Yes the video is good watching. It must have taken you patience to put it together. I like the 8 wheeled wagon and 6 wheel drag coming out of the pipe just before minute 6. Thanks for the memories!
This post has woken a few long dormant grey cells and I have come up with a list of Comart drivers 1975-1978. It’s not complete and I may have mixed a few names with other drivers I have known. But it may interest someone out there.
I’ll try a fleet list next!
Regards
PTT
Alan Davey
Alan Goldstraw
Alan Holmes
Alan Nicklin (Petal)
Alf Jung
Alfie Williams (Wheeler)
Arthur Johnson
Barry Tomlinson (Shirley Temple)
Bill Baggeley
Bill Brindley
Bill McCall
Bill Smith
Brian Hanley
Dave Arrowsmith
Derek Birch
Derek Goldstraw
Eddie Walker
George Thorley
Gordon Mace (Macey)
Graham Sinnott
Graham Wright
Jake Smith
Jeff Stevens
Jock Hope
John McCann
John Meredith
John Wilkinson (Wink)
Malcolm Gibson
Pete McCutcheon
Phil Darlington
Ray Pointon
Rod Johnson
Roy Corbett (Sooty)
Steve Baddeley
Terry Smith
Tom Askey
A fleet list as close as I can remember from 1975-1978. The tractors were 16 speed 4x2 Volvo F88 240, Volvo F88 290 and Volvo F89, apart from those commented on below. In addition there was a long term demonstrator V10 air-cooled Magirus Deutz and a couple of odd looking Dafs registered in Belgium and on loan from sister company SBT.
Who drove what is even more hazy but where I have put names to trucks it’s because I seem to think that’s where they belong.
BLG 969M Derek Birch ( F88 no overdrive fitted)
CDW 238L George Thorley
FEH 575J (G88)
GHA 848N Bill McCall
GWP 134N Petal (Daf 2800)
HFA 134N (Ex SBT Belgium)
HFA 135N Barry Tomlinson (Ex SBT Belgium)
HFA 136N Steve Baddeley (Ex SBT Belgium)
HFA 137N (Ex SBT Belgium)
HFA 138N Phil Darlington (Ex SBT Belgium)
KUE 342P Macey
KUE 343P
KUE 344P Rod Johnson
KUE 345P Terry Smith
KUE 346P Eddie Walker
KUE 347P
LEA 69P Jock Hope
LEA 70P Malcolm Gibson
LEA 71P Jeff Stevens
LEA 72P John Meredith
LEA 73P Ray Pointon
LEA 74P Alf Jung
NVT 386M (ERF glass fibre cab)
SNX 721R Pete McCutcheon
SVT 837N John McCann (Ex Belgium F89?)
SVT 953N Alf Williams
TVT 997L Graham Sinnott
YVT 958M Bill Baggeley (Scania 110)
Yes the video is good watching. It must have taken you patience to put it together. I like the 8 wheeled wagon and 6 wheel drag coming out of the pipe just before minute 6. Thanks for the memories!
This post has woken a few long dormant grey cells and I have come up with a list of Comart drivers 1975-1978. It’s not complete and I may have mixed a few names with other drivers I have known. But it may interest someone out there.
I’ll try a fleet list next!
Regards
PTT
Alan Davey
Alan Goldstraw
Alan Holmes
Alan Nicklin (Petal)
Alf Jung
Alfie Williams (Wheeler)
Arthur Johnson
Barry Tomlinson (Shirley Temple)
Bill Baggeley
Bill Brindley
Bill McCall
Bill Smith
Brian Hanley
Dave Arrowsmith
Derek Birch
Derek Goldstraw
Eddie Walker
George Thorley
Gordon Mace (Macey)
Graham Sinnott
Graham Wright
Jake Smith
Jeff Stevens
Jock Hope
John McCann
John Meredith
John Wilkinson (Wink)
Malcolm Gibson
Pete McCutcheon
Phil Darlington
Ray Pointon
Rod Johnson
Roy Corbett (Sooty)
Steve Baddeley
Terry Smith
Tom Askey
PTT, good list of the drivers some names I remember, some I don,t, checked with Mum and she has come up with some more. Some before your time and some after I think.
Jonnie Davis
Eddie Deville
Charlie Walker (Eddies Brother)
Stan King
Terry Lewis
Don Graham
Ron Bates
Graham Newton (Clogger)
John Oldacre (Popeye) worked with Pop on Frans Maas
Dave Kettrick (went on to drive for Mark Young)
Tony Bird (Budgie)
Tony Hayes
John Masterson
Pete Davis
Malcolm Knight
Barry Dimmock (Yard Man)
Roy Reece
Gill Merrick
Garage Staff
Alan Morrison
Kevin Jones
Ian Jackson
Jeff Machin
Paul Harding
Eric (Fridge Fitter)
Ziggy Manis
Hope I’ve got these right
Hi All,
Brilliant to see this thread come to life again
By chance, my Mum is sorting some boxes out at the moment and has found some more photos and bits and pieces,Comart brochure, article from an food retail mag and some old telex’s
Here goes -
Eddie Deville and Wheeler, I think in Rungis
Dad(wheeler) with his favorite camion meal - Goblin Irish Stew
Not sure where this is, but looks nice - poss Italy or Greece
Weekended near Marsielles - toughjob
Loading in Italy - Cesana I think
Wheeler - Dereck Birch - Arthur Johnson - Petal(Bending over) - Steve Baddeley
Making sure the load is fresh or more can’t wait for it to turn to wine !!!
Tough Life this International Driving Lark !! - Not Sure of the 1st Guy - Billy McCall - Alan Holmes
wheeler with truck behind at Portugese border - Villa Fermosa 1971
Italien customs on the Blanc
Eddie Deville and Ron Bates - More Trailer food - checking the load again in Aosta
Wink (John Wilkinson) in Aosta
Postcard of the Autoporto - Aosta
Thats it for now - will post some more tomorrow
Regards
Ant
Brilliant pics there WR. what a great snapshot of the international transport industry of 40 + years ago!!..amazing.
Out of interest, for those of us not too clued up on the subtle differences regarding the Volvo 88/89 , one of the pics (Camion Stew) shows an 89 radiator grill badge with the wording “89 Turbo 6”. So, im guessing its an 89 (left ■■■■■■?? ) but what would the “6” stand for as in “Turbo 6”■■
No fighting, no arguing, no eye gouging or hair pulling please. All answers gratefully recieved!!
6 is as in 6 cylinder.
F is as in Forward control (ie cabover) and (N as in Normal control.)
Bit hazy here but;
8 is 8th model or release or development (I worked with F85 and F86 as well)
and
9 is 9 litre.
The numbering has changed a bit now but an FH 16 is a still forward (high) 16 litre and an FL 6 is a forward (low) 6 litre.
F89 seemed only to be available as left hand drive, although elsewhere on the forum there is some speculation that right hand drive versions turned up in Australia or some such place. It was something to do with the clearance between the top of the engine and the bottom of the cab (when closed) which worked on LHD but not on RHD.
hi part time trucker thats 89 explanation is broken down well i learnt something today dont suppose you know for any body panels down there in france as if just bought one from greece thanks regards rward
hi part time trucker thats 89 explanation is broken down well i learnt something today dont suppose you know for any body panels down there in france as if just bought one from greece thanks regards rward
6 is as in 6 cylinder.
F is as in Forward control (ie cabover) and (N as in Normal control.)
Bit hazy here but;
8 is 8th model or release or development (I worked with F85 and F86 as well)
and
9 is 9 litre.
The numbering has changed a bit now but an FH 16 is a still forward (high) 16 litre and an FL 6 is a forward (low) 6 litre.
F89 seemed only to be available as left hand drive, although elsewhere on the forum there is some speculation that right hand drive versions turned up in Australia or some such place. It was something to do with the clearance between the top of the engine and the bottom of the cab (when closed) which worked on LHD but not on RHD.
Regards,
PTT
hi all,
the 8 designation comes from volvo,it has nothing to do with engine size.the “titan tip top” or system 8 was the code name from volvo for the then new f88/89 system 8 range of trucks.the 8 refers to the 8 main areas of improvement in cab,insulation etc etc.the f88 was a 10 litre engine and the 89 a 12 litre 330.
regards andrew.
It’s mostly brown cows and trees around here but I’ll keep my eyes open for F89 bits.
The guy next door here has a 144 Scania 500 and a lowloader and uses the pavement outside his house as his Operating Centre… but his previous V8 141 sounded much nicer at 5 in the morning!
Are you the guy who recovered an 89 from Greece for a rebuild?
There were a few I can’t believe I had forgotten; Ron Bates, Tony Bird, Graham Newton, Don Graham for instance.
Was it Geoff Machin (the fitter) in the Comart brochure up on top of the engine?
And Barry Dimmock was in the SPD magazine of January 1979 which I’ll try and upload when I have worked out how.
Regards,
PTT
PTT,
Yes it was Geoff on top of the engine, Ive also got the SPD mag article, I’ll post later if get chance,
Also just added Roy Reece and Gill Merrick to the list
Beat me to the F89 explanation, to busy driving
Regards
Ant
Sorry, I didn’t mean to hijack your excellent post! But I have had plenty of time on my hands since I handed my keys in for (probably) the last time in April this year…
I knew a Roy Reece from Fransen of Kidderminster in the Unispeed days. Maybe the same one. Another gentleman.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to hijack your excellent post! But I have had plenty of time on my hands since I handed my keys in for (probably) the last time in April this year…
I knew a Roy Reece from Fransen of Kidderminster in the Unispeed days. Maybe the same one. Another gentleman.
Kind regards,
PTT
PTT,
No offence taken
Not sure if Roy Reece drove for Fransen, wish I could hang my keys up, job very different these days
Regards
Ant
Something different now -
1st Comart’s brochure produced when unilever had bought them with the change to the new colours
Hope you can read it - Uprated photos so hopefully clearer
2nd - An Article from SPD (Unilever) magazine
Photo enlarged from article - Alf Jung and Barry Dimmock
Hi PTT, thanks for taking time to post an explanation of the break down of the Volvo marque. One thing that is guaranteed when anyone asks questions about the F88 / 89 series is that so many people have a different understanding of them both
Apologies to Willie Roadstar for leading the thread off topic a tad…now, back to the pictures
The Transit pictured with Alf and Barry was fitted with some sort of bunk so the fitter could get his head down if he had to go over the channel. It replaced a 109" Series 3 Land Rover which on more than one occasion towed a unit back from northern France…?
The 3 guys in the office picture are (left to right) Malcolm (?) who took over from Alf Banks as cashier, Peter Olley who is pictured elsewhere on this post and Stephen Coward (aka part-time-trucker).
- Uprated photos so hopefully clearer 
