STRAIGHT EIGHT:
To think they were clinging on by their fingertips by the late 70’s, it’s a wonder they ever managed to get the C series out, ok it wasn’t much different inside, just slight details, but the amount of Techincal changes under the skin, it was no mean feat. It done enough to keep them afloat and enter into the next era. In my opinion though, as good as the C series was, it was that period where they lost ground and the Europeans gained a lot of ground, ERF were offering the C series, which basically a B series (cab) with new front panels at the time where Scania were pressing ahead with the 112/42, after that it was catch up all the way. Fortunately it had a very loyal customer base and of course, it had very light products for the weight conscious own account and specialist hauliers which the continentals could really get a handle on, again, it bought them time, and the E series went a long way to get them back on an even keel.
ERF were never afraid to try something different, always innovative, and always willing to grasp the nettle and build a special vehicle a company wanted did a lot for the firm. Some of the heavy haulage tackle they produced would’ve been worthy to come out of the Scammell factory, vehicles like RAN, NUT of Leicester Heavyhaulage along with later purchases like the brace of 250t EC14 units they ran, Cadzow and Rawcliffes EC 200t 8x4’s, these were fantastically strong vehicles, you just couldn’t break them, and the finish and tidiness of the chassis was exceptional. They could turn their hands to anything.
By the time the C-series came along, ERF had pulled out of Europe altogether; and didn’t re-enter until the '90s. Ro