I recently came across this very rare vehicle which must be moved imminently - by the end of the month. So far efforts to interest some of the well known preservationists have drawn a blank.
It is a very early Post War (1947) Leyland Steer, one of only eight built and one of four delivered new to Russell of Bathgate. The spiel on the window seems to indicate that this is fitted with probably the earliest surviving automotive Leyland 600 engine - which runs and the vehicle moves. The cab is unusually substantially aluminium.
This lorry desperately needs a new good home to survive. The owner’s contact details are on the window poster. Is anyone interested in taking this on or able to put a potential buyer in contact.
Such a shame she’s been left to deteriorate into such a state. She deserves a bloody good home and a lot of TLC (and of course pots of money)
but what a finished article she could be
Thank you to all for your help with this. This vehicle had been stored for many years at the late Mike Banfield’s Iden Grange. Yesterday was moving day when it was towed away for further preservation, but still remaining in the same ownership. It was a pleasure to see an appropriately vintage recovery vehicle arrive, however a 1940’s Leyland chassis is not the easiest example to pick up without an underlift. Having removed the rear riveted rims with their 36x8s and fitted replacement wheels with road legal tyres, the very professional recovery crew and the ongoing preservation specialist set about the task of securing the vehicle to the Dennis’s Harvey Frost crane. It would possibly have been easier to remove the radiator, but about one tree later enough packing timber had been cut to size and the Leyland was safely lifted and on its way.
It is probably some 40+ years and back in the days of Alan Firmin’s Park Royal AEC Mercuries, since Linton Hill echoed to the sounds, smell and smoke of an AVU 470 burdened by a significant load, settling down to a slowly diminishing 10 mph climb of the 1 in 12 gradient.
My apologies for the poor quality pictures which were taken on my elderly, much abused cheap mobile phone. I shall replace these with better quality ones when I receive them.
