Heritage Commercials

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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