Slow speed manoeuvering was right pain without power steering, and the yard was a blind-side reverse to park!
At 70mph the steering was light enough, true, but 1970’s tyres?
I did it then with no fear, but would not be happy about it today.
Slow speed manoeuvering was right pain without power steering, and the yard was a blind-side reverse to park!
At 70mph the steering was light enough, true, but 1970’s tyres?
I did it then with no fear, but would not be happy about it today.
I reckon a Ford Thames.
I’ve told you before, you have to blip the throttle in concert with each tug on the wheel.
My guess is those McDonalds 3600’s were probably running at well under 30 tonnes gross.
All without limiters.The Irish and independent Express finally met more than their match.Who needs planes.
Not sure about ze Germans Ro their truck speed limit has always been a laughably low 80kmh.Maybe they moaned about the 90kmh limiter setting and an overtaking ban was introduced to stop 90 kmh being used.
Yep.
Standing up, and blipping throttle (bottom hinged!) whilst pulling on the wheel to get some angle on.
Good point about the tyres. Even in the '80s in lorries that would fly, I would hold back if it wasn’t my regular steed, as I didn’t want to ‘throw a tread’ at 70+ mph
You Johnny come latelies, '80s? I’m talking about the '60s when the world was young and everything worked perfectly, including the tyres
And nobody mention tubed tyres with split rim wheels…
Truly horrible.
OK, a tubeless on a solid wheel can be dangerous with a bit of effort, but the split rims needed no encouragement to kill you.
I didn’t have much to do with them, and am grateful for that.
9.00 or 10.00 x 20 rags on split or trilux rims, but we were young and invincible.
80’s were as good as it ever got.The best combination of engine power and power steering, suspension seats as standard and no limiters.Also as shown plenty of operators using 300 hp + 38t spec units for 32t or less, max work.
Going by the alien speed regime and resulting dumbed down driving that I see now I think modern drivers couldn’t handle the 1980’s speed regime whether cars or trucks.While the 1960’s were dominated by Gardner powered wagons which by default enforced a similar truck speed regime as we see now in lane 1 and often 2.
Strangely, both those lorries appear to be disporting wartime white edges to the mudguards, on the front ones anyway. Did they know something everybody else didn’t, 13 years ahead of time?
I think those mudguards are just lined out in white (not uncommon in the '20s / '30s) as opposed to being painted white for wartime blackout driving.
I would sacrifice a limb to have a go in one of those, IMO it’s proper lorry driving. I’m old, I’m 'old school, I am not a fan of the modern 5/6/700 hp all look alike,all mod. con. motors. An old AEC, Atki, Leyland, would suit me nicely.
From the days when sign writers would also pin-stripe, and set off vehicles appearance.
The painted on tartan on some Scots vehicles was a step further on than a simple line or two of course.
Lining out and pin-striping being basically the same thing, of course: you might notice that the cab doors are also lined out with pin-striping .
I agree. The C-series ERF has remained my firm favourite down the 38 years since I last drove one!