Circus wagons…
Old battered Saurer…but RHD on French plates…story there ?
Wasn’t that Saurer for sale on the “Bon Coin” website recently?
Froggy55:
Wasn’t that Saurer for sale on the “Bon Coin” website recently?
Dunno, I only go on for motos and parts !!..wonder why it was LHD, maybe a cancelled order, guess we’ll never know…
Fergie47:
Froggy55:
Wasn’t that Saurer for sale on the “Bon Coin” website recently?Dunno, I only go on for motos and parts !!..wonder why it was LHD, maybe a cancelled order, guess we’ll never know…
I think you mean RHD, Fergie! If it was a cancelled order, it may have been for Italy as they used to like RHD lorries the better to see over the precipices in the mountains. I doubt if it would have been ordered in UK in those days. Robert
robert1952:
Fergie47:
Froggy55:
Wasn’t that Saurer for sale on the “Bon Coin” website recently?Dunno, I only go on for motos and parts !!..wonder why it was LHD, maybe a cancelled order, guess we’ll never know…
I think you mean RHD, Fergie! If it was a cancelled order, it may have been for Italy as they used to like RHD lorries the better to see over the precipices in the mountains. I doubt if it would have been ordered in UK in those days. Robert
Old age Robert !!! Yes rhd…good guess Italy…i
Question to the Professor’s…
A lot of the old black / white photos have a wagon with the number plate on one side, and a SEINE. plate on the other…is it just naming the region it was registered in ? if so, why don’t other regions display it. (or do they)…or is there another reason…just interested, have to learn one new thing everyday… 
Fergie47:
Froggy55:
Wasn’t that Saurer for sale on the “Bon Coin” website recently?Dunno, I only go on for motos and parts !!..wonder why it was LHD, maybe a cancelled order, guess we’ll never know…
RHD of course. Almost all Saurer trucks sold in France until 1956 (end of production in Suresnes) were RHD. Don’t ask me why.
Fergie47:
Question to the Professor’s…A lot of the old black / white photos have a wagon with the number plate on one side, and a SEINE. plate on the other…is it just naming the region it was registered in ? if so, why don’t other regions display it. (or do they)…or is there another reason…just interested, have to learn one new thing everyday…
Hiya Fergie,
Yes they all did have the Department displayed on the front of the lorry. It only changed when the registration system changed.
Great pictures, thank you!
Love the Circus ones, that first 12litre TR250 of Pinders has a converted cab to get two bunks inside. Actually those outside built cabs conversions gave a lot more room than the “factory” version, that was simply raised over the bed portion of the cab. Those Relax cabs were beautiful inside, for the first time well trimmed, fairly quiet, (very quiet for the 60s)! and the engine hump was quite low compared to others. Comfortable seating, and for a non tilt cab engine and ancillary access, (via the grill which was actually two doors that opened wide), was not too bad at all.
The 10 litre version was a belter, but the first 12 litres…used to get a bit hot and excited…there was a version of the 4x2 tractor for low loader work with a triple reduction axle! But Berliet, (using Michelins money)! , worked at the problem, and the final TR250s were strong lorries, their M , (Magic…MAN), 635.40, 135x140 250 hp @ 2200 rpm, driving down through ZF AK 680 6 speed plus splitter, and of course running on 1200x20s for its 35 tonne gtw.
I rather liked these Relax cab Berliets, either as tractors, or rigids, (and the 6x2s were very handsome indeed). My friends at Transports SCALEX, (ex Robert Leyx), ran one really impressive 6x4 80 tonner, which was really a TR250, with a GBH bogie tacked onto its short wheelbase…but what a manoueverable, and powerful piece of kit, and that had the “works” high roof to fit two bunks in!..and was leased from Via Truck Rental…a really interesting company, with superb people working for it. SCAC Bollere knew what they were doing when they acquired Robert Leyx`s operation!!
The one French Haulier who seemed to adopt the UK approach of minimising unladen weight to maximise payload, and a major Berliet Relax Cab user was Valence based Transports Borel. They were close to Paul Berliets heart, and when the potential of a major deal with the Bulgarian Transport operation , “Texim” was realised, then Borel were the first company that the Bulgarians were introduced to…Successfull? …well in `69 Texim acquired over 500 TR 250s with Relax cabs!
But some of you will have seen Borel`s operation, no wonder the Bulgarians were impressed, perhaps I should write a little about Borel, …but another night I think…lovely cab that Relax cab!
Cheerio for now.
Froggy55:
Fergie47:
Froggy55:
Wasn’t that Saurer for sale on the “Bon Coin” website recently?Dunno, I only go on for motos and parts !!..wonder why it was LHD, maybe a cancelled order, guess we’ll never know…
RHD of course. Almost all Saurer trucks sold in France until 1956 (end of production in Suresnes) were RHD. Don’t ask me why.
Ah! Of course, there you have the answer. Italy wasn’t the only central European country to favour RHD in the mountains in days of yore: Switzerland was the other country that favoured this practise. Robert
Saviem:
The one French Haulier who seemed to adopt the UK approach of minimising unladen weight to maximise payload, and a major Berliet Relax Cab user was Valence based Transports Borel.
And therein you have a wealth of information about the French attitude to weight and payload. While the Brits (and Germans no doubt) look closely at how much they can legally load on their trucks for fear of fines the French are rather less bothered about such inconveniences. Have a look at the TP sector for instance, there are few eight leggers on the roads but masses of six wheelers and yet they’ll clear a site just as rapidly as a firm back in blighty with the same number of vehicles. I guess I’m not the only contributor here who’s never been weighed in France, with either a UK truck or a local vehicle.
Must have proven quite a challenge to Monsieur Saviem back in the day trying to agree chassis spec with customers when you knew that they were almost certainly going to run outside of their deign weight?
Craig
TR 12 fleet in Borel parking.
Saviem:
I rather liked these Relax cab Berliets, either as tractors, or rigids, (and the 6x2s were very handsome indeed).
Cheerio for now.
Got to agree with you John, the 4 and 6 wheelers looked right, especially with a good fridge body and paintwork…here’s a few…
Hi Dave,
Thanks for all the pics, Here’s my Renault Galion still with the Seine markings on it,spent all it’s life in Paris city centre.
Hope you and Liz are well,we’ll come over soon.
Regfards
Richard
Richard you should get some pigs as that little motor would be good picking up swill from all the tight little places behind pubs and restaurants, Buzzer.
MaggieD:
Hi Dave,Thanks for all the pics, Here’s my Renault Galion still with the Seine markings on it,spent all it’s life in Paris city centre.
Hope you and Liz are well,we’ll come over soon.
Regfards
Richard
That’s one pretty little motor Richard, looks like it could go to work tomorrow… I remember them and similar vans, particularly in the likes of Rungis…an everyday work horse…
Changing the subject … Question for you and Buzzer, in fact any of you hauliers or owner drivers… of all the wagons you ran over the years, is there one that you’d wished you’d kept as a classic… 
Liz is in UK, at Camberley, her father is seriously ill, not looking too good at the moment unfortunately, but, fingers crossed… 
Be nice to see you and Angie over again…