Ketjenblack, König, Van Marion, De Rijke, V.D. Lee, Van Staalduinen and others during transits?
Nice link here to a Goedkoop & de Geus trip to Baghdad with Scanias (alas no ERFs!) of the same era. Robert
Old times…heritage? Superb and nice film! That is the GG (or DAMCO-GG) company!
As can be seen in this film a lot of hazardous materials were shipped, hence the specialists
as Estron, V.D. Lee, Van Marion and in Belgium Vervaeke, Peeters and Fockedey!
Also, on the subjects of Goedkoop & de Geus / old times: here are a couple of pics of their Dutch cabbed lorries, which links with recent Dutch / Scania threads. Robert
Superb Robert! As did the IGLO (Unilever) trailer and Scania-Vabis did earlier as a post
I’m looking forward to both the Middle-East Experience do on Saturday and the Retro Show over the weekend. It’s great to see that a M/E ERF NGC is featured in the programme (see below)! Robert
