I have been posting quite a lot of stuff on the ERF European thread and inevitably the subject of LHD B-series ERFs crops up frequently. Quite a number of these were built to full European spec for the continental market, and for UK operators who went abroad on a regular basis (like Eric Vick and PG Horridge). However, perhaps the most exciting examples were the Middle-East spec models, many of which were exported to Saudi Arabia to do ‘internals’ for British outfits. These tended to be 6x4s with ■■■■■■■ 350 and 9-speed Fuller 'boxes. Trans Arabia ran some interesting ones and perhaps Cookie will contribute some pics to this thread or permit me to do so for him! I have drawn up a list of all those LHD B-series ERFs known to me, which I’ll post in due course for anyone interested to ‘adopt’ and continue. In the meantime, here are some pics to get the thread going. Robert 
Hiya Robert.
Here, as promised, is my ‘register’ of LHD B-series ERFs for us all to complete at our leisure! Robert
LHD B-series list (not exhaustive)
My ID No. Reg. No. Country of origin plate Known engine & gear box Livery/Co p
i
c
? Year Axle config. Comments
001 11-97-XB NL Van Rumpt y 4x2
002 57-HB-51 NL 4x2 Jennings sleeper
003 PZW 207 IRL Kevin Smullen y 4x2 Jennings sleeper
004 CH R&R Fries y 4x2
005 CH R&R Fries y 4x2
006 Fleet no. 27 B ■■■■■■■ NTCE 290 Van Steenbergen y 4x2
007 Fleet no. 45 B ■■■■■■■ NTCE 290 Van Steenbergen y 4x2
008 1146SJ68 F (Showman’s) y 4x2
009 BMB 447W GB ■■■■■■■ PG Horridge y 4x2
010 GB Brown-Wharrier;
Trans Arabia y
011 DWN 618Y GB Game International y 6x2 Roof-mounted air-con
012 WFM 734W GB ■■■■■■■ 350 (ERF demo) y 4x2 Roof-mounted air-con
013 YRF 823S GB Eric Vick y 4x2
014 TAF 365 GB Gardner 300 Eric Vick y 6x2 Roof-mounted air-con
015 EWR 111Y GB Millfield Horbury y 4x2 Roof-mounted air con; camel bar
016 EWR 112Y GB Gardner; ■■■■■■■ 290 13-sp Fuller Millfield Horbury;
Nick Bull y 4x2 then 6x2 Roof-mounted air con; camel bar
017 PMJ 891W GB ■■■■■■■ Euroroute (Northants);
Mason & Darlow y 6x2 Roof-mounted air-con; later converted to a wrecker
018
019 PNV 486V GB Mandient; Gammond;
Drake Y
y 4x2; 6x2 midlift Roof-mounted air-con
020 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 9-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con
021 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 9-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con
022 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 9-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 6x4 Conversion by S Jones
023 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 9-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 6x4 Conversion by S Jones
024 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 9-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 6x4 Conversion by S Jones
025 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 9-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 6x4 Conversion by S Jones
026 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 13-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 4x2 Roof-mounted air-con (Cancelled Swiss order)
027 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 13-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 4x2 Roof-mounted air-con (Cancelled Swiss order
028 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 13-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 4x2 Roof-mounted air-con (Cancelled Swiss order)
029 KSA ■■■■■■■ 290; 13-sp Fuller Trans Arabia y 4x2 Roof-mounted air-con (Cancelled Swiss order)
030 KSA ■■■■■■■ 350; 9-sp Fuller Star Commercials (Damman) y 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con; camel bar
031 KSA ■■■■■■■ 350; 9-sp Fuller Star Commercials (Damman) y 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con; camel bar
032 KSA ■■■■■■■ 350; 9-sp Fuller Caravan Trucking (Damman) 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con; camel bar
034 KSA ■■■■■■■ 350; 9-sp Fuller CAMEL (Cunard Arabian Middle East Line) 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con; camel bar
035 KSA ■■■■■■■ 350; 9-sp Fuller CAMEL (Cunard Arabian Middle East Line) 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con; camel bar
036 KSA ■■■■■■■ 350; 9-sp Fuller CAMEL (Cunard Arabian Middle East Line) 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con; camel bar
037 KSA ■■■■■■■ 350; 9-sp Fuller CAMEL (Cunard Arabian Middle East Line) 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con; camel bar
038 KSA ■■■■■■■ 350; 9-sp Fuller CAMEL (Cunard Arabian Middle East Line) 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con; camel bar
039 KSA ■■■■■■■ 350; 9-sp Fuller CAMEL (Cunard Arabian Middle East Line) 6x4 Roof-mounted air-con; camel bar
040 GB GVH y 4x2 Roof-mounted air-con
041 32-64-TB NL y 4x2 Jennings sleeper
042 NL (same co. as 041) y 4x2 Jennings sleeper
043 NL (red with blue flash on sides) y 4x2 Jennings sleeper
044 30-19-XB NL Vermeulen y 6x4 Jennings sleeper
045 ZZA 520 B y 4x2
046 09-UB-31 NL De Vos y 4x2 Jennings sleeper
047 NL De Vos n 4x2 Jennings sleeper
048 NL De Vos n 4x2 Jennings sleeper
049 F y 4x2 Union jack on doors
050 showmans y 4x2 white
051 BMB 448W GB Millfield Horbury y 4x2 Roof-mounted air con; camel bar
For those not wishing to disentangle the untabulated register I posted early, here my observations in written form. I have a very high regard for the B-series and happy memories of driving them, particularly those with the ■■■■■■■ 290 / 9-speed Fuller combination. Alas I never got my hands on a LHD unit.
ERF launched the LHD B-series in 1976. It had an 11.6 tonne rear axle and a straight chassis frame. Most of them were exported to the ■■■■■■■ dealership near Rotterdam, Best Truck Imports. Surprisingly, not all of them were high-spec long-haulers, some of them having the flat-roofed Jennings sleeper-cab conversion which was basically an extended day-cab. These were mostly for domestic work in Holland (one was registered 57-HB-51, another 32-64-TB). Three more went to De Vos in Holland. One Jennings sleeper went to Vermeulen in Holland as a 6x4 on construction work and spent most of its time as a ballasted tractor (30-19-XB). An Irish operator, Kevin Smullen, ran one of these Jennings units (PZW 207) on European work.
The rest had full ERF SP sleeper cabs. This attractive full-width cab comprised a steel frame with reinforced fibre-glass panels. Dutch haulier, Van Rumpt used one (11-97-XB) on containers. A Swiss outfit called R&R Fries retired a pair of B-series units on snow-plough duties. Van Steenbergen in Belgium ran two (fleet nos. 27 and 45) in their striking red and gold livery on tilt-work. Another Belgian example carried the registration plate ZZA 520. A French-registered unit (1146SJ68) found its way onto the showman’s circuit.
A number of UK-registered B-series units saw service abroad in LHD form with companies like PG Horridge (BMB 447W), Brown-Wharrier (whose example went to Trans Arabia), and Game International (DWN 618Y). An ERF demonstrator with a 350 ■■■■■■■ (WFM 734W) also saw European work.
Inevitably, some of these ended up on the Middle-East run, notably those run by Eric Vick (one was registered YRF 823S). Another of theirs was the only known LHD B-series with a Gardner 300 in existence; it had started life with a 350 ■■■■■■■ and had a tag-axle (TAF 365). Nick Bull, operating under the name Overland, ran a LHD unit (EWR 112Y) with a very long wheel-base and a tag-axle, specialising in the recovery of units and/trailers from the TIR-trail; it also had an upright stack, roof-mounted air-conditioning, massive fuel tanks and a camel bar. This vehicle was previously run by Millfield Horbury of Wakefield alongside another LHD unit (EWR 111Y) which was similarly kitted out with Kaisor air-conditioning and camel bar. Euroroute of Northampton had one example (PMJ 891W) with a tag-axle that saw Middle-East work and was eventually converted into a wrecker operated by Mason & Darlow. GVH had one with a roof-mounted air-conditioner, coupled to a tilt trailer with a belly-tank, which looked as if it had done Middle East. Manadient ran a plain white LHD B-series (PNV 486V) to the Gulf on ‘fridge work, which went to Gammond’s where it acquired an unusual mid-lift axle — it later went to Drake.
Arguably the most spectacular LHD B-series units went to the Arabian Peninsula to serve on ‘internals’. Notably, Trans Arabia ran two B-series with Kirkstall double-drive, 9-speed Fullers and ■■■■■■■ 290 lumps (nos. 122 and 144). These had Kirkstall D65 axles with a Hendrickson single spring bogie. Three or four other 6x4s with Hendrickson rear bogies joined the fleet, having been converted by S Jones from cut down eight-wheelers and given new sleeper cabs (these may not be strictly classifiable as ‘Europeans’ though the cabs may qualify). They also had four 4x2 units with 290s, 13-speed Fullers and Kirkstall D85 rear axles supplied in 1978 and were believed to have been a cancelled Swiss order, which qualifies them as ‘Europeans’. All Trans Arabia B-series ERFs undertook road-train duties grossing up to 100 tonnes. These vehicles also did international runs into Kuwait and the Emirates. Another two impressive units ran with ■■■■■■■ 350s out of Damman in Saudi, also with 9-speed Fuller and double-drive, for Star Commercials. And another similarly spec’d 6x4 with ■■■■■■■ 350 ran out of Damman for Caravan Trucking. These too were fitted with the Kirkstall/Hendrickson rear axle set-up and were all fully kitted out with air-conditioning units, stone-guards, sump-guards, camel bars, long-range tanks and visors. Six more similar units, with ■■■■■■■ 350s and 9-speed Fullers went to CAMEL (Cunard Arabian Middle-East Line) in Jeddah. Robert
robert1952:
Inevitably, some of these ended up on the Middle-East run, notably those run by Eric Vick (one was registered YRF 823S). Another of theirs was the only known LHD B-series with a Gardner 300 in existence; it had started life with a 350 ■■■■■■■ and had a tag-axle (TAF 365).
Lets clear up a little confusion here: YRF823S & TAF365 was one and the same truck. The tag axle and Gardner engine were fitted during it’s working life at the same time Eric started using private plates, mainly ending in EV. By taking the first number of the reg you had 1 to 9 EV:- 101EV 2570EV 9500EV and so on. TAF365 he allegedly bought for Bob Saunders, who originated from Pembrokeshire, who politely declined to have it on his truck so it was given to Irish Chris instead. 
That’s what’s known as a euphemism
zzarbean:
robert1952:
Inevitably, some of these ended up on the Middle-East run, notably those run by Eric Vick (one was registered YRF 823S). Another of theirs was the only known LHD B-series with a Gardner 300 in existence; it had started life with a 350 ■■■■■■■ and had a tag-axle (TAF 365).Lets clear up a little confusion here: YRF823S & TAF365 was one and the same truck. The tag axle and Gardner engine were fitted during it’s working life at the same time Eric started using private plates, mainly ending in EV. By taking the first number of the reg you had 1 to 9 EV:- 101EV 2570EV 9500EV and so on. TAF365 he allegedly bought for Bob Saunders, who originated from Pembrokeshire, who politely declined to have it on his truck so it was given to Irish Chris instead.
That’s what’s known as a euphemism
We’re known as ‘Little Englanders’ down here in Pembrokeshire ya know - might be why Mr Saunders refused TAF?!
sime17:
zzarbean:
robert1952:
Inevitably, some of these ended up on the Middle-East run, notably those run by Eric Vick (one was registered YRF 823S). Another of theirs was the only known LHD B-series with a Gardner 300 in existence; it had started life with a 350 ■■■■■■■ and had a tag-axle (TAF 365).Lets clear up a little confusion here: YRF823S & TAF365 was one and the same truck. The tag axle and Gardner engine were fitted during it’s working life at the same time Eric started using private plates, mainly ending in EV. By taking the first number of the reg you had 1 to 9 EV:- 101EV 2570EV 9500EV and so on. TAF365 he allegedly bought for Bob Saunders, who originated from Pembrokeshire, who politely declined to have it on his truck so it was given to Irish Chris instead.
That’s what’s known as a euphemism
We’re known as ‘Little Englanders’ down here in Pembrokeshire ya know - might be why Mr Saunders refused TAF?!
Mr Saunders had informed us of that fact many times 
zzarbean:
robert1952:
Inevitably, some of these ended up on the Middle-East run, notably those run by Eric Vick (one was registered YRF 823S). Another of theirs was the only known LHD B-series with a Gardner 300 in existence; it had started life with a 350 ■■■■■■■ and had a tag-axle (TAF 365).Lets clear up a little confusion here: YRF823S & TAF365 was one and the same truck. The tag axle and Gardner engine were fitted during it’s working life at the same time Eric started using private plates, mainly ending in EV. By taking the first number of the reg you had 1 to 9 EV:- 101EV 2570EV 9500EV and so on. TAF365 he allegedly bought for Bob Saunders, who originated from Pembrokeshire, who politely declined to have it on his truck so it was given to Irish Chris instead.
That’s what’s known as a euphemism
Great stuff, Zzarbean, thanks for that: this is precisely why I opened this thread, to clear up some of these anomolies! Pic of the ‘offending’ truck below. Robert:)
Commercial Motor Mag’.
Good photos of Millfied Horbury. I knew Trevor and Terry very well, such an untimely death.
Jeff…
Both were big Gardner men
