marathon number1
marathon1975:
marathon number1
Was it built as a DD unit as per the shot or was it origionally a 4X2 unit? Cheers Bewick.
I’m currently midway through a painting featuring this truck, ( Marathon 001 ) It was the truck which eventually pulled John Williams out of a ditch on Tahir, where he’d been stuck for four weeks, The truck was on its way back from Tehran being driven by Jeff Ruggins ( Astran), and ( ■■■■ Rivers ) British Leyland…
Bewick, it was built as a 6x4, with a 335 ■■■■■■■ I believe
Jerry
there was 3 demo trucks built 6x4 double sleeper left hand drive also a 4x2 double sleeper and a day cab 4x2 all can be seen on southall twilight .
Thanks for the info Jerry and Marathon! although I never rated, or was remotely interested in, Leyland group products, it is ,nevertheless,always interesting to learn about individual vehicles such as these first Marathons.Cheers Bewick.
some more pics
G’Day Marathon1975
Here’s a couple original state photo’s of Leyland Serial No: 001 - WTJ120L in it’s early days.
On this trip to Tehran & back, the Marathon was operated by Astran (then Asian Transport) in 1974 - after Sir Donald Stokes had built Leylands answer to European trucks and asked why TIR hauliers used Euro trucks!
The Marathon was, indeed, driven by Jeff Ruggins & ■■■■ Snow (their initials might be seen on the 2nd photo in the dirt)and was pulling my TIR hire trailer on route UK to Tehran and back… Photo’s are taken by an intrepid cameraman who accompanied the convoy.
The journey wasn’t without events, as usual ! I believe the waterpump failed by the time the truck reached France, with a wait for Leyland replacement, then the wheel arches had to be “cut & modified” to accommodate snowchains.
Bewick asks if it was originally a 4 x 2 - it’s pretty new here in 1974 as a 6 x 4
If current owner wants photo’s for his history - please pm me
Regards from Queensland, Australia - the sunshine state
Some more pictures from various Leyland brochures.
We had one Marathon2 with the TL12 and then replaced it with a Roadtrain TL12
All AECs with Leyland badges and dodgy rear axles
OzzyHugh:
Sorry Marathon1975 -Better photo’s this time ?
.
in that middle black and white pic I think the driver is giving us a “harvey smith” or a reverse winston churchill don`t ya just love it
I do believe the current owner has not informed dvla of the colour change 
The enquiry is complete
The vehicle details for WTJ 120L are:
Date of Liability 01 12 2011
Date of First Registration 14 03 1973
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 0CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Heavy Oil
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour GREEN
Vehicle Type Approval
Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £90.75
12 Months Rate £165.00
Cheers Paul. 
I still think they were the smartest of the big English motors of the time just a shame they put the L word on the front and spoilt them
OzzyHugh nice pic mate all ready have them but scanner broke so thats’s why i did not put them also have photos of wtj 120l with tape coverin the leyland letters on the front before it was released.
marathon1975:
some more on the first marathons
It was a tidy truck for the era same as the transcon,shame it all went ■■■■ up,but that’s Great Britain for ya eh!!!.
Its Lovely to see WTJ120l Restored.
My father (Tony Morgan) bought her direct off Leyland in oldbury.
He had her on demonstration from CVC Sales in cardiff - The rep was Ralph Porter. He said he cwanted it as it was considered very powerfull with the ■■■■■■■ 335 fitted. If we look hard enough we might even find the invoice!
The old man had a lift to the factory with Sid Evans in a J & M Volvo. Straight from Oldbury down to Taskers to collect a new 66 Ton trailer. I remember she was a flyer and would easily do 75 mph. He thinks it was late 1974.
My father drove her for a while and was then handed over to Doug Randall (Big Doug) and was probably one of the hardest working trucks he ever owned.
She had a new cab fitted in the late 80`s and had a fair overall and was put back to work on bogey work with costain concrete. This restoration took place with a lot of help & wiring from John Griffiths ( Smiths enterprices).
I sold her Mark Thompson on the proviso that if he ever sold it I would get first refusal. he was certainly not honourable in any way & what goes around comes around!
We have loads of pictures and hundreds of stories about the old girl. I actually asked a friend in Leominster to see if I could buy her back but Im pleased she is in good hands and has been restored. 
marathon1975:
there was 3 demo trucks built 6x4 double sleeper left hand drive also a 4x2 double sleeper and a day cab 4x2 all can be seen on southall twilight .
Is that the one with the film of ■■■■ Rivers and the actor George Layton ? 
double manning to Itie, or was it Spain?
Kin corny film or what
Seem to remember the 4X2 day cab was driven to Sweden by a pipe smoking gent? . . . gotta dig the dvd out and have a look 