kerbut:
Later than 1972 , the MGB has rubber bumpers and they didn’t appear before 1975 and the Scimitar is a Mk 2 which came out in 1974.
The “MGB” is a Jensen Healey, is it not?
You could well be right , I cant get the photo to get much bigger to see.
Resting…
A few more…
Bit of nostalgia…
No doubt you are ready for more “oldies” down your way on Friday Dave with the start of the Tour de Bretagane from Fousennant.
Hello Nigel, yep got that marked, got to get some new boots for the XJR then will RDV with them somewhere at some point…weather looking good so a good turn out I reckon…
Interesting pictures, as usal! 4th picture from the top (Casino 6-wheeler) looks to me it’s a totally re-bodied Mack; a really beautiful job!
What about the following one (RHD dragger)? OM? Barreiros?
Fergie47:
Transporter G.Dutriez, over a couple of decades.
Evening all,
Fergie, super pictures as ever, and as usual Im well behind the pace! Would anyone mind if I indulge in a little meander along the aged grey cells of my mind concerning both Transports Dutriez, and also Depauew of Lompret…because both are entwined to a great degree. Dutriez was a reasonable sized operation by the early 50s, specialising in traffic from the industriel areas of Lille to Paris, a journey of some 7 to 8 hours! It was on the encouragement of Deutriez, that Saint Sylvestre -Cappel, (close to Saint Malo), based Gylbert Depauew and his brother in law Marcel Colaert began their transport operation with a Saurer C3TID coupled to a “Fiche 75” single axle trailer. (The Fiche 75 does not refer to its manufacture, it is the ex US Surplus technical note detailing the trailers simple specification, some were built by Trailmobile, others Fruehauf, but became collectively known as Fiche 75s)
Interesting firm Dutriez from Rue de Lille, Estaires. Those look like someones really personal pictures, and they show Dutriez`s first Saurer rigids, and that magnificent warehouse, house, and yard, with the entrance that always seemed far too low for any Savoyard to enter, but they did!
Their main traffic , apart from the removals and “smalls” side was for Mineur, the Tobacco Merchants in Lille. The fleet had, as Fergies pictures show, a striking red, yellow and black livery, and comprised some premium equipment. Bernards with both Pelpel, type 2, and 3 cabs, as well as the Willeme Cottard Horizon cabbed AEC 690 powered 35 tonner. Bedford were also utilised, the little TK proving both economic to buy, and operate.19 tonners were by Unic, as well as 35 tonne drawbars, and much later the 190 s.
Fernand Delforge was slightly disappointed by the AEC/Willeme, and in 66, or 67 ordered the first Scania L76s, (Fergies pictures show both of them), and from then on Scania became the mainstay of this fleet, 110, 111s, and silver sheets for their Savoyards, very striking outfits indeed. And that was what first struck me about Transports Deutriez, just how smart were their lorries. Particularly when in the 60s, I used to park in their line along Paris`s Rue Ecluses, to use , as their drivers did a quite pleasant Bar Tabac, whilst I was awaiting to unload.
It was quite a lively place, music, laughter, conversation, and that was how I came to know, and enjoy the company of some of their drivers, because we were cycling enthusiasts…long and animated debates about the merits of Raymond Poulidor, Jacques Anquetil, Rik Van Steenbergen, Rik Van Looy, and of course Tom Simpson, Alan Ramsbottom, …great evenings, great company…we could never agree…but always parted as friends!
But what of Depaeuw? Well by the late 50s Gylbert had his fill of road haulage, and left the partnership to open a Bar in Lille…But by the late 60s he was back with a modest operation, but one of his key clients being the Tobacco giant Mineur, from Lille! …By the mid 70s Depaeuw was headed by Gylberts son Partice, still a modest size but sound financially. They moved to Lompret in the late 70s, and expanded the warehouse side, as well as developing distribution for SEITA throughout the Seine Maritime region.
But in the early 80s this work, over 50% of the total volume of traffic was lost…But Patrice was up to the challenge, and new work was found with Decathlon, and Depaeuw became prime distribution contractor for Chep France. The latters work demanding maximum deck length, so 15 metre deck close coupled drawbar R310 Renaults appeared, alongside day cab, “Pavillion” sleeper R330s, (9.5 litre 6 cylinder, sitting under a day cab KB24 shell), as well as G290 pavillion cab top sleeper day cabs , all coupled to 13.4 metre tri axle platforms. Then to complete the Renault line up were the 6x4 LSW, (light single drive wheel) high cab R340s…for the traffic to the UK.
All wore a new livery…based upon “our” Le Centaure paint work …and very spectacular they looked as well…Garages Dubreu, our local dealer reaped well the harvest of that first “complimentary” paint job…(just like we used to do in the UK to get a new fleet on board)!!!
But what of Transports Dutriez, who had been so instrumental in setting Gylbert Depaeuw off into the world of transport?..Well in the late 80s Dutriez became part of Depaeuw…
Sort of a ramble around in a circle, hope I have not bored you all
Cheerio for now.
Fantastic post Saviem. Thanks for taking the time. Much appreciated.
Johnny
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backsplice:
Could,t help but add this piece of French transport of yesteryear …■■?
Evening all,
By gum Backsplice, that is a rare one in your land…the French were terrified of what they saw as the “Colonial” market! Had a go with some from Paul Berliet, but put Hendrickson back ends on them, but never really followed it up at all. I often wondered what happened to those tractors?
The Mack people were hungry for the Antipodes, they saw it as a similar market to the USA. Ploughed lots of $ into it, and had reasonable success. I always found that the management at Mack would be willing to have a go, whatever the potential outcome…then if it did not work, well they had a re think, and charged right in again to have another tilt at it!
When I was in Allentown in the early 80s they had several versions of “Tri Drive” bogies on test, purely for the Antipodean market. I used to wonder if they would try to go straight on when they came to a corner…but I suppose that there were not many corners to negotiate? Cracking people those engineers at Mack, many had real "over the road " experience, it was the only manufacturer where I found that the “engineers” did not live in self glorifying ivory towers, but really understood and appreciated the needs of the guy driving the lorry, as well as the man operating it, (hopefully), for profit…not just the factory producing the lorry!!!
Cheerio for now.
backsplice:
Could,t help but add this piece of French transport of yesteryear …■■?
RHD Peugeot 203! Australian registration?
newmercman:
Thanks John, that’s a good enough summary for me. I was subbed to TFE whilst at Solstor, it was an interesting time and being in possession of a magic yellow cabotage book meant the trailer was not often empty and in those days that meant the bunk in my Scania was not a place I spent much time!My old TRUCK teammate Craig 111 currently works for TFE, hopefully his investigation skills haven’t left and he can bring us up to speed on the group as it is today.
Another possible connection that Buzzer may recall is the company we (Solstor) and his boys used to take Nestlé chocolate to in Dijon, they were a large refrigerated outfit, not TFE or STG, but one of the larger players of the day, I just can’t remember their name.
Apologies for being late to the party on this subject. Another fantastically informative post by Monsieur Saviem re. the origins of Europe’s leading refigerated transport company 
As my ex-colleague said I work for STEF-TFE in Agen, (probably the best employer I’ve ever had) but first started out doing a bit with TFE Euroventure in the 90s, running out of Plymouth for a subbie. Unlike my friend from the Eastend (nudge, nudge) I never took to bending the rules so never got into the all day/all night running, but I know from friends here that a lot of it went on back in the day, just like 95% of fridge firms at the time.
After raiding the firm’s photographic archives here are a few black and white photos to illustrate the early days of STEF in France (and to hazard a guess at Mr Lee’s question about Nestlé in Dijon, was the name Davigel by any chance Mark?)
Not just fish on a Friday! Anyone care to identify the front wing of the car peeking into view on the left?
Off to the four corners of France
The aforementioned Alamassé
It handled like it was on rails!
Alamassé again
And one more:
The origins of STEF Quimper
P’■■■ porteur
More to come, next time in colour. . .
Craig
A lot of great posts, pictures , and stories, keep 'em coming … 
Craig, that wing showing in the photo may be a Morris Oxford or Austin Cambridge, late 60’s.
Great photo’s.
Paul
Paul John:
Craig, that wing showing in the photo may be a Morris Oxford or Austin Cambridge, late 60’s.
Great photo’s.
Paul
…or a French car, maybe:
google.co.uk/search?q=peuge … cQ_AUIBigB
RHD Peugeot 203! Australian registration?.. thats right "Australian Capital territory " ACT … I ,m heading to a classic car day tomorrow there may a few old " Frenchmen " on display we,ll see!!!
Found this today, thought it may be of interest.
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