Any one in transport for some duration must surely when they look back remember that new trucks were in all probability beyond there ■■■■■. When I started out the first being a TK Bedford with 330 engine doing hay and straw cart 105 CYU was the reg number and this was followed by another TK bought from a man who did milk churn collection, then a D series Ford then on to the big guns AEC mandator 680 Leyland but this was not powerful enough for my taste so went to Dorset and bought a Mamoth Minor 760 engine which was much better, the chap was on for Frigoscandia and he went abroad in that no sleeper and he was 6ft 3in tall. After this Scania 110 day cab followed by a succession of Volvo’s, All these trucks were second hand and once home we modified them up to our standard, with a good freelance mechanic we used to keep them going abroad week in week out plying the European roads, this must surely have been the case for a lot of chaps on these threads. Then in 1986 lost control of all sense and ordered a new F12 Globetrotter that cost £36369. plus Vat. wish I still had her today, after this more Globy’s second hand, then in the early 90’s we started buying new Volvo’s and Daf’s at the rate of a dozen a year, the finance on them was so cheap and we extended the warranty out to 3 years and chopped them in at that stage so no major bills. After 20 years with mainly the Volvo mark we started to get inept response from our dealer and in the end changed back to Scania which my boys who now run the emporium have had now for two years and very good they tell me they are as well. Had a ride in one while driver training was taking place, no good for me as there is no gear stick like being in a 747, had no chance but we still have our memories to fall back on. Now retired from that pressure every day looking for loads, sorting out problems I keep busy with my horses and a few cattle as well, they would not want me in the office today as they said we would be in a tribunal every week, no time for messers and in my day you just told them to do one and no come back shame it’s all changed, cheers Buzzer.
.
Buzzer:
123Any one in transport for some duration must surely when they look back remember that new trucks were in all probability beyond there ■■■■■. When I started out the first being a TK Bedford with 330 engine doing hay and straw cart 105 CYU was the reg number and this was followed by another TK bought from a man who did milk churn collection, then a D series Ford then on to the big guns AEC mandator 680 Leyland but this was not powerful enough for my taste so went to Dorset and bought a Mamoth Minor 760 engine which was much better, the chap was on for Frigoscandia and he went abroad in that no sleeper and he was 6ft 3in tall. After this Scania 110 day cab followed by a succession of Volvo’s, All these trucks were second hand and once home we modified them up to our standard, with a good freelance mechanic we used to keep them going abroad week in week out plying the European roads, this must surely have been the case for a lot of chaps on these threads. Then in 1986 lost control of all sense and ordered a new F12 Globetrotter that cost £36369. plus Vat. wish I still had her today, after this more Globy’s second hand, then in the early 90’s we started buying new Volvo’s and Daf’s at the rate of a dozen a year, the finance on them was so cheap and we extended the warranty out to 3 years and chopped them in at that stage so no major bills. After 20 years with mainly the Volvo mark we started to get inept response from our dealer and in the end changed back to Scania which my boys who now run the emporium have had now for two years and very good they tell me they are as well. Had a ride in one while driver training was taking place, no good for me as there is no gear stick like being in a 747, had no chance but we still have our memories to fall back on. Now retired from that pressure every day looking for loads, sorting out problems I keep busy with my horses and a few cattle as well, they would not want me in the office today as they said we would be in a tribunal every week, no time for messers and in my day you just told them to do one and no come back shame it’s all changed, cheers Buzzer.
.
You’ve only got to look at the “other side” on this forum to see how things have changed John…couldn’t be doing with all the crap that they have to put up with…someone in some god forsaken delivery depot somewhere would be getting a black-eye sooner or later, and like the lads said , up before a tribunal every five minutes… 
naaaaa, so glad to be out of it…driving the Fergie cutting the paddock, and going down the tip with my half ton trailer once in a while, is enough driving these days…more time for biking, and in your case, horses…!! 
A cattle wagon…elegance,… Bugatti would be proud of that…
Nice post Buzzer. Which Scania models are they running? How far do they travel in Europe?
Johnny
jsutherland:
Nice post Buzzer. Which Scania models are they running? How far do they travel in Europe?
Johnny
Hi Johnny they are R480 streamline and couple to Chereau fridges, we go most places in Europe but have been to Finland and sometimes Poland but mainly France Italy Spain Portugal Greece. The boy’s are running 15 it was double that in the 90’s but its a hard old game now and its hard to get drivers who want to do the job today even though the equipment is in a different league to yester year.
Here are a couple more pics but don’t want to hog the thread Buzzer.
jsutherland:
Nice post Buzzer. Which Scania models are they running? How far do they travel in Europe?
Johnny
Hi Johnny sorry double post there .
Thank you buzzer. Really nice equipment! Johnny
Hi Saviem, Never knew Star made these,Cheer’s Pete
Fergie47:
I want one…
Hi Dave,
Hope you and Liz are ok. I got you one, but times are hard so it’s a bit small and might be a bit difficult to drive
Regards
Richard
MaggieD:
Fergie47:
I want one…Hi Dave,
Hope you and Liz are ok. I got you one, but times are hard so it’s a bit small and might be a bit difficult to drive
Regards
Richard
Cheers Richard…you’re very kind… hope you and Angie are both well…
Now, when Mappo was here, he promised that he’d lose weight, so if he’s true to his word, he’ll fit in that motor with room to spare, shame to ship it over empty though,… PG Tips and Marmite will do nicely…cheers
P.S. somewhere I think I’ve got a picture of that wagon, see if l can dig it out…
MaggieD:
Fergie47:
I want one…Hi Dave,
Hope you and Liz are ok. I got you one, but times are hard so it’s a bit small and might be a bit difficult to driveRegards
Richard
Richard
And the real thing !!!
Followed by my Berliet …( I thought I’d grown out of playing with toy lorries 
)
And the real thing - ish…courtesy of Michel
Couple of odds…a spec sales sheet for a Bernard, 35 ton at 150 hp…in the late '50’s ?
An LB76 (?) to inspire Saviem…
French wagons of yesteryear were quite something compared to what is on offer now, sadly only Volvo owned Renault a survivor. Anyway from the sublime to the ridiculous, took me a bit of searching to nail the make(easy, wheels the giveaway) and model of this one 
Oily
oiltreader:
French wagons of yesteryear were quite something compared to what is on offer now, sadly only Volvo owned Renault a survivor. Anyway from the sublime to the ridiculous, took me a bit of searching to nail the make(easy, wheels the giveaway) and model of this one
Oily
Evening all,
Well, Im away for a bit, come back, and its all happening!!!
Im away, not on an exotic holiday like Bewick…no, me because my best friend, Jacob, my Irish Draught/Thouroughbred cross, had bruised his Peedle Bone…and when you love someone so much, and see them limping around, then that is your priority. Tonight, he is a bit better, and has been fitted with an ABS made shoe…though he now goes clip, clip, clip, …not clip clop…but he and I are really happy…tomorrow I will try him in the paddock, just for a little while…and live in dread if the Vets bill…two visits, one set of X Rays…Danilon , (read an Equestrian IbruProfin), twice a day for a long time…but he is worth it!
Just like Oilys picture of the Racing Camel…Citroens Mehari…ABS body, 602cc, and weighing less than 600kgs on the road…they could shift, and even as a 4x2, (let alone the later 4x4), could cross rough, and especially sandy ground with ease!
The Mehari, was a racing Camel, beloved, and used by the French Armee dAfrique, a creature well adapted to the harsh climes of the Desert regions of north Africa, so colonised and treated as home by the French. The Citroen Mehari was based on the Dyane 6, 602cv, and over 140000 were produced between 68, and end of production in `88.
But Renault had an equivalent…produced by Ateliers d` constructions de Livradois, (ACL), a subsidiary company of Teihol Distribution Services, Rue Marcel Renault, Paris, from a new build factory at Arlane, Puy de Dome. Based on the 845cc Renault 4, and later the 1100cc version, using the running gear of the R2106, and R1181. Production of the GRP bodied Rodeo averaged 2500 units per year, plus the 4x4, “Hogger” version…and could that little machine “hug” the ground!
Teihol was an interesting company, founded in 1944 by Raul Teihol, at Courpiere, Puy de Dome,by 1956 they were hot moulding Polyester Grp, for vehicle bodies, vans, in particular.By 1964, they were approved by the Regie Renault to create Grand Volume, (11/13 cu metre), bodies on the fwd Estafette van range. In the late 60s they were also producing 4 versions of electric powered cars and vans!
Teihol produced some very elaborate drawbar Hospitality Units for us at Saviem, as well as mobile Hospitals, Repair workshops, and Integral vans.
But my enduring memory of the Teihol Rodeo,was back in June of 1977, when we at SaviFrance Marseille, decided to attack the potential market for 4x4 vehicles up in the surrounding area, and the Var. So we organised a test day…with a “Country Buffet” lunch…at the Walbacol based , Terrain de Moto Cross Motorcycle Scramble course at Vitrolles, (not far from Onatra`s HQ.
We combined with local Renault car dealers, SINPAR, the specialist 4x4 conversion specialist, acquired as a subsidiary by Saviem in 1975, and Ets Teihol, together providing 4x4 versions of the Serie J, at 9 &11 tonnes, an SM8, (the French Bedford Serie S),a TP3, (French Unimog), plus from the car world a Sinpar 4x4 version of the R4, and R12, plus a Teihol Rodeo.
What a day!!! This was a true scramble course, so you can only imagine what happened when the various machines were demonstrated/driven/thrashed over the humps and bumps…and none flew through the air more so than the Sinpar R4 , and the Teihol Rodeo…and they took the crunches, and skewed landings with consummate ease…as did the Saviem 9, &11 tonners…but blooming heck…your nerves sure did get stretched…certainly when you let a Fireman from the Var drive…“come fly with me”…was not in it…
But the stars were the Rodeo, and the Sinpar R4…and thus it came to pass that after proceedings had closed on the night of the 26th of June 1977…M Teihol, and M Delcluze, (the new Saviem appointed Boss of Sinpar)…raced it out…flat out to see whose product was the best!!!..and it was close, so close…but that little ABS bodied Rodeo…ugly as could be…just edged the "high on its wheels " R4 Renault by only a few dirt spattered, and screaming centimetres…They may look odd…but boy, could these conversions deliver cross country!!!..I wonder if “modern management” would do such a thing■■?
Fergie, that Cottard, (Bourg en Bresse), “Boule” cabbed Willeme really has it for looks. Cottard`s designs, either for cabs, or his speciality Integral Vans were beautiful. I never drove one at all, but I once sat in a “Boule” cabbed Saviem in Normandy, and despite its age, (it was a 1950s design), she was all up together, and so perfect in ergonomic terms, a real drivers cab!!!
I share your liking for the Charbonneaux Television cab, but my real love in Bernards is the earlier bonneted Pelpel, either in version 1, or 2, or 3!..but all sat behind or over a true Gardner designed engine! Even as a die cast, or plastic model they are superb!
Buzzer, you never hog the thread, love to see your lorries, (though I think that your original colour scheme has the edge on looks for me)! But those new Scania`s are impressive, although they do not stir me to jump behind the wheel…but your 110…well that is another thing altogether!!!
Robert, Chapuis, what can I say…based in Lyon, (Corbas), right on Venissieuxs doorstep, home of Berliet, running a mainly Saviem fleet, of over 200! Middle East, yes, but also Nigeria, (there and back), and when they did run Berliet, they were TR280s, (but from 68 they had run Stradaire`s, and Berliet GR, (drawbar), and TR , (tractor), Relax cab 250 12 litres.
But the backbone of Didier, and Michel Chapuis fleet were Saviems, 300s, 280s, (the V8, as well as the Turbocharged Tut`s), and 340s. The TR320 V8s that graced the 1976 TR320 Berliet brochure were actually run in Chapuis livery by Transports Frioud, a Chapuis subcontractor, mainly engaged on work for the Renault car grouping).
Chapuis partnered Jordanian company Frigot, as well as been engaged in a joint venture in Saudi Arabia , Trans Arabia Transport Company. Founded in March 1977, as a tri partate arrangement between a Saudi Sponsor, Transports Chapuis, and Saviem, (who supplied Technical staff for the company based in Jedda). The original requisition was for 20 units, (15 SM280Tuts, 4x2, 285 hp turbo charged, and 15 SM 340 VT double drive 6x4s, all with A/C). Plus 60 trailers by Trailor, Buhler, Merceron, and Decauville.
Chapuis was first swallowed up by Groupe Savam, the Volume transport haulier, who then became UK owned by the United Road Transport Group,then Rentokill, and finally their end came under my friend Norbert Dentressangle. But by then the halcion days of profit from the Moyen Orient had ceased, as did the once shining star of Africa, a long way from the journey`s for ELF Aquataine carried out by Andre Hernandez in his SM 300VT 6x4 tractor, Lagos, and back.
Perhaps a company I should write some more about…their offices were lovely…as was their Coffee…
But so is my Bollinger…and its still in the Bottle…
Easily rectified…
Cheerio for now.
Blimey! I didn’t know Chapuis had strong M/E connections. Thanks for the history. 
Robert
Indeed a Citroen Mehari, never in doubt of the answer from monsieur Saviem 
Also mentioned the equivalent Renault Rodeo.
Oily
