Back in the mid-1980s as a young lad, East Yorkshire-based Richard Turner was fascinated by lorries, and living where he did, was able to observe many different types and sizes on local agricultural-based work and more long-distance stuff. One, however, madeaspecial impression on him. 1985 Volvo F7 B707YAG was operated by Market Weighton-based J Dawson & Sons, used mainly with a bulker trailer on corn transport. Back then it was very much a modern, state of the art vehicle, and young Richard would often watch it coming out of Dawson’s yard from his bicycle.
Fast-forward a few years and Richard not only retained his interest, but also become involved professionally, working as a commercial vehicle fitter for local repair specialists Charlotte Bradley Transport. The F7, too, had moved on, but like Richard, it had stayed local, passing first to Mick Jackson, a local agricultural equipment dealer who used it with a low-loader. From here, it passed to local enthusiast Noel Stephenson who intended to restore it and got as far as sourcing some hard-to-find parts –
