LHD Leyland Marathons

[robert1952]

Saviem:
Evening all, just a few thoughts on the dear old Marathon in LHD form.

French operators were quite receptive to the TL12 Marathon. Leyland started to arrive at a reasonable Dealer network. Many being ex, or existing operators, and the delivered price for a sleeper was very competitive , around 6-7 k below the equivalent TR Berliet/Renault. The chassis price was not a “dump” rate, but reflected the true factory gate, plus transport, (Walon distributed for Leyland in France), plus Dealer margin.

The marketed range was to stretch from the Ital, and Sherpa Van, via Terrier, and other , “Redline” products through to the Marathon, so any potential Dealer had a range of product to go at . A viable package to potentially run a Dealership on .

The only real complaint about the Marathon in France concerned isolated instances of high oil consumption on the TL12, and sadly the elongated warranty procedures, when there was a defect. Generally the Marathon acquitted itself quite well in the market place, and paved the way for the T45 range.

Roberts picture of the Giraud, of Sonnay, Nr Rousillon Marathon, and T45 is a case that illustrates the point. Girauds, founded in the 50s, and run by Marc Girauds sons, Michel, Phillipe, and Yves, with a fleet strength of around 40 plus in the late 70s, ran 2 TL12 Marathons, a Mastiff, and a Terrier, all supplied by Leylands agent in Valence. Good service led to the acquisition of, (if my memory is correct), a further 8 T45`s with the “Flexitorque” TL12. And this trend was followed in many other medium French fleets.

But the standard T45 engine for France was to become the Rolls Royce, and universally the big Leyland was refered to as the Rolls Royce! Much of the success of Leyland in France was down to the management of the operation by Roger Dougherty, 1982-1985, and exploiting the foundation in the market place formed by the Marathon.

As there is a specific thread for LHD T45`s, I will finish my ramblings over there

Cheerio for now

Thank you for these insights, Saviem! Here is a reminder of the Giraud vehicles to which you referred. Robert

[zb_anorak]

Saviem:
Evening all, just a few thoughts on the dear old Marathon in LHD form.

French operators were quite receptive to the TL12 Marathon. Leyland started to arrive at a reasonable Dealer network. Many being ex, or existing operators, and the delivered price for a sleeper was very competitive , around 6-7 k below the equivalent TR Berliet/Renault. The chassis price was not a “dump” rate, but reflected the true factory gate, plus transport, (Walon distributed for Leyland in France), plus Dealer margin…

Cheerio for now

Good grief- how was a 6k(I assume pounds, but even 6,000 FF would have been a considerable discount on a tractor unit in the late 1970s) difference not “dumping”?

By the way, bonne année!

[johnxl70]

Me parked at the Londra Camp in 1982 on my way back from Kuwait,with 2 French Marathons

[robert1952]

Here’s another LHD Marathon parked up at Londra-Camp. Robert

[robert1952]

[robert1952]

Clearly a Middle-East spec Marathon, of Elliots of Peterborough; and the pic is of interest to this thread. It is currently on ebay. Robert

[stevejones]

hi robert love seeing them brs overland marathons my cousin worked there from the beginning johnny bland from npton think it was lnu139p gr8 pics m8

[robert1952]

stevejones:
hi robert love seeing them brs overland marathons my cousin worked there from the beginning johnny bland from npton think it was lnu139p gr8 pics m8

Enjoy! And add any new material you find to the thread! Robert

[stevejones]

will do tks m8

[lczjs]

They are good photographs of the BRS Marathons. However as I remember them running to the M/E
they seemed to have lots of mechanical problems sitting at the side of the road with cabs tilted
It was a bit of a joke at the time to see who was first to see a BRS marathon without the cab being up.
Some marathons seemed to be up to the job maybe it was down to good maintenance before each trip.

[robert1952]

lczjs:
They are good photographs of the BRS Marathons. However as I remember them running to the M/E
they seemed to have lots of mechanical problems sitting at the side of the road with cabs tilted
It was a bit of a joke at the time to see who was first to see a BRS marathon without the cab being up.
Some marathons seemed to be up to the job maybe it was down to good maintenance before each trip.

Reading around the threads, it seems that most people would agree with you. But it did rather depend on which version of the Marathon you drove (I never drove one, by the way). I think I would have wanted a Marathon 2 with the ■■■■■■■ option along with the standard 9-speed Fuller (the stick of which was very well positioned next to the driver). Robert

[stevejones]

i drove a mk2 marathon on boughton cold store n/pton bit of a shaker but she flew ■■■■■■■ i think my cousin drove 4 brs overland from begining to end doing iran/saudi later on we talked about the marathon it rarely broke down but silly little things all the time but when i was 13 he took me on a milk run as he called it to nurenberg and back to a 13 yr old truck mad kid it was heaven she never missed a beat 8yrs later i was driving one and took great delight telling my cousin

[robert1952]

stevejones:
i drove a mk2 marathon on boughton cold store n/pton bit of a shaker but she flew ■■■■■■■ i think my cousin drove 4 brs overland from begining to end doing iran/saudi later on we talked about the marathon it rarely broke down but silly little things all the time but when i was 13 he took me on a milk run as he called it to nurenberg and back to a 13 yr old truck mad kid it was heaven she never missed a beat 8yrs later i was driving one and took great delight telling my cousin

I can completely relate to your tale: it must have been a marvellous moment to climb into that Marathon! I must admit, I’d love to drive one if only to decide for myself what they were like. Robert

[stevejones]

ye tks robert it wasa the full package swivel seat passenger side sink under bed cooker fridge i remember 1st delivery on way to germany in belgium while waiting on private land he said you watched me long enough see if u can just move her a little way round yard and of course in ijumped and that was my first 100yds 31yrs later and still putting the pedal down lol iv got 3pics of our kid down in iran and saudi when work it out i put them on here while he was in marathon when brs ended he stayed on m/e for biffo at funstons

[stevejones]

[ robert this is my 1st attempt this is my cousin down in the sand lol

[stevejones]

hopefully on right forum this time my cousin in saudi or iran i was passenger in this one when i was thirteen what a trip

[robert1952]

stevejones:
0hopefully on right forum this time my cousin in saudi or iran i was passenger in this one when i was thirteen what a trip

Bravo. Good pic! Robert

[stevejones]

tks robert when i visit uk i get some of my n.africa pics sorted out

[robert1952]

Some more LHD Marathon pictures. Anyone know what’s going on in the first picture: it’s clearly a Middle-East export model. The second picture is just a still from Destination Doha. Robert

[deanb]

Leyland advert,and whilst the first pic shows right hand drive the second shows left hand drive.

You may need to click on pics to read as they scan over slightly out of focus.