ERF-NGC-European:
As I read it, I think CF’s point is that when we entered the EEC we as a nation tended to do the decent thing and allow protectionism to become unfashionable as it was seen to fly in the face of the spirit of the European Project. As we know France, in particular, and the rest in general continued protectionist practice unchallenged, especially in the automotive industry. If I learned one thing about the project on my travels on the Continent with lorries, it was that EU rules were for silly line-toeing Brits and no one else;
^ This.
I think the whole issue as to how Euro/Scandi imports created such large UK sales and service networks here so fast while ours there were being ‘leaned on’ to drop us is a can of worms.Even without the questions over infiltration and sabotage of our product development and placement.Is there a lot of information which might reinforce the suggestion such as the opposite situation here of Brit dealerships moving away from the domestic product and unexpectedly showing a keen interest in representing the importers instead.
I now in the car sector by necessity it turned very tribal in terms of ‘our’ dealerships staying loyal and fierce customer loyalty like Henlys and Lancasters and University Motors almost being like a football team fan base in the derision rightly heaped on the new Jap and Euro dealers and their customers in the banter in the parts counter queue.It’s growing up around that and working in the domestic automotive industry that has left me with that same fierce loyalty to date.As you’ll see in my replies to anorak.Basically loyalty to one’s own manufacturing industry is just a mark of proper patriotism as I see it.No point in fighting for a country and then letting its industries go down the tubes to imports.So fair play to them.But it’s the double standards which helped to take us out which stinks.
There’s a whole thread on these LHD EC-series somewhere! They all had synchro 'boxes and most of them had big ■■■■■■■ engines, especially the Spanish ones. Ro
Getting back to ERF NGCs, Kenb, who has featured many times on this thread, posted some superb pics on the Trans Arabia thread today. Here are the two NGC pics. It appears to show one of the six supplied to Trans Arabia brand new with 290 ■■■■■■■ and 13-speed Fullers. Ro
EDIT to say that after enquiring on the Trans Arabia thread I received the following lovely response from Ken:
Hi Robert The fleet numbers for the 7 new vehicles were 105 to 110 this included 107 which was a demonstrator that was seriously damaged and rebuild before being shipped to TA The vehicle in question was 110 driven by a Johnny Mathews who unfortunately is no longer with us, these photos came from his son this morning, posted on Facebook. Johnny was an ex S Jones man and was one of the original team - a great guy always with a smile on his face. Keep up the good work. Regards Ken b
@Robert: focus on other threads is on the predecessor of 134.D.8 or the second NGC of Van Steenbergen.
Aquired in 1966 with first a cab of Liekens from Brussels it soon got a cab of Van Eck from (then) Lexmond
but in 1974 it was superseded by a NGC with same registration. No doubt…■■■■■■■ powered and after a
busy operation, even international as the cab was quite roomy with a bunk, the tractor ‘ended’ in Holland
to await a ‘tough’ restoration by Langen from Geleen, meanwhile Loetoning from Stein, close to Geleen.
ERF-Continental: @Robert: focus on other threads is on the predecessor of 134.D.8 or the second NGC of Van Steenbergen.
Aquired in 1966 with first a cab of Liekens from Brussels it soon got a cab of Van Eck from (then) Lexmond
but in 1974 it was superseded by a NGC with same registration. No doubt…■■■■■■■ powered and after a
busy operation, even international as the cab was quite roomy with a bunk, the tractor ‘ended’ in Holland
to await a ‘tough’ restoration by Langen from Geleen, meanwhile Loetoning from Stein, close to Geleen.
Trilex wheels too! I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised at the migration of any Belgian registration numbers, as they belong to the owner rather than to the vehicle. Here’s another picture of it that was sent to me by Van Steenbergen when I was researching the books.
Perhaps this one? Made in Antwerpen near Ruys (later Nedlloyd) with also the registration to put behind the front window.
This was number 10 and number 16 (later also an ERF NGC) with registration 1.HY.84.
Made a quick scan of some pictures of number 16 (1.HY.84) before that number and that registration
went over to the ERF NGC…by the way, some years ago I posted a picture of number 16 with also
the letter from Mr. Sparrow…no idea where it is now after too many removals, it’s not lost by the way.
All in all it shows that Van Steenbergen was VERY loyal towards both ■■■■■■■ and CDB/Denonville!!!
By all means also loyal to the various Sandbach-chassis by acquiring in total 8 chassis.
ERF-Continental:
Perhaps this one? Made in Antwerpen near Ruys (later Nedlloyd) with also the registration to put behind the front window.
This was number 10 and number 16 (later also an ERF NGC) with registration 1.HY.84.
No, a different picture but no matter, yours is good enough.
The previous cab on the same White-tractor 134.D.8 after the original standard ex-works White-cab.
ERF NGC fleetnumber 9/10 of the first two purchased chassis got this ex-White registration.
All in all this White had three cabs:
the original ex-works White-cab (more or less a day-cab) when operational for Esso Belgium
the Liekens-cab (Brussels) when operational for Van Steenbergen in national transport
the Van Eck-cab (Lexmond) when operational for Van Steenbergen in international transport (1 bunk)
the following and possibly Van Eck-REO-cab as the chassis still is in existence in Holland nowadays
Hi Robert,The R.C.Gibbons pic has probably been posted on this thread before but paired with Marks shot of them together makes one think who had her first or was Gibbons a subbie.I googled the reg number and it came up on flickr…a nice bit of info on her,I seem to remember Dean putting one of Paul Gees pics of her in showmans livery on his thread also,Cheers Bubbs,
bubbleman:
Hi Robert,The R.C.Gibbons pic has probably been posted on this thread before but paired with Marks shot of them together makes one think who had her first or was Gibbons a subbie.I googled the reg number and it came up on flickr…a nice bit of info on her,I seem to remember Dean putting one of Paul Gees pics of her in showmans livery on his thread also,Cheers Bubbs,
Hi Marc! Well done for making that link for us ! I’ll pop these pics + info in the RHD 5MW thread right away! Cheers old mate, Ro
Roolechat has just posted a new picture of the Shamara NGC on the Southampton thread, which I have re-posted below.
EDIT - to say that there is some discussion about Shamara’s NGCs possibly being 2 separate vehicles. Follow the discussion on the Southampton thread and if we come up with a definitive answer I’ll post it on here! Ro
DEANB:
Clipping from 1976 Commercial Motor magazine.
Click on twice.
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That’s an interesting set of figures, Dean and it’s a pity they don’t still publish them . I posted the whole set of tables early in the thread and they make for some fascinating comparisons! Ro
! I’ll pop these pics + info in the RHD 5MW thread right away! Cheers old mate, Ro
