Any thoughts on these , were they any better than their rivals at the time , i heard the 11.3 with a 6 speed box could top 60 mph , some ive spoken to swear by them , but no heater no insulation for noise , any tales to tell ?
AEC Mammoth Major Six & Eight MkV Lorry Range is one of my all time favourite commercial vehicle ranges.
The styling and appearance is most impressive,the sound of the engine is equally so and makes great music! 
The performance in power and speed and as a lorry were,for the time,quite good and on par (if not better than)
with the Leyland Octopus,and both were far better than any Gardner 6LX -engined rival in terms of power and speed!
I recall doing 60 to 70 MPH in an UNLOADED tipper-bodied AEC Mammoth Major Eight MkV Lorry on the flat,going down hill,
and up hill and was quite a thrilling drive and ride!
So,alright,the engines went through a period of blowing cylinder head gaskets,but then so did Leyland with their engines! 
All,or at least the vast majority of lorry operators generally obtained great and reliable service from their AEC Mammoth Major MkV
Six and Eight Lorries,and they maintained AEC’s legendary reputation as a producer of superb lorries,motorcoaches,buses and engines!
ramone:
Any thoughts on these , were they any better than their rivals at the time , i heard the 11.3 with a 6 speed box could top 60 mph , some ive spoken to swear by them , but no heater no insulation for noise , any tales to tell ?
Just being a bit pedantic. They had either the AV590 or AV690 engines, NOT the earlier 9.6 or 11.3 engines, similar cylinder dimensions, yes, to the 9.6 litre and 11.3 litre respectively but very different engines, wet liners as opposed to dry liners and monobloc crankcase / cylinder block as opposed to separate crankcase and cylinder block. The 2AV690 powered Mk.V eight-wheeler probably ranks as the best AEC model of all time taking everything into consideration such as reliability, operating costs, performance, productivity etc. etc. OK, driver comfort could have been better, but they were no worse in that aspect than anything else produced in the UK in the early 1960s. The similar spec Mandator Mk.V was also up there amongst the best.
This photo clearly shows one of the main design differences between the earlier Mk.111 MM and the newer Mk.V MM, which had a lower chassis height as a result of its underslung rear suspension. The Mk.V was a superb tanker chassis because the lower height gave improved stability.
I drove many MK5 AECs at A E Evans and when you got one in 1970 it was like promotion from a MK3. I was fortunate to get one of the last made,reg was 526 GYG,ex Cawoods and it had the 2AV690 engine with 6-speed box.It was a long wheelbase model and was uprated to 28 tons gross,the extra four tons not apparent performance wise.Comfortable to drive,it would go all day at 55-60 mph and would blow some of the newer motors off the road. I only had it about 6 months and was then promoted to a “D” reg Mandator as I was one of the few with a Class One licence. The MK5s with the AV590 were underpowered,not a patch on the bigger engine models,and even worse with 5-speed boxes.
The MK5 remains my favourite wagon of all time.
I’ll take one today, Mk3 or Mk5, doesn’t matter which, and I’ll do a weeks work with it…even now at my age. 
They were ■■■■ fine machines.
Who remembers the 2 stick Mk 3’s. 4 high with wool on the 8 wheeler, 3 high on the trailer up from London docks to Bradford. Don’t forget to put double dollies on the ropes, pull em tight.
grumpy old man:
I’ll take one today, Mk3 or Mk5, doesn’t matter which, and I’ll do a weeks work with it…even now at my age.
Who remembers the 2 stick Mk 3’s. 4 high with wool on the 8 wheeler, 3 high on the trailer up from London docks to Bradford. Don’t forget to put double dollies on the ropes, pull em tight.
This was a 2-sticker,I never drove it as it had gone when I started with Evans in 1970.It had the 7.7 engine,an old mate of mine called Albert Roper drove it. Had a slight mishap on either Woodhead or Snake as can be seen… 
Hiya…here she come…
Hiya …outside Adams old garage. the offices was where the asda sign is
.
3300John:
Hiya…here she come…
She’s a cracking motor John.Twin headlights and two wipers as well.
Longer wheelbase MM Mk.V as mentioned by Chris Webb, designed for up-rating from 24 tons gvw after 1965.
I drove one of Smiles fo Miles MK,5s on journey work It only had a 5 speed box but it performed very well even only doing 37 MPH, It pulled like a train plus the more weight it had on the better it went, Smiles had 5 Flats & 3 Tippers all purchased brand new, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
0I drove one of Smiles fo Miles MK,5s on journey work It only had a 5 speed box but it performed very well even only doing 37 MPH, It pulled like a train plus the more weight it had on the better it went, Smiles had 5 Flats & 3 Tippers all purchased brand new, Regards Larry.
That’s a grand line-up Larry of a grand set of wagons.
Here’s line-up at Barking depot,including a Mercury and a couple of tilt cabs…
Fleet 177 next to the Mercury was either ex Fina or Harold Wood and was always kept in immaculate condition…
A E Evans also cut down two MK5 Mammoth Majors into twin steer units for 32t running.They were used with 6000 gall spirit tanks on the North Sea Gas Condensate job out of BP and Amoco at Easington on Spurn Head East Yorks. AYH 701H is in the not very clear picture,the other was BMX 746H.I drove both when regular men were off and they were excellent runners.
Hutchison’s of Kirkcaldy MM Mk.V. The mill is still in business and recently underwent an extensive refurbishment.
gingerfold:
Hutchison’s of Kirkcaldy MM Mk.V. The mill is still in business and recently underwent an extensive refurbishment.0
Nice photo Graham,they are a good looking machine.
And I always found them very comfortable to drive, good position and excellent steering.
Surely somebody somewhere does driver experience days where us old lads could just climb aboard and have a go, just for old times sake.
I’ll book:-
#1 A Mk5 AEC
#2 3 axle Foden unit with a 350 ■■■■■■■ and a Fuller
#3 Atky with a 150 Gardner and a 6 speed DB
#4 Commer TS3
Then down to the pub to wallow in contentment.
