where did you pick those tractors up from dennis,what make were they,?County or Northrop. 
shirtbox2003:
where did you pick those tractors up from dennis,what make were they,?County or Northrop.
I can’t readily remember but I think they were Fords so were probably County’s,we hauled all kinds of tractors and plant over the years and those tractors would have come up from the South I’m sure,sorry I’m not much help.Cheers Dennis.
Dennis , you are right in them being Fords . They are most certainly not Countys . Although County Commercial Cars built most of its tractors on Ford skid units , unfortunately by the time the tractors pictured were released in late 85 , County were no more , having gone into receivership in 1983 .
As an aside , it was County who did the 6 wheel conversions on the Thames Trader , & I believe some early 6 wheeler D series before Ford took it in house .
As stated , tractors pictured were late 85 new releases , so photo will be very late 85 or 86 vintage .
If collected directly from factory , again you are correct in from somewhere south , Ford tractors were built in Basildon , & same factory today is still making tractors although now by New Holland .
I got a bit of a mouthful from one of the union men in Ford’s one day.
I had been used to the odd return load from Massey Ferguson where we used to load the tractors across the trailer bed. At the Ford plant I positioned myself alongside the loading dock ready for loading when the chaps came back from yet another break. I was told that I had two minutes to turn the lorry with it’s rear end up to the bay or get off the site altogether. I thought it best not to argue that the tractors were only little 4000s and that I could get almost twice as many on by turning them around!
A Berliet from north of the border, cheers Buzzer.
but now ill think it,s gone too fahr ,not even french have right to do so ugly design,s ,dheers benkku
Buzzer:
A Berliet from north of the border, cheers Buzzer.
This was a Renault demo we were persuaded to try in the mid 80’s shot here in the depot one Sunday lunch time ready to run South ugh ugh ugh 
Buzzer:
A Berliet from north of the border, cheers Buzzer.
Evening all, Buzzer, that TR305 that Ian Pollock ran did really well, I think that they actually ran a few of them. Just before Ian took that one on, I spent a couple of hours with him, trying to have a deal with him…on a Dinky Supertoys Foden FG 8 wheeler that was on a shelf, (in Pollocks livery), in his office !!! I left without the Foden, and told him that he had to buy a Berliet! I think that George Stewart at Larbet supplied it, (with loads of discount no doubt)!
There were a load of photographs taken of that unit, my favourite, (and the one that hung on my office wall in Paris, Marseille, Milan, Allentown,and Dallas, and still on the barn wall here at the farm)!, was from the nearside, with the unit turning right, still with that wonderfully netted load of Whisky Barrels…I used to get lots of interest from anyone who saw it, (remember very few of our European neighbours, or let alone our transatlantic cousins can even grasp the concept of holding a load down secure with rope, net, or sheets!!!
Beautiful livery, nice company, but I never let Ian know how many Berliet/Renaults his immaculate example sold for me across the world…he would have wanted a commission!!!1
Dennis, the biggest problem with the Maxi-Couple engine in the TRs was driver discipline…leave the revs alone, and let the engine lug. Couple that with the insistence of the UK management at Renault Truck and Bus at sunny downtown Dunstable…NOT to spec the correct axle ratio for the UK. The axle used “peaked” at 56mph, at 1800 rpm…in a market that had the highest road speed for lorries in Europe!!! The next ratio up gave , (at 38tonnes), 1in4 gradeability, and 72mph at 2000 rpm, 60mph came up at 1750, bang on the torque curve.
I remember a rather unfortunate dinner in Lyon with the head of Marketing for the UK operation, when I explained that to do any good in the UK he needed to change the specification of the TR305s axle,(as it would be too slow for the UK Motorway speeds, and penalise fuel consumption) and he told me that most would be used in Europe where speeds were lower!!! Really it was like trying to reason with a black bin liner full of cold custard!!!
The net result, when demos were tried by fleets where the work involved Motorway trunking, the engine was working out of its economy band, and lets face it did we not all hate anything that was working flat out to do a normal job? I know that I always did!
But after all, my “adversary”, was proud to tell all who would listen that he was an ex Leyland Graduate Manager…I was proud to tell him I was an ex lorry driver!!!
Cheerio for now…no rain today…Snowdrops out…but so are the Daiseys, and that Gentlemen a`int right, no sir!
I feel the need for a Bollinger…
Bewick:
I’ll get the night trunker to drop you one of these baby’s off to-night Dave,we only signed for twoCheers Dennis.
Den…don’t know what happened to your night trucker, ( wasn’t old Carryfast was it ? ) too much vin rouge and Brie I’m guessing, or he may have bumped into Fifi somewhere…Either way, this turned up-day, and he dropped me one off,
couldn’t say no could I…
This weeks… “French lorry of the week” is…
Over to Saviem and Michel for all the details…s.v.p…
Just to prove that Mappo wasn’t the only one to drive a Marathon, and Leyland sold at least one to the French…is Mappo’s French counterpart…
And one for Saviem…
Fergie47:
Bewick:
I’ll get the night trunker to drop you one of these baby’s off to-night Dave,we only signed for twoDen…don’t know what happened to your night trucker, ( wasn’t old Carryfast was it ? ) too much vin rouge and Brie I’m guessing, or he may have bumped into Fifi somewhere…Either way, this turned up-day, and he dropped me one off,
couldn’t say no could I…
No, sorry Dave,“CF” jacked in before he even started,refused point blank to drive the Invincible 180 ■■■■■■■■■■■■ though I pointed out to him that it had a “wireless”,■■■ lighter and heater 
Anyway,glad you got the “big tractor”,now Dave,looking at your pristine field you’ll have to be extra careful driving that 4x4 especially when turning at the ends or you’ll gouge ruts a foot deep,I’ve had a word with “Saviem” and with him been a “Big Wheel” tractor man from the Shropshire prairies he has offerd to come over and give you a few(very few ) lessons but maybe a tractor of this quality may be superior to the foreign rubbish he uses currently Bung him a couple of cases of “rough” he’ll never know the difference 
Cheers Dennis.
Fergie47:
Just to prove that Mappo wasn’t the only one to drive a Marathon, and Leyland sold at least one to the French…is Mappo’s French counterpart…
Go on, then- I’ll be the first…
IS THE DRIVER A NANCY BOY 
Fergie47:
Buzzer:
Fergie47:
WOW…that’s smart Pat…buy it will you…cheques in the post…Now that’s big enough for Madame FIFI and her mate and it’s easily mobile, so it can be driven round the corner to Scania for a service from Tracy Island, Buzzer.
Good plan Buzzer…go halves with Pat will you? …2 cheques in the post…
PS…Pat, could you post the coach on the SAVIEM thread…give the he-she’s summit to get excited about…anyone wanna drive it ?
OK Dave will do
Regards Pat
I will readily admit that these Magnums were two class acts,even our “dyed in the wool” Scania drivers acknowledged the fact,obviously the roomy cabs were a giant plus as far as our Euro drivers were concerned,but they also performed well and were economical into the bargain.When I agreed to take delivery of a couple Monsuier? Momin MD of Renault UK likened the achievment to “swimming the Channel” he was so delighted to have got a couple of his flagship motors into what was a predominantly Scania fleet 
However,regardless of the metal and rubber involved Bernard Momin was and no doubt still is a thorough Gentleman ( far too nice for a Frenchman 
) he was a declared Anglophile,whereas “Saviem” is very much a Francophile 
Cheers Bewick.
Fergie47,your French truck of the week is a typical Swiss one with its V8 engine.
In Suresnes,Saurer only built 4 and 6 cylinder motors…
michel:
Fergie47,your French truck of the week is a typical Swiss one with its V8 engine.
In Suresnes,Saurer only built 4 and 6 cylinder motors…
Michel…Whooops, kind of French-ish truck though…“Frenswiss” sort of wagon…
I’ll do better next time !!
Den…Those Magnums always looked the bee’s…but your fleet colours really show them off…classic of the the future perhaps, if I had a bit of spare cash I’d get one while they’re still cheap…
Went on a Renault test day at Millbrook, they had the V8 Mack and the semi auto box on test as well as the std one…nice wagons.
Use to collect and deliver a Magnum for service from a customer, always took the long way around…loverleeeeee… 
Purchased for us by Buzzer and Ainacs to assist the ladies in their campaign work.
I’ve contacted the minister of Finance, who is a little concerned about the running costs, compared with the Solex, as well as the original purchase, for which there are cheques in the post B & A .(bet you’ve both heard that one before)
He has indicated that perhaps the “ladies” rates will have to increase to 15 franc’s per hr from the original 10 f.p.h. I’ve told him that if can find anyone willing to pay even 10 fph he’s on a winner, let alone 15 f. I’ve left him with it, it’s a financial problem, not a M.O.B. one……nicely side stepped there I feel…I’m learning this Ministry lark…blame everyone else !
The Bad news…
Foofoo and Mimi failed to turn up yesterday for work, something about dodgy permits….That leaves just Fifi and Baa-bra to cope …this is not good news.
I’ve interviewed a few more ladies, ( see their glamour photo’s below) I don’t think that they are really what I was looking for, but if any of you fancy one…or two, let me know, I’ll give ‘em a start…
I really don’t think I’m very good at this job……I wouldn’t mind a transfer to another Ministry, but will continue till Saviem finds a more lucrative position for me, preferably a vertical as opposed to a horizontal one…or…If Charlie’s not too busy guarding Tracy Island, he might like to pop over and give us a hand….hard work this testing business.
Here’s the latest applicants :-
Yes, I can see that les francais would probably be keen on those.