Having problems in posting to the site, so forgive me for doing this in “drips, and drabs”…(now that is an old expression)!
It was not unusual for the Primeur to run his lorries in the colours of his back load client…for to have a regular one ensured success in business. One that springs to mind was Transports Louis Martin, from Saint Remy de Provence, whose Unic Esterel, 6x2s powered by the Unic 8 litre 160 hp motor , ran in the red, colours of the Margarine producer, Pain!
But for sheer presence, the Primeur that I would choose was the Paris based outfit, (and Market Trader), Mighirian Brothers, all of whose lorries bore the central Paris 75 registration, (even if they were based in Marseille). I spent a very cold night one December in the village of Gamay, under the Cote de Rochepot parked to one of their handsome Berliet GPRK 9.8 litre 180 hp 6x2 bright purple Pinadiers, where we were all held due to the impossible conditions on the Cote, with ice and snow.
The big Berliets were the vehicle that the majority of Pinadiers liked, utterly reliable, with, (back in the 60s), massive power in either 4x2,or 6x2 form, at 180 hp…But then came the new 12 litre, at 240 hp, canted on its side to fit under that Relax cab…and it was not so reliable at all…a bit of a heat problem…
But that is a story for another day…
Cheerio for now.
Hi saviem been meaning to ask you when you were selling atkinsons did you have any dealings with cadwallader bros rodington shropshire we had borderer mk1 and mk2 and my brother said we had viewline twin steer well as erfs foden and later on scanias 76 & 110 cheers ian
Morning all,
Caddy1, no sorry not guilty!
Rear steer Viewlines were very rare beasts indeed. Did you have from new, or used?
Cheerio for now.
Small picture of a GPRK 10 from Mighirian in the Ardeche country.
That’s one of theirs Michel, where do you find your photographs from? You have a superb collection!
The picture does not show just how bright was the purple paint, and that one does not have the cappochine over the cab, but you can clearly see the writing that they all carried, Paris Marseille Paris.
Some fleet that, thank you for the picture.
Cheerio for now
Two “Primeurs” with capucine over the cab, one Unic Izoard and a Saviem JL20.200.
Morning all,
Michel, as I said previously, your photographic collection is amazing! Now that Unic Izoard, (or could it be a Glibier), and the Saviem JL 20.200s are running in the colours of the big freight forwarder SMTS from Saint Ouen, Seine.
SMTS used to back load a number of Primeurs for the south, but the only one who I can remember running in their livery was Transports Basanelli from Cavaillon. They were a major haulier between the Cavaillon region and the Marseille area. I used to see one of their handsome looking Berliet GBM10 6x2 s quite often on the 6 or 7. I think that Basanelli were one of the first customers for the drawbar GR 12, with the overheating 12 litre. Although I never personally saw that lorry.
I still rather enjoy the looks of those big Unic`s, even if they were not as strong as the Berliet!
Cheerio for now.
I remember following these Scania-Vabis wine tankers of Giraud up and down the A2 on my way to and from work in the early/mid '70s! Robert
Before Rungis, the market was in Paris in a place called ‘Les Halles’ not far from the Pompidou center.
Here an old Unic ZU 120 from 1956 which is delivering its load from south of France. In front notice the German trailer from Kassbhorer manufacturer.
Morning all,
Michel, that looks like Place Beauberg to me. When Les Halles was alive I used to see lines of Primeurs parked all down Sebastopol waiting to unload, or back load.
That is an old Unic, with the three bar grill, did they have the nickname “moustaches”? I always liked those Autobineau cabs, they had a real presence. That lorry looks to have an equally old trailer behind it, I bet she had done some work in her time!
Cheerio for now.
Les Halles in the night ,with a Saviem JL20 from Gringore company. Behind it seems to be a Berliet GLR8M3
michel:
Les Halles in the night ,with a Saviem JL20 from Gringore company. Behind it seems to be a Berliet GLR8M3
Nice photo, very evocative night shot…
Here’s 2 golden oldies… but what are they, this might even test Saviem, …or perhaps not,
On the theme of Old French Coaches…
Fergie47:
Here’s 2 golden oldies… but what are they, this might even test Saviem, …or perhaps not,
Fergie the bottom one looks like a Krupp don’t know what the top one is may be a Rochet Shcnieder
cheers Johnnie
sammyopisite:
Fergie47:
Here’s 2 golden oldies… but what are they, this might even test Saviem, …or perhaps not,
Fergie the bottom one looks like a Krupp don’t know what the top one is may be a Rochet Shcnieder
cheers Johnnie
Bugger…Well then John, …what’s the name of the drivers wife and 4 children… 
Fergie47:
It’s just SO FRENCH.
Evening all,
Well done Johnnie, now Rochet Schneider was a really interesting company…spawned the Beardsmore load transfer artic/drawbars, and eventually those FAR 3 wheelers.
But that picture Fergie, oh how I would love to own a Bernard just like that one, just jump in it and go…anywhere, they never broke down! And that Pelpel cab was a comfortable one!
Robert that L Giraud Scania even though being an early 60s one must have been photographed well into the 70s with that tri axle Coder tank. Girauds fleet in the 60s was almost totally Scania, L110, LB110, then 111s. I seem to remember the fleet strength was about 650 then. Then came the DAFs, and eventually the wine red livery was dropped for white, red and blue. But really the wine red was the memorable one. Used to depart with one or two of their tanks on the “posh” boat from Tilbury, long time ago now!!!
Thanks for such evocative photographs, real memory jerkers…will you watch the TT on TV? Sadly a French lad died in practice yesterday I think…
Cheerio for now.
and I had a guess at the other just going on the writing and being illiterate and tired eyes had a stab 
