I could be wrong but I think Eric Vick operated some of those ERF units which were called Eurotruck and were first seen at the 73 Brussels show. I never saw one in the flesh and I’ve never seen one mentioned in any vintage magazine.They had 335 ■■■■■■■■ a Scania type grill, and a modified version of the MV cab which had been available in the UK since the previous year, I know Beresfords and Cadwallader used those and I saw one working out of Buxton as late as winter 87/88.
This reminded me of a unit Atkinson produced for a short time in 68/69 which was intended for export and was fitted with a Krupp sleeper cab. Krupp having pulled out of truck manufacturing, they had these surplus and Atkinson were pitching for European sales with a base in Belgium. They were left ■■■■■■ sleepers, and 220 Rolls powered. That venture did’nt last and I have only seen a picture of one and that was in UK service with Dixons Pork of Dukinfield. I can’t believe any have survived but if one has that would ultra rare. A few of those (Atki) Viewlines are knocking about though, they look like they could be the grandad of a Magnum. Mind you they were built at Walton-le-Dale so the French connection was already there.
Yep, that’s the one! Don’t recall 'em being quite so ugly in real life though. Mind you, having a 335 ■■■■■■■ back in 1973 would have compensated somewhat.
Chris Webb:
Thanks for the pic Killsville,never thought I’d see one again
In that case, you can have a special treat and see the same cab again! This time it’s got some bits under it…
The sleeper on this Atki ventura was Built in My dads garage in Stalybridge cheshire . He bought KBU371P from our local scrap yard R&P Commercials in Audenshaw m/cr . The truck was purchased new by AJ Clarke demolition from Oldham . When they replaced it with a doble drive Volvo 150 tonner the then local dealer Taits said the truck was a heep of scrap and sent it to R&P . For some daft reason only known to him my old man decided that with the new increase to38t it would make a great addition to our fleet . At the time we were running an Atki day cab wich was a spare moter Volvo f88 290s and scanias . So why buy a day cab only he knows . Barney Heally and myself built the cab to fit the driver Bob Greanwood ( Wobbly ) was abig old boy so we made the cab wide and deep , But it still had room for 2 large lockers under the 3/4 mattress . The lockers had doors on the outside for access. We fitted a bostrum suspension seat webasto night heater and power stearing . the cab was then mounted on rubber blocks . This suprisingly made big bird Wobblys name for her a nice truck to drive . 1st time out on the Cast container contract Bob found out that she would only do 48 mph flat out . We changed the gearbox giving it 10mph more but still reving its head off so a change of diffs was needed this gave it a more comfortable 65mph cruising speed and great mpg . John Killingbeck bought her when Tremar transport finnished trading .
Chris Webb:
Thanks for the pic Killsville,never thought I’d see one again
In that case, you can have a special treat and see the same cab again! This time it’s got some bits under it…
The sleeper on this Atki ventura was Built in My dads garage in Stalybridge cheshire . He bought KBU371P from our local scrap yard R&P Commercials in Audenshaw m/cr . The truck was purchased new by AJ Clarke demolition from Oldham . When they replaced it with a doble drive Volvo 150 tonner the then local dealer Taits said the truck was a heep of scrap and sent it to R&P . For some daft reason only known to him my old man decided that with the new increase to38t it would make a great addition to our fleet . At the time we were running an Atki day cab wich was a spare moter Volvo f88 290s and scanias . So why buy a day cab only he knows . Barney Heally and myself built the cab to fit the driver Bob Greanwood ( Wobbly ) was abig old boy so we made the cab wide and deep , But it still had room for 2 large lockers under the 3/4 mattress . The lockers had doors on the outside for access. We fitted a bostrum suspension seat webasto night heater and power stearing . the cab was then mounted on rubber blocks . This suprisingly made big bird Wobblys name for her a nice truck to drive . 1st time out on the Cast container contract Bob found out that she would only do 48 mph flat out . We changed the gearbox giving it 10mph more but still reving its head off so a change of diffs was needed this gave it a more comfortable 65mph cruising speed and great mpg . John Killingbeck bought her when Tremar transport finnished trading .
Interesting info, thanks! There is a photo of it in Bubbs’ Scrapbook thread, in its pre-Tremar days - perhaps when you had it? I’d no idea who had had it new, so you’ve cleared that up for me. The first time I saw it was in 1985, when there was an informal event at Winery Lane to mark the 10th anniversary of the end of true Atkinson production - Tremar brought it along and it was looking quite smart. I think that that was where JK first cane across it.
In the 70’s on Swifts we had a lot of AEC Mandators and one bloke built a folding bed behind the drivers seat, it was quite clever really, it folded twice and when put away was only 18 inches wide and flat against the rear of the cab, when set up it was 3 feet wide and supported by straps and looked quite comfortable with the slim mattress he had fitted.
One week the driver was away on his holidays and another driver … ‘Jock Shepherd’ had to use his truck because his own was having work done on it, Jock was quite a big bloke and filled the cab anyway
We got a police report at Swifts a few days into the week that Jock pulled up sharp because someone pulled out in front of him and the bunk assembly opened up trapping jock underneath
Special services were called to free him
A good argument for coffin sleepers I think
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