From 1963 to 1973(ish), they produced lorries with the following cabs:
S21 “Mickey Mouse” type.
S34/S36/S39, options for fixed or tilting, split or single screen.
S40/S41 small Motor Panels type.
S90 big MP type.
S60 full and half cab versions.
S?, that other half-cab one on the dumpers
S80.
Do you think that, if they had concentrated their design/drawing office efforts on one cab, they could have afforded a set of press tools and ended up with a decent steel cab to compete more strongly with the Continental manufacturers?
I saw nothing wrong with using Fibreglass; Considering the water and dirt environment tippers are in this was a good idea. It’s just a shame models from the mid '80s looked almost identical to the very last produced around 2000. (Unless our W regs were new chassis on leftover cabs found in a cupboard at Sandbach )
Was there certain European country’s that wouldn’t allow fibreglass cabs. And wasn’t the s10 haulmaster type cab avalible as a steel or grp cab early on?
Terry Seamans motor B540 as in the photo is still in his work shop awaiting restoration , he still wears a black armband but has relented and bought 2 dafs last year a 105 for me and the 85
Always sad to see good lorries moved internal and then abused and totally wrecked in some cases over a short period.
Even worse if its been your own and you’ve always been proud of it. Mike.
rigsby:
quite a few around on a t plate nathan , they stayed in production as a mixer chassis . i think t plates must have been about the last , cheers , dave
With respect ,they were probably good in their day but why on earth were they still producing these cabs and more so people still buying them ,i much prefer the older vehicles and i have very little interest in the motors that are being produced today but i can imagine the look on the drivers face when his boss said you`re new motors here.On the new motors i saw a brand new Volvo FH16 750 bhp pulling a trailer advertising the very same vehicle this week it was going to Crossroads Comms at Birstall.Is there a need for 750 bhp on normal work ,(low loader work not included)im sure vehicles of much lower bhp can achieve 56 mph up hill and down dale on most motorways these day… Ducks for cover from the backlash
Is there a need for 750 bhp on normal work ,(low loader work not included)im sure vehicles of much lower bhp can achieve 56 mph up hill and down dale on most motorways these day… Ducks for cover from the backlash
Seeing it probably uses 400 of those hp’s so power through the anti pollution garbage yes…
Maybe wishful thinking or rose tinted specs but can’t say as i’ve found modern 420/450hp trucks to have anything like the sheer guts a 14 litre ■■■■■■■ had 25…hang on while i have a little sob here for all those lost years…ok better now…years ago.
Is there a need for 750 bhp on normal work ,(low loader work not included)im sure vehicles of much lower bhp can achieve 56 mph up hill and down dale on most motorways these day… Ducks for cover from the backlash
Seeing it probably uses 400 of those hp’s so power through the anti pollution garbage yes…
Maybe wishful thinking or rose tinted specs but can’t say as i’ve found modern 420/450hp trucks to have anything like the sheer guts a 14 litre ■■■■■■■ had 25…hang on while i have a little sob here for all those lost years…ok better now…years ago.
I agree with that, the new motors dont seem as guttsy … is that a word…but then again they might be putting 420 bhp out but they are controlled by a computer now and not your right foot and with the limiters they are hindered before they hit the hills ,put the limiter speed up to 62 mph and i bet you would see a big difference but with a fuel penalty
Muckaway:
Was this a leftover cab bought cheap? T reg seems a late registration for one of these.
They also made it as a ‘Lightweight Six Wheeler tipper’ to get a decent payload. They were fitted with the infamous ‘Stopmaster’ brakes, guess which way it will pull next! To be truthfull they were a good cab for off road work, the S80’s were very low at the front and the bumper was easily bent especially when reversing through muck etc. The front cab corners were easily damaged as well, whereas the S39 cab was a tough old thing and easily patched up with a fibreglass repair kit. The wooden frame tended to rot when they were around 20 years old though, and the doors would then drop slightly.
the s39 was a ■■■■ sight more comfy to drive as well pete , as long as you weren’t aircraft spotting out of the side windows . i think the s80 was a step backwards in design , or sideways at least . i wouldn’t like to bail out of one in a hurry , cheers , dave
Muckaway:
Was this a leftover cab bought cheap? T reg seems a late registration for one of these.
They also made it as a ‘Lightweight Six Wheeler tipper’ to get a decent payload. They were fitted with the infamous ‘Stopmaster’ brakes, guess which way it will pull next! To be truthfull they were a good cab for off road work, the S80’s were very low at the front and the bumper was easily bent especially when reversing through muck etc. The front cab corners were easily damaged as well, whereas the S39 cab was a tough old thing and easily patched up with a fibreglass repair kit. The wooden frame tended to rot when they were around 20 years old though, and the doors would then drop slightly.
Pete.
These were the type Smiths sent back. From what Ive been told they were warned they were a mixer chassis and as Ive said they were a nightmare to steer. Ive been told these cabs were being made so late as Foden still had the tooling and were in the ■■■ financially by the time this one was built. About this time Smiths bought 2 batches of Bisons which were (and still) fondly remembered by the old timers. And me, I loved 'em
Muckaway:
Was this a leftover cab bought cheap? T reg seems a late registration for one of these.
They also made it as a ‘Lightweight Six Wheeler tipper’ to get a decent payload. They were fitted with the infamous ‘Stopmaster’ brakes, guess which way it will pull next! To be truthfull they were a good cab for off road work, the S80’s were very low at the front and the bumper was easily bent especially when reversing through muck etc. The front cab corners were easily damaged as well, whereas the S39 cab was a tough old thing and easily patched up with a fibreglass repair kit. The wooden frame tended to rot when they were around 20 years old though, and the doors would then drop slightly.
Pete.
These were the type Smiths sent back. From what Ive been told they were warned they were a mixer chassis and as Ive said they were a nightmare to steer. Ive been told these cabs were being made so late as Foden still had the tooling and were in the ■■■ financially by the time this one was built. About this time Smiths bought 2 batches of Bisons which were (and still) fondly remembered by the old timers. And me, I loved 'em
C W Griffiths had a brand new Foden six wheeler tipper identical to this also on a T plate.Nash Rocks had aa S reg as a mixer which was later cconverted to a tipper which my mate drove.He loved the lorry.It had a Gardner 180,wasn’t the fastest,but brilliant for getting up the steepest hills and offroad.
Cheers Dave.
hello ramone,
it really makes you wonder where the power league struggle will end,i would safely say that a 500bhp is sufficient for light duties such as 44 ton,but of course on heavy haulage that is another matter as you quite rightly stated,i think with the high power lumps that are offered most users dont need them anyway,i know that a lot of owner drivers go for high bhp but come on a 730 or 750 for normal work is definatley over the top.i am now running for the nissan hut.
regards graham.
)
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