MrFlibble:
[zb] me, you read quickly!
I was reading each day as you posted it, and I had to wait for you to get your finger out after a couple of the shorter days. 
MrFlibble:
[zb] me, you read quickly!
IIRC, I think the truck you were wondering about whether it’s a MAN or a DAF, is a MAN made under licence, but I don’t remember where. Something tells me it’s Austria, but I won’t stick my neck out on this one. They’ve been around for a while, I remember seeing them in the 80’s.
IIRC, MANs were also made under licence in Romania, I believe those were called “Ro-Man” or similar. I used to see plenty of those in Vienna.
There was also a Yugoslavian (as was) version of a Merc that they called “PAL.”
Excellent post BTW.
I thought the Yugo version was called FAP…
GS OVERLAND
Nice one Mr.F.
Good diary as always, Mr Fibble.
Any aid go into Gračanica this time??
Some decent pictures on their again.
The truck pictured is neither a Daf or a Man. It is an OAF which is an austrian built truck from the same stable as Steyr.
Both companies are now owned by MAN but still build specialist trucks in Austria.
GS OVERLAND:
I thought the Yugo version was called FAP…
GS OVERLAND
Maybe you’re right? I wouldn’t stick my neck out on this one.
I remember it had a badge similar to Merc’s three pointed star and there were initials on the badge. Since the badge was circular, it depends where you start reading, but we’ve both got the letters “P” and “A” I reckon. Not bad considering how long ago this was!
The ones I saw were artics that looked very much like a Merc SK, but the front grille, headlights and bumper were a bit different IIRC.
Wheel Nut:
Some decent pictures on their again.The truck pictured is neither a Daf or a Man. It is an OAF which is an austrian built truck from the same stable as Steyr.
Both companies are now owned by MAN but still build specialist trucks in Austria.
Thanks for that Wheel Nut Great pics on the link you gave as well! I remember the ÖAFs being used by fire-brigades and heavy haulage in Austria, but I didn’t know whether they still exist. A little research later…
great read and pics ta mate
marcustandy:
Good diary as always, Mr Fibble.Any aid go into Gra?anica this time??
Not this time (AFAIK). Whilst we would like to be able to help everyone, the realities are that we’re a 10-truck convoy, and Kosovo has a population of 2 million. We tend to alternate the areas where we deliver, so Gracanica will probably get visited in the Autumn.
I see there are some rare and historical photographs among that collection - UK drivers over the water with don’t knock me down vests on. 
Good read and pics
Very good trip diary and thank for photos - Betz @ Yugo motorway
Cheers
dieseldave:
IIRC, I think the truck you were wondering about whether it’s a MAN or a DAF, is a MAN made under licence, but I don’t remember where. Something tells me it’s Austria, but I won’t stick my neck out on this one. They’ve been around for a while, I remember seeing them in the 80’s.
I assumed it was originally a MAN, and someone had played around trying to disguise it as a DAF…
dieseldave:
IIRC, MANs were also made under licence in Romania, I believe those were called “Ro-Man” or similar. I used to see plenty of those in Vienna.
Like this one:
I had assumed that they were just communist era copies.
Coffeeholic:
I see there are some rare and historical photographs among that collection - UK drivers over the water with don’t knock me down vests on.
Yes, we use them during the distribution so we can identify each other when we get large crowds, and when we get locals to help out with the aid allocation, we get them to put them on so that we can distinguish between the ones that are legitimately helping, and those who are not - otherwise, we get completely overrun with “helpers”.
Great read Mr Fibble, Ive been waiting since the easter convoy to read your diary as by chance I was doing a search on google for aid convoys and without realising it came across Hope and aid direct in my searches and I have volunteered for the Autumn convoy and then only after that did i realise that it was the same charity that you have done the runs for. Only tonight did I get a call from Charles to confirm if I was still available to drive 1 of the artics so if you are going on the next convoy due to leave 26 of sept then we shall meet. I will be relying on your experience, although I have driven in those parts before doing aid and Nato supplies to the Bosnian conflict , it is 9 years ago since I was last out that way so I am a bit rusty.
Thanks again
Paul
Interesting read and great pics Mr Fibble.
One word- Fantastic.
GS OVERLAND:
I thought the Yugo version was called FAP…
GS OVERLAND
I couldnt remember the name they used but I broke down with a faulty lift pump near Zagreb. I was fully freighted and a copper stopped this overloaded Merc lookalike rigid and made him tow me off the motorway. He towed me to his uncles farm about 100km away and we fabricated a new diaphragm. I bought him his beer all evening and he fed me at the farm
Then of course there were the DAF lookalike RABA in Hungary although they also used MAN cabs