AEC Mandator: Volume 8

By Graham Edge

When the AEC Mandator V8 was introduced in 1968 it carried with it high hopes for the future of AEC and the Leyland Group. Nothing remotely like it had been produced before. Word soon got around about its excellent performance. However, just as word had spread about the initial performance of the model, so news soon travelled about the problems arising in service. Eventually the lorry was withdrawn from sale. Since the early 1970s when most of the 300 or so Mandator V8s sold in the UK had been withdrawn, there has always been a strong undercurrent of interest shown in it. AEC Mandator V8 has been out of print for many years, and has been brought back in 2016 to make this fascinating story available again to AEC enthusiasts and those with an interest in general transport history. Graham Edge is a trucking journalist and author. (Series: Commercial Vehicles Archive Series) [Subject: Commercial Vehicles, Transportation]

• Language: English
• Publisher: Old Pond Books
• Release date: Apr 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781910456798

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

One day in the Autumn of 1992 I strolled into the drivers’ canteen at the Fordham depot of Turners (Soham) Ltd. A small group of men were fiercely debating the relative merits of rival makes of lorry when suddenly one individual spoke up to the effect that there was nothing in Turners’ fleet, even in 1992, that could out-perform their AEC Mandator V8. Those present, of whom several remembered that lorry, and one or two who had driven it, all concurred. What was so remarkable about this, was that Turners’ Mandator V8 was a prototype delivered in December 1966, and sold by them in 1969, so in the meantime 23 years had elapsed but the memories of it were still so vivid.

When the AEC Mandator V8 was introduced in 1968 it carried with it high hopes for the future of AEC and the Leyland Group. Nothing remotely like it had been produced before. Word soon got around about its excellent performance, and my own memories are of the examples operated by Hipwood & Grundy, and Air Products Ltd. One day I was approaching the brow of the climb up to Keele Services, northbound on the M6 motorway, driving an AEC Mercury. I was overtaken by an Air Products Mandator V8. What was surprising about that was my lorry was empty and travelling at 55 mph. Just as word had spread about the initial performance of the model, so news soon travelled about the problems arising in service, and eventually the lorry was withdrawn from sale.

Since the early 1970s when most of the 300 or so Mandator V8s sold in this country had been withdrawn, the model has occasionally been mentioned in the transport trade press, and it has featured in special interest magazines. There has always been a strong undercurrent of interest shown in it. Because of this, and the fact that several examples have survived to the present day, I have thoroughly researched the model to provide a full and comprehensive history of the lorry.

SECTION 1

Early Development and Prototypes

By 1960 AEC at both its Southall and Great Alne (formerly Maudslay) plants was in full production with a successful range of passenger and commercial vehicles. During 1961 a decision was made by the Chief Engineer, Bob Fryars, to instigate a project to design and develop a high power output engine. It was envisaged that such an engine would allow AEC to take full advantage of higher gross vehicle weights which were being considered for introduction, both at home and abroad, later in the decade. Also at that time AEC’s export markets were considerable and expanding rapidly, and good progress was being made into new European outlets. Because of this there would certainly be a requirement for more powerful lorries, not only in Europe, but especially in markets such as Australia and South Africa.

The outline specification given to AEC’s designers was for a compact power unit able to produce 250 bhp. It had to be capable of further development to provide up to 350 bhp, as future requirements in the 1970s, and even 1980s would demand. At this initial stage no specific features relevant to particular operational cycles were requested, and no indications were given as to the probable applications for the unit. Different demands are placed upon an engine by installations as diverse as automotive, industrial, marine, or military. The developers decided to design and assemble a basic prototype engine, assuming that any necessary specific application engineering development would then be carried out as required. It is thought unlikely that any target date for installation was given to the engine development team, because in 1961 AEC had successful engines in service with adequate power for the demands of that time. These same engines