Early Daf 95 with the grey dash, good truck with a few teething problems .
Viking:
Chin wagging on the services bottom of the ski slope with a couple of Lynches tanker lads when I was on for Morgan Freight 1990.
Now this is nostalgia, couldn’t understand a word he said but I still listened in, help pass the time.
Ossie
OssieD:
Thanks Anorak that’s them all fibreglass cab, V8 engine, I think they came from Paris or Lyon.Ossie
Don’t remember them having V8s, although they could have had anything Monsieur Loheac wanted, I suppose. I read an article about them years ago, that said they had some DAF and some Scania engines, although there may have been others. The article said that the manufacturers considered it bragging rights, to have their engine in his lorries. Something to do with him having the choice and choosing the best. There were other details which were superior to mass-produced lorries- the one I half-remember is that all the air lines were copper, rather than plastic, for durability. Anything unnecessary was left off, and worn-out lorries were rebuilt, rather than being scrapped.
They were made in Bretagne somewhere and the trucks were IIRC called ‘Tonton’ 
And the shipping line from Italy to Greece I couldn’t remember was Ventouris Ferries 
I seem to remember that Ventouris ferries were pretty basic when it came to driver comforts.
Metaxa, ouzo and beer, need I say more 
newmercman:
They were made in Bretagne somewhere and the trucks were IIRC called ‘Tonton’
Tonton = Uncle, in French. Suggests something comfortable and reliable.
They may have been reliable but didn’t look very comfortable to me.
[zb]
anorak:OssieD:
Anyone remember the French company who built their own bonneted wagons using a Scania engine and drive chain? Used to see them a lot pulling their own tankers, and any pictures?Ossie
Somewhere on here is a thread about ,em. They hailed from the Rouen area.
harry:
[zb]
anorak:OssieD:
Anyone remember the French company who built their own bonneted wagons using a Scania engine and drive chain? Used to see them a lot pulling their own tankers, and any pictures?Ossie
Somewhere on here is a thread about ,em. They hailed from the Rouen area.
I remember them well, they used to struggle uphill a bit, I got nicked for overtaking one on the way towards Paris from LeHavre in the “no overtaking” bit in the morning, lollipop came outinto a layby, but they let me off with a warning “as it was Christmas” and I could speak a bit of French!!
Regards,
Mark.
Can anyone help with this ferry my did use to go this way to the middle east from Kopa ■■ to i,m sure Syria only have three photos he only did M/E for a year. Any help with name,s or the ferry line would be great. Sorry about the thumb print don,t know is in that pic ■■?
OssieD:
Anyone remember the French company who built their own bonneted wagons using a Scania engine and drive chain? Used to see them a lot pulling their own tankers, and any pictures?Ossie
Evening all, would anybody mind if I shared a few personal recollections of the late Antoine Loheac, (1904-2006), and his company, Societe dexploitation A Loheac, and his self built vehicles whose collective name was "Tonton". Why Tonton, (Uncle)? The storey began in the early 30s, when Antoine Loheac purchased premises in Grand Couronne, near to Rouen, and opened a restauraunt, which became popular with lorry drivers, as well as local people, and flourished. This Antoine was to tell me generated his interest in road transport. Following the end of WW11 Antoine, along with many others began to buy and sell equipment left behind by the Allies. He generated funds from the sale of tyres that enabled him to buy a number of surplus American M426 tractor units, these could have been built by Marmon Harrington,International, Kenworth, or any number of others. Petrol engined, Antoine re engined with MAN diesels, ex the Dutch army, but his client did not pay for the vehicles after the work was done, so Transports A Loheac was born! Initial traffic was coal, and stone as there was much industrial activity in rebuilding along the Seine. Traffic, and the fleet increased, so more ex US tractors were purchased, and converted, now to the more advanced Somua Diesel of 120hp. Antoine worked on the conversions himself, often in the company of his Niece, whose constant requests to "Tonton" (her uncle), resulted in the name of his vehicles. Antoine explained the parameters that he worked to, A tare weight , fully fueled and equiped, no greater than 6tonnes,Safety, good stability, steering, brakes, Maximum reliability, a vehicle not working is not earning, Profitability, maximum useage, minimum acquisition cost, minimum cost of operation. Early Tontons were equiped with a cab constructed from flat aluminium panels which gave them a very utilitarian appearance. some were 4x4s on Brockway chassis, one of which I used to see regularly in Ferblatils Steelwork in Belgium in the late 70s, when it must have been approaching 35years old. The Somua diesels were superceeded by Berliet 150hp 6s, then the 190hp GLRE, with "magic" injection, (the MAN design adopted by Berliet, as opposed to the Saurer injection favoured by Unic). 1968 saw the move to fibreglass as a form of cab construction, and the first Tonton semi forward control, and perhaps the best recognised. By this time the transporting of "dangerous" goods was the main activity of Loheac, serving the many oil refineries and chemical works along the Seine. The Tonton was specifically designed for Tanker or Tipper work, long wheelbase for stability, armoured electrical wiring, copper brake pipework, tilting bonnet giving access to the radiator and ancillaries, Fixed cab, only a drivers seat,power by Berliet, or Deutz, and a ready to go weight 5.7tonnes, with a GTW of 35tonnes. At this time Loheac were also building their own Tank Trailers for both chemicals, and petroleum products, but buying propriety ones for Gas transport. Whenthe French weight limit went up to 38tonnes in 1972, a typical Tonton would have Berliet, or 210hp DAF power! Eaton 9509 gearbox, and Eaton back end, but the front axle beam and frame would still be 1940s US M426. Antoine , at one very agreeable lunchtime meeting explained that he was always evaluating "new", and perhaps higher powered options, amongst which Scania, Volvo, Henschel, and MAN, had figured, as had Rolls Royce, particularly as the SM340 Saviem fitted with a Rolls Eagle at 320hp, had been such a sensation at Loheacs great competitor, and my client, ONATRAs Pont du Tancarville operation. However Rolls depended heavily on Leyland for market share in France, and had little support outside of that marques network. He had once asked AEC for an engine to evaluate, he received a Leyland 680! oh dear! The Tonton evolved, cab over versions were produced both in day and sleeper form, and the traditional Tonton profile became more handsome, the main difference being a shorter bonnet. Power units became DAF 8litre, and the 320 Scania, not big power as brookie pointed out, but the aim was profitability, and safety, reliability. By the late 70s Loheac had operations based at Grande Couronne, (Rouen), Lyon, Paris, and in Belgium, and operated around 500 (recyclable) Tontons. For some time there had been great consternation in Paris, and also Blainville, that this large operator/constructor right on Renaults doorstep, was not building vehicles with Renault power. Our Chairman Francoise Zanotti, (and all the Royal family in attendance) descended on Lohecs office in Grand Couronne, (incidentally Antoines personal office was in the original Cafe Restraunt where he started out in 1934). As all major meetings in French industry are centred around lunch, then this meeting in 1979, was no exception, and following a grand repast the speeches began. At the time, sitting far from the top table, I was impressed by Zanottis phrase describing Society Loheac as, " Frances second lorry manufacturer", history now proves that Loheac was Frances "last independent lorry manufacturer manufacturer", Unic being part of Iveco, and Renault finally succuming to Volvo. During the 80s Tontons appeared with Renault engines, then cycle parts, and finally becoming Tonton cabbed, (and a very handsome forward control one at that), G260, and G320 Renaults. I have ignored the 6x4, and 6x6 vehicles, based on Brockway, and Renault components, mainly tipper or mixer chassis, and some of the other Tonton tractor units that were utilised in other Loheac operations, but all shared the same creative design, and ability to be recycled! Antoines sons Daniel, and Jean Claude became key players in the business, Daniel formulating the creation of Societe Group Gael, in1989, (Mormont, Lyon, Orleans) 1991 The holding group Gail, 1992 relocation to Isle de France, (Paris East, Marmont,Paris south, Melun, and following his fathers death in 2006 taking over the Loheac, Gael Group. 2008 the Group activity was split into two activities, S.T.E.R.N. Tanker operations, and A.C.L.A. Container transport, by skillfull management of a most profitable group, proving that he , as his late father, is a creative and good business man. I am now long away from lorries, and the rigours around them , but I have very warm and happy memories of many most cordial , and illuminating meetings with the modest, tall, bespectacled Antoine Loheac, Frances second lorry manufacturer. Cheerio for now.
hiya,
Saviem, in a word brilliant.
thanks harry long retired.
When is the book coming out ? absolutly fascinating stuff from “Saviem” again!may your pen never run dry
I’d like to echo what LB76 said “absolutely fascinating”, thank you Saviem.
Ossie
Ditto. Ages ago, there was an article in one of the comics about Loheac. It wasn’t as good as Monsieur Saviem’s recollections.
dcal:
hello everybody, this is the first time I post something,
let’s hope it works, 0
Yes, it did! Welcome dcal, got any more?
Regards,
Mark.
Dieseldogsix:
Someone mentioned RK Crisp’s Big J’s, here,s one, not sure who’s photo maybe one of Ash’s
this got the 8lxb init
bradfordlad9999:
Dieseldogsix:
Someone mentioned RK Crisp’s Big J’s, here,s one, not sure who’s photo maybe one of Ash’sthis got the 8lxb init
most likely a bit more power than a percy as Crisp’s had some with 335 ■■■■■■■ in at 32 tons gross but I am sure all theirs had ■■■■■■■ horses and jake brake
cheers Johnnie