5thwheel:
ERF-NGC-European:
Did Valkerie’s sheets show factory-fitted 8LXBs?Otherwise, good points. As for conversions being made as early as possible, I am reminded of NGCs being re-gearboxed at dealership level/stage, so that effectively they rolled off the production line with, say a 9-sp Fuller and was equipped with a 13-sp one by the dealership to meet customer needs.
So in the case of Guy, would a Big-J supplied brand-new to a customer fitted with an 8LXB by a Guy (Leyland) accredited dealer not count as a bone fide vehicle; as opposed to a unit that’s been re-fitted with a bigger engine after a year in service? It’s a fine distinction, but it could be the answer to this thread’s agonisations - the holy grail, as 'twere! Ro
To provide additional clarification,the 240Percy powered Big J that I collected from SoM Newton le Willows was a brand new vehicle delivered overnight from Maddiston.
David
If it’s an approved dealer retrofit as Robert said it would be effectively supplied as new but not built as an 8LXB at the Guy works.These things were going to be a rare beast which only would have been viable to create in a high mileage high utilisation operation and even then probably with a lot of convincing by the fleet engineer.It would have been an idea which I would definitely have agreed with being worth all the aggro v an NA ■■■■■■■ in that case.
While Bewick seems to have got a bee in his bonnet about only Atkis being worthy of the anchor.When the sums would obviously have added up v ■■■■■■■ regardless what it was put in.
So I actually think they existed and I also think I know why which is what clinches it for me.But no way were they built at the factory on Guy’s production Schedules because I also believe Bewick’s view on the Gardner engine supply situation.
It would have probably gone along the lines of those specialised customers approaching Guy with the possibility of an order and Guy saying we can probably do that but there will be a wait and it will probably be approved dealer retrofit.