robert1952:
I know this is a Mk 5 thread, but others have slipped the odd Mk 3 in: I was at Gloucester Steam & Vintage Extravaganza today and spotted this Mk 3 (pic below) - it reminded me of those drays with trailers that Truman’s Ales used to operate, delivering to the resorts down the Thanet Way (A229) in Kent in the mid-60s. BTW, I do think the AEC Mk 5 was one of the most attractive lorries on the road at the end of the '60s - has anyone got a good picture of one of Alan Firmin’s? Robert
Here`s one of Longs near the end of its working life , Photo by Peter Davies
ref the A.E.C. of longs
what a dam good photo,i wonder how many drivers its had in its time & and how many miles its done and the cafes its been stopped at what storys could it tell,some lucky driver got that when new (I wish it had been me) I suppose its fate was the gas axe shame.
regards
sm1 
I always like rigids with over-cab platforms - a sort of open Luton! Good for straw cartage. Robert 
robert1952:
I always like rigids with over-cab platforms - a sort of open Luton! Good for straw cartage. Robert
There’s a chap I’ve met recently,in his 80’s,who has an immaculate 1952 MG 4 door saloon in origional condition (well he has put a Sierra 5 speed box into it) well he was a trailer mate on Longs as teenager then he eventually got a start as a Bus driver on West Yorkshire Motor Traction (I think it was ?) Great bloke to chat to about old cars and motors.Cheers Bewick.
robert1952:
I always like rigids with over-cab platforms - a sort of open Luton! Good for straw cartage. Robert
The “canopys” at Longs were used for carrying bales all loaded from overhead cranes from mills ,once the bale was dropped ,if you didn`t get it where it needed to be it was up to you and your hand hook to put it in place ,no fork trucks hard work but at least when you got it loaded in the pouring rain and then roped and sheeted it you could get into a nice warm cab … ffs a different era 
ramone:
robert1952:
I always like rigids with over-cab platforms - a sort of open Luton! Good for straw cartage. RobertThe “canopys” at Longs were used for carrying bales all loaded from overhead cranes from mills ,once the bale was dropped ,if you didn`t get it where it needed to be it was up to you and your hand hook to put it in place ,no fork trucks hard work but at least when you got it loaded in the pouring rain and then roped and sheeted it you could get into a nice warm cab … ffs a different era
Didn’t BRS run some covered in ones called ‘showboats’, on Scammell rigid-eight chassis; and you could load the bales in through the roof? Robert
robert1952:
ramone:
robert1952:
I always like rigids with over-cab platforms - a sort of open Luton! Good for straw cartage. RobertThe “canopys” at Longs were used for carrying bales all loaded from overhead cranes from mills ,once the bale was dropped ,if you didn`t get it where it needed to be it was up to you and your hand hook to put it in place ,no fork trucks hard work but at least when you got it loaded in the pouring rain and then roped and sheeted it you could get into a nice warm cab … ffs a different era
Didn’t BRS run some covered in ones called ‘showboats’, on Scammell rigid-eight chassis; and you could load the bales in through the roof? Robert
One from Glasgow
Dieseldog66:
gingerfold:
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.So was there a Mk 4?
No there was never a Mk.4 AEC lorry, just an AEC Mk.1V Regal single deck passenger chassis. One of the quirks of AEC’s production history.
TIDDERSON:
I always thought it was one of the best looking lorries ever built
D’you know, I’ll take one of those AEC’s anyday against one of the modern “eurobox” vehicles. And I’m not joking, not being nostalgic, I think they were a ■■■■ fine machine until British Leyland got near them, the ergo cabbed motors, IMO, were not in the same league.
TIDDERSON:
I always thought it was one of the best looking lorries ever built
me too
AEC Mammoth Major Six and Eight MkV Lorry Range.
Gingerfold:
Dieseldog66:
Gingerfold:
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.So was there a Mk 4?
No there was never a Mk.4 AEC lorry, just an AEC Mk.IV Regal single deck passenger chassis. One of the quirks of AEC’s production history.
Actually,some people did - rather misguidedly - term the AEC Mammoth Major Six and Eight Tin Front MkIII Lorries as “MkIV’s”,because of the
enclosed radiator and tin front styling.
For me,the AEC Mammoth Major Six and Eight Tin Front MkIII and AEC Mandator Tin Front MkIII Lorries,when fitted with the Park Royal
Tin Front MkIII Phase 2 Cab,are the best looking AEC lorries ever! 
BUT THEY MUST HAVE the standard,definitve,most popular and best looking
tin front MkIII cab! as fitted to:-
AEC Mammoth Major Six Tin Front MkIII,Park Royal Tin Front MkIII Phase 2-cabbed,Flat-bodied 6x2 or 6x4 Lorry,778 MNU,September 1959,Derby. A and H Hardy. It has the beautiful and standard definitive Tin Front MkIII cab - better looking than the MkV! :
VALKYRIE
A simple but very stylish cab design, and by using the same front grille panel on the Mk.V passenger range AEC presented a standardised ‘family’ image long before the other manufacturers did.
gingerfold:
A simple but very stylish cab design, and by using the same front grille panel on the Mk.V passenger range AEC presented a standardised ‘family’ image long before the other manufacturers did.
BMMO maintained a ‘family’ image in about the same period… Robert
robert1952:
ramone:
robert1952:
I always like rigids with over-cab platforms - a sort of open Luton! Good for straw cartage. RobertThe “canopys” at Longs were used for carrying bales all loaded from overhead cranes from mills ,once the bale was dropped ,if you didn`t get it where it needed to be it was up to you and your hand hook to put it in place ,no fork trucks hard work but at least when you got it loaded in the pouring rain and then roped and sheeted it you could get into a nice warm cab … ffs a different era
Didn’t BRS run some covered in ones called ‘showboats’, on Scammell rigid-eight chassis; and you could load the bales in through the roof? Robert
Harrisons of Dewsbury and Hansons Huddersfield had some vans with open roofs. Think of them as “greedy boards”, if the load was just a bit too much, or there were a few smaller things that HAD to go…on top they went, with a small sheet over them, Ackworth railway bridge on the Wakefield-Doncaster road “adjusted” the height regularly. Oh dear, I’ve gone out there with a few more lads about half an hour after the London trunkers had set off, “can you come out and lend a hand to clean up, we’ve taken the top layer off…again” 
The ‘Tin Front’ pictures I have seen all seem to feature a grille with vertical bars, whereas the MK V all have a mesh grille. However when transferred to buses the MK V Regents seem to be a mixture.
The only Tin Front I ever really got close to was Alan Firmin’s AF 57 right at the end of it career when it was running local work only. It survived until about 1972. I have probably left out a couple, but Firmin had at that time AF 57, MM8 MK V flats AF 105 and 2 PKR, and MM8 bulker 641 NKJ . MM8 AF 80 had been cut down and was a rather cantankerous 4x2 tractor unit.
I have long been convinced that the AF 105 on the rally circuit is in fact a re-registered 2 PKR. If anyone knows Mick? Heywood, he should be able to confirm or deny.
Edit: It’s Dave not Mick.
cav551:
The ‘Tin Front’ pictures I have seen all seem to feature a grille with vertical bars, whereas the MK V all have a mesh grille. However when transferred to buses the MK V Regents seem to be a mixture.The only Tin Front I ever really got close to was Alan Firmin’s AF 57 right at the end of it career when it was running local work only. It survived until about 1972. I have probably left out a couple, but Firmin had at that time AF 57, MM8 MK V flats AF 105 and 2 PKR, and MM8 bulker 641 NKJ . MM8 AF 80 had been cut down and was a rather cantankerous 4x2 tractor unit.
I have long been convinced that the AF 105 on the rally circuit is in fact a re-registered 2 PKR. If anyone knows Mick? Heywood, he should be able to confirm or deny.
Don’t go there. When I was secretary of the AEC Society it was one of the registration numbers I verified for the DVLA. Mums the word…
Stanfield:
gingerfold:
Yes, the heavy-duty version of the MM6, one of the toughest and best off-road / site designs ever, due to its 2-spring rear suspension and bogie arrangement. Such as Wimpey and McAlpines had hundreds of them.I did hear at the time that these were a cancelled order of Wimpeys dont know how true it was.1
0
Tillotson ,s in bradford had a couple of these for sale about 1972 we had a look at one it had the AV760in it but a down rated version ,6 speed box and double reduction diffs,would have made a great tractor unit.Ithink it ended up on muck shift with Tyson,s in keighley.
cheer,s Richard.
The firm I worked for had four five speed mk v,s and three of the newer six speed with power steering. The oil tank for the power steering was in the corner of the cab behind the seat and when driving one of them there would be a sudden hissing noise .
This was the oil tank pressurising which resulted in a spurt of oil shooting up from the breather hole on the filler cap. Always had to remember to keep some rag over the tank.
I think my knuckles still bear the scars from getting the four batteries in or out from under the two seat frames.
I collected one from the bodybuilders after repairs to frontal damage and spent a long time waiting for the air to build up before I noticed the pipes for the air and oil gauges had been crossed over.
Happy Days Phil.
