Tom has seen a lot of changes over the years, and the local landscape has been transformed out of all recognition. His home at Cumnock in East Ayrshire used to be well-known for deep coal mining and during the boom years the landscape was dotted with

They’ve long been a salesman’s dream while the pitch was always the same: “Only one previous careful owner – regularly maintained – never raced or rallied – low mileage.” While the ace in the hole was that they were cheap and just generally a fractio

Here’s a very nice book for your coffee table, it comes courtesy of regular contributor Mark Gredzinski. It contains stunning images of lorries which Mark took after sunset, this concept gives another dimension to his excellent camera-work. It is ava

A few hundred kilometres from the Marcanet collection over in the Deux-Sèvres department, which we showed you a few years ago in this magazine, lies a slightly smaller collection; it is very well presented, accessible and representative of the vintag

While the F88 technically ‘broke cover’ as long ago as 1965, the distinctive cab was actually seen a year earlier as Volvo’s cumbersomely designated L4951 Titan Tiptop as a 4x2 and the L4956 as a 6x2 with a tag axle. These models were simply rebrande

Heritage Commercials Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL Editor: Charles Waters Email: hc.ed@kelsey.co.uk Art Editor: Philip Silk Contributors: Bob Tuck, Ed Burrows, Mike and Julie Blenkinsop, Pip

The first Thornycroft vehicle, Van No 1, was built at Chiswick, West London in 1896 and is preserved at the British Commercial Vehicle Museum at Leyland in Lancashire. It has many unique design features such as reasonable suspension for the time and

from a vehicle breaker in Wolverhampton. Although the interior of the cab was in a terrible state when he acquired it, the Cummins engine still sounded sweet when fired-up. It is slowly being restored to its former glory. Of all the former Brian Harr

In last month’s issue of Heritage Commercials, we looked at the early changes in how brand new cars and vans were delivered from their manufacturers. The first car transporters in the UK appeared about 1948 and their subsequent growth during the ‘50s

I hope that you may find this photo useful. I took it through the fence with my telephoto lens. This is DSV 155, a 1954 MAN which was all on her own in the car park at the front of The British Commercial Vehicle Museum, Leyland, on 4th November 2020.

We all know Volvos are well sought after on the heritage commercials scene. And some models, the venerable F88 and the popular F12 are – probably – top of that aspirational list for many. Go to any show, and there will be many examples of both types.

This article is not intended to be an exhaustive history of Brian Harris Transport Ltd and its predecessor Harris & Miners, but more of a photographic appreciation from a lorry enthusiast’s point of view in the 1980s and 90s. The traditional fleet of

One of my most enjoyable classic truck finds came during my visit to the Tractor World Spring Show at Malvern in February 2019. On my Monday drive back home, I called into one of my key classic truck contacts, Panes Recovery at Upton upon Severn. At

The Foden publicity department was so impressed with what Eddie Macginty had done with one of their 10-year-old demonstrators, in ’96 they arranged for Clydebank based photographer JA Hermit to travel across to Lochgilphead to record this head-turnin

ERF began life in 1933 in the yard of Sandbach bodybuilders JH Jennings. Initial success led to the establishment of its own factory, Sun Works, supposedly named because all good things come from the sun. Nearly 70 years later, the shadows fell. In 2

I am writing this in early January knowing the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has just started being rolled out across the country. In my opinion, this is excellent news for the heritage commercial fraternity, as well as the entire nation. It means event

Ali Matheson is seen at the wheel of his much-loved Militant special which apparently started life in the ‘50s with the RAF as a tanker. Munro Harvesting of Dingwall were running this outfit in ’97 and it’s seen on forwarding work in the Alvie Estate

The company based its UK growth on acquisition, achieved initially by obtaining the municipal services arm of Leigh Kleen Ltd from Leigh Environmental – Leigh Interests plc. in 1990. At the time of the acquisition, Leigh Kleen operated municipal wast

The very first vehicle of this type was delivered to John W. Hoadley of Newcastle whose firm was a caterer working in the amusement industry. The Showtrac was broadly based on the existing DE25 tractor capable of handling 25-ton payloads. Power came

It was 1982, and I had gone down to Dover one Saturday morning to photograph what was coming through the port. Now I have always loved Beresford’s trucks and especially their colour scheme, that yellow roof was easy to spot a long way off and was alw

This ultra-rare superb example of a Renault Estafette was until recently owned by Tom Black an Estafette aficionado based in Sussex. He purchased it recently in Bourges in France, a journey some four hours south of Paris and following its stunningly

Model type R2130/31 Introduced from May 1959 – May 1962 Engine used 845cc Payload was 600kg, R2131 payload 500kg Model type R2132/33/34/35 In production from May 1962 to Nov 1968 Engine used 1108cc, type 688 Payload was 800kg & 1000kg for “Estafette

With the passing of Maurice Hudson on 6 November 2020, the Heritage Commercials community has lost a distinguished champion. In the 1970s, Maurice became the custodian of one of the Britain’s most valuable transport artefacts, the Scammell Hundred To

Firstly, let me wish all readers, contributors and staff involved in producing Heritage Commercials each month, a Very Happy Christmas and a Covid-19-free 2021. Let’s hope the vaccines are already doing the business in protecting the frontline staff

It is with great sadness that Heritage Commercials heard recently of the passing of Jim King back in October. Our deepest sympathy goes to Jim’s family and his closest friends. Jim was an occasional contributor to Heritage Commercials, sending in sho

Heritage Commercials Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL EDITORIAL Editor: Charles Waters Email: hc.ed@kelsey.co.uk Art Editor: Philip Silk Contributors: Bob Tuck, Ed Burrows, Mike and Julie Blenkins

In 1996, Scania launched its all-new 4-series which featured a brand new cab to replace the old cab that had been used on the 2- and then 3-series from 1981. Unlike today, the company was able to launch both its big R cab and smaller P cab at the sam

First things first. What you are about to read are some driving impressions picked up by yours truly but at the outset I have to say that I don’t consider myself to be a proper wagon driver. True, since passing my Class 1 (artic) driving test back in

Remember when we could go to truck shows? Well, a highlight of the calendar every year was the Retro Truck Show, a must-attend event in Gaydon every September and always in my diary. For the 2019 event, off I trotted one fine Sunday morning. As I ski

Transport Museum Wythall’s (TMW) final running day of 2020 (26th October), drew nearly 300 attendees and a very special selection of visiting vehicles. The Twilight event has become a firm fixture in the calendar and is always well supported but desp