More great pics Graham. Out of intrest the E.G.Nissen and the Total Oil beavers both seem to have long
wheel bases for tractor units. Were they built long for more stability due to the rough terrain they would
be used on ?
Piece out of a book about Leyland.
Click on pages twice to read.
DEANB:
More great pics Graham. Out of intrest the E.G.Nissen and the Total Oil beavers both seem to have long
wheel bases for tractor units. Were they built long for more stability due to the rough terrain they would
be used on ?Piece out of a book about Leyland.
Click on pages twice to read.
1
0
Hello DEAN, in the UK we were always governed by restrictive overall length dimensions that governed the length of the tractor unit wheelbase. Pre-1964 C&U regs a typical tractor unit wheelbase was 8’ 0". After 1965 it was 9’ 6", but Australian regs were nowhere near as restrictive. So in the period of these photos a Beaver in the UK would have as standard a wheelbase of 9’ 6", but the Aussies could go for longer lengths. At that time they were more concerned about “bridge loading weight” regulations, hence so many three axle Beavers. The UK export tractor units also had 11 or 12 tons (depending on country exported to) rear axles on the max weight tractor units, whereas in the UK they were 10 ton axles. You will also have noted that nearly all the exported models had multi-ratio gearboxes, an option that was available in the UK, but rarely specified by parsimonious hauliers here.
gingerfold:
DEANB:
More great pics Graham. Out of intrest the E.G.Nissen and the Total Oil beavers both seem to have long
wheel bases for tractor units. Were they built long for more stability due to the rough terrain they would
be used on ?Piece out of a book about Leyland.
Click on pages twice to read.
1
0
Hello DEAN, in the UK we were always governed by restrictive overall length dimensions that governed the length of the tractor unit wheelbase. Pre-1964 C&U regs a typical tractor unit wheelbase was 8’ 0". After 1965 it was 9’ 6", but Australian regs were nowhere near as restrictive. So in the period of these photos a Beaver in the UK would have as standard a wheelbase of 9’ 6", but the Aussies could go for longer lengths. At that time they were more concerned about “bridge loading weight” regulations, hence so many three axle Beavers. The UK export tractor units also had 11 or 12 tons (depending on country exported to) rear axles on the max weight tractor units, whereas in the UK they were 10 ton axles. You will also have noted that nearly all the exported models had multi-ratio gearboxes, an option that was available in the UK, but rarely specified by parsimonious hauliers here.
Thanks for clarifying ,good stuff keep them coming ! 
That’s all I have, so any contributions will be welcome
The fleet of yellow Leylands were operated from Karamea on the West Coast of the South Island,A remote part of NZ with only one road in and the same road out. They were run by a real character called Richard ‘Faulty’ Lowe,so called because of his ability to nut off like Basil Faulty!
Here’s another pic of one of Faulty’s hard working Ergos. It’s an Aussie assembled ‘Light Weight Hippo’ These were quite a truck in their day,fitted with a turbo 690 with a ten speed pneumocyclic self changing box with a light weight Albion back end. You fellas didn’t get these.
Next up another of Faulty’s tippers,this time a ‘Super Bison’ As far as I can tell these were an NZ ‘Special’ assembled here by Leyland Motors NZ. Standard spec for these were the high datum cab,690 turbo motor with a 13 speed Fuller and a light weight Albion back end. These were a good truck in their time with the 690 @ 240 horse. This truck has been fitted with a front panel from an AEC. Credit to Stu Mitchell for these photos.
This is the same Super Bison as above,but before Faulty had it, Here it has the original front panel.
NZ JAMIE:
The fleet of yellow Leylands were operated from Karamea on the West Coast of the South Island,A remote part of NZ with only one road in and the same road out. They were run by a real character called Richard ‘Faulty’ Lowe,so called because of his ability to nut off like Basil Faulty!Here’s another pic of one of Faulty’s hard working Ergos. It’s an Aussie assembled ‘Light Weight Hippo’ These were quite a truck in their day,fitted with a turbo 690 with a ten speed pneumocyclic self changing box with a light weight Albion back end. You fellas didn’t get these.
2
Next up another of Faulty’s tippers,this time a ‘Super Bison’ As far as I can tell these were an NZ ‘Special’ assembled here by Leyland Motors NZ. Standard spec for these were the high datum cab,690 turbo motor with a 13 speed Fuller and a light weight Albion back end. These were a good truck in their time with the 690 @ 240 horse. This truck has been fitted with a front panel from an AEC. Credit to Stu Mitchell for these photos.
1
This is the same Super Bison as above,but before Faulty had it, Here it has the original front panel.
0
Thanks for that Jamie, I was 99% certain his name was Lowe, but I didn’t want to quote it in case I was wrong.
These in OZ with permission and thanks to Richard Mohr.
Oily
Theres been some cracking pics and info posted on this thread.
Intresting article about 2 Rotinoffs.
Click on pages twice to read.
DEANB:
Theres been some cracking pics and info posted on this thread.Intresting article about 2 Rotinoffs.
Click on pages twice to read.
Excellent finds Deano Gingerfold NZ Jamie Oily it certainly looks like the ergomatics were very much suited to NZ conditions,
The Rotinoffs are now at the National Transport Hall of Fame one has been fully restored i think the other has been cannibalised to help in the rebuild and there is also the !934 AEC all wheel drive that used to pull 3 or 4 trailers around the outback.
Cheers Dig
DIG:
DEANB:
Theres been some cracking pics and info posted on this thread.
Intresting article about 2 Rotinoffs.Excellent finds Deano Gingerfold NZ Jamie Oily it certainly looks like the ergomatics were very much suited to NZ conditions,
The Rotinoffs are now at the National Transport Hall of Fame one has been fully restored i think the other has been cannibalised to help in the rebuild and there is also the !934 AEC all wheel drive that used to pull 3 or 4 trailers around the outback.Cheers Dig
Thanks alot for the information and photos Dig. Its great to see that one surived which is amazing
considering how few were built. 
Can you imagine how loud that fan would be in the AEC ‘Road Train’!
Those were tough blokes who drove this.
NZ JAMIE:
Can you imagine how loud that fan would be in the AEC ‘Road Train’!Those were tough blokes who drove this.
They certainly must have been Jamie apart from the noise what about on a cool day or night Tough indeed.
Heres another old timer this truck has now been fully restored and is in The Adelaide area.It did the mail run from Maree to Birdsville for a number of years owned by the the Legendry Tom Kruise.{The Oz model who really was tough] It appeared in a film in 1954 made by the Shell Oil company I.m not sure if its on Utube but I have a dvd so it is obtainable its called The Back Of Beyond.
The truck was/is a Beaver but it had a Thornycroft bogey drive assembly installed in it at some time in its life.
Cheers Dig
DEANB:
Super Comet from 1966.Click on page once to read.
0
That is a really good looking truck.
Dig
DIG:
DEANB:
Theres been some cracking pics and info posted on this thread.Intresting article about 2 Rotinoffs.
Click on pages twice to read.
Excellent finds Deano Gingerfold NZ Jamie Oily it certainly looks like the ergomatics were very much suited to NZ conditions,
The Rotinoffs are now at the National Transport Hall of Fame one has been fully restored i think the other has been cannibalised to help in the rebuild and there is also the !934 AEC all wheel drive that used to pull 3 or 4 trailers around the outback.
Cheers Dig
Dig, heres another bit about those 2 Rotinoffs ! 
Click on page twice to read.
This old girl is parked in a quiet corner of the Sydney bus museum
AEC in New Zealand.
