Even in the snow a warm message!!!
Hopefully all drivers will get home before Christmas as Brexit causes quite some severe problems, brrr Europe
At Van Steenbergen, unfortunately not in their former NGC’s anymore…about 58 trucks are strucked, pfff costs
As we approach the New Year, our much-respected contributor Hans Witte has sent me a delightful little project in which he has matched up some of the photos used in Pat Kennett’s 1975 Euro-Test to some of his PKC kit models of that same NGC like this example:
I think it’s a great idea for lockdown so I’ll post the rest of it, along with his own explantion, in the post below.
All HANS’s own photography and his own model-making of course!
Ro
CONTINUED…
THE TEXT FROM HANS:
ERF NGC420 European
Keeping the memories alive - and in colour!
In 1975 Truck magazine organised the first Eurotest, initiated and performed by the late Pat Kennet, the man who was a technical engineer, a talented journalist and he really could drive a truck. The test procedure was new, thorough and critical and the trucks were not driven by the factory demo drivers but by Pat Kennett himself (as to the instructions of the manufacturers’ engineers). Perhaps the most interesting part of the test were the direct comparisons between all the contenders. This might be a somewhat subjective manner, but when written down by a man who has real knowledge and experience it can give the readers a good impression of the pro’s and con’s of the trucks. And Pat Kennett surely was a man with knowledge and experience.
The test was published in Truck and in a number of other magazines in different countries. After the first publications the Eurotest was respected and feared by the manufacturers, while the haulage companies and drivers alike got thoroughly informed about the qualities and economical performances of all the trucks.
With hindsight we can conclude that Pat Kennett set new standards with this newly developed test procedure, which was respected for many more years after this first one.
The 438 km test was held in Belgium and was departed in three sections:
- the first over Motorways from Antwerp – Hasselt – Liege to Verviers;
- the second through hilly terrain Verviers – St. Vith – Houffalize to Bastogne;
- the third stretch along A roads from Bastogne - Namur – Mechelen back to Antwerp.
There were three hill climbs included at Liege, Spa and just south from Houffalize.
The route was (much) more demanding than normally any haulier would send his truck to in everyday work. Fully laden at 38 GTW, the trucks were pushed to their limits and the results in conclusions, facts and numbers gave a good impression of the abilities from each truck.
The contenders of the first Eurotest were the DAF 2800 DKS, Saviem SM340, Mercedes-Benz 1932, Scania LB140, Volvo F89 and the ERF NGC420. Each tractor was an exponent of the top class 38 Tons gross weight machine from the manufacturers. The trucks were tested along a stretch of A roads, Motorways and a demanding route through hilly terrain. One tractor per day, each tractor was driven by Pat Kennett and they pulled the same laden French Trailor TIR trailer with triple super single axles. Except for the F89, who did not fit to the Trailor’s front overhang, so the Volvo was coupled to a Van Hool tilt trailer.
While most tractors were already well known, it was the ERF European that surprised the test team in more than one way. With the NGC, ERF had made a big step in designing a real contender for the European market. Although it did not have the most sophisticated cab and might feel a bit ‘rough’, it was a real driver’s truck, fast and with an excellent handling along the twisting and sometimes quite gruelling and climbing roads in the Ardennes. And it out-performed most contenders, including the Scania LB140 ‘King of the road’ by quite a margin.
Copies of the original Eurotest in Truck June 1975 and an observation about the article which Robert Hackford wrote in his first book can be found at page 9 of this thread.
Now, keeping the memories alive: it seems that only two ERF NGC tractors have survived: the ex- Eyckmans three axle tractor which is restored by Gerry Corbishleyand and the Collins tractor from France which in the end was luckily purchased by a British truck restorer. We eagerly wait for the day when this hopefully ‘true and authentic’ European will be exposed to the public.
From the aforementioned Eurotest we only know the pictures which were published in the various magazines, sadly all in black and white. But we do know that the ERF demonstrator was painted in ‘Rocket Red’, and from a later Eurotest I remember that the trailer was in (French) blue. This might help a bit to liven up the memories a bit better.
To keep my memories alive, I have built a 1:50 model from the European tractor and Trailor trailer. The tractor was built from a PKC white metal kit, the trailer is mostly scratch built except for the axles, landing gear and spare wheel carrier (parts from PKC).
I took some pictures of my model, more or less in the same position as the pictures from the real truck in the original test, together with some more pics which might have been taken during the test ride of the ERF.
Please compare the model against the original pictures; I hope that this contribution might help you to keep the memories of the iconic NGC alive - and in colour!
Hans Witte
Picture 01A and 01B
Freshly washed and sparkling at the start of the test.
02
De ERF coupled to the fully freighted Trailor demonstration trailer.
03A and 03B
Passing through a Belgian town, probably Bastogne.
04A and 04B
Somewhere on an A road at full speed.
05A and 05B
At the Francorchamps race circuit, probably doing handling and stabilisation tests.
06A and 06B
At 3,09 cm wheel base, the ERF was the shortest tractor in the test. Despite this, the 12,20 trailer fitted quite well.
07A and 07B
Entering one of the fuel stations along the test route to fill-up.
08
Imagine the NGC hard pulling up one of the steep hills around Houffalise, leaning in the bend while the ■■■■■■■ is at maximum torque.
09
The NGC and the Trailor trailer were a perfect match and they formed a well-balanced combination.
CONTINUED>…
ERF-NGC-European:
1
See bottom of previous page for info on this.
We have our first ‘new’ picture of an NGC of 2021 on here today. Some kind soul emailed me this one this afternoon. It is one of the Eric Vick pair (KFH 248P or KFH 249P) with a European Volvo and a Brit Volvo (Redcliff perhaps?) probably on the Baghdad run. Keep 'em coming chaps!
ERF-NGC-European:
We have our first ‘new’ picture of an NGC of 2021 on here today. Some kind soul emailed me this one this afternoon. It is one of the Eric Vick pair (KFH 248P or KFH 249P) with a European Volvo and a Brit Volvo (Redcliff perhaps?) probably on the Baghdad run. Keep 'em coming chaps!0
Thats a great pic Ro. 
Dont think the F89 is Redcliffe chap but it does have an emblem on the door and trailer which i cant make out.
Spotted this on facebook astran and middle east driving group, apologies if you have it already.
Always like these photos with the distant signs on.
Steve
vwvanman0:
Spotted this on facebook astran and middle east driving group, apologies if you have it already.Always like these photos with the distant signs on.
Steve
Yes it has vanman, but like you say the signpost is an interesting indicator. I worked it out (for Lorries of Arabia Book 1) that the driver who took the photo was on the Damascus to Baghdad road. Eric Vick used the pic for an artist’s impression in one of their adverts [see below]. Cheers, Ro
A Bradick thread has just been bumped up: one to follow with interest. Here’s the link:
We might discover a little more about NGCs No.39 & No.88 (my register). I’ve put this on there: Does anyone remember this left-■■■■■■ ERF NGC ‘European’ on Bradick’s? Here it is in what looks like Bradick’s livery and again in the later GL Baker livery. It was registered MMG 772P. It is reported to have worked out of Faversham for GL Baker later on, running to Paris, after which it was used by their Silvertown depot on NYK containers.
It is reported that there was a 2nd ERF like this one, but in the livery of the Dutch container company Van Ommeran which Bradick / GL Baker did a lot of work for.
Any info or pics would be most welcome (as I am interested in the history of this particular ERF model).
vwvanman0:
Seen on Facebook today. Ever hopeful to find something new?!?Steve
Hello Steve. Well, at least you’ve brought some humour to the thread! I looked at this picture and scratched my head. ERF didn’t (and flatly refused to) build right-hand drive versions of the NGC. Then I realised that the picture must have got reversed somehow in translation.
As it so happens I can provide the real image with the steeringwheel in the right (ie left) place! By the way, Gypsy Dave is a cracking chap: met him a few times at truck shows and events. Ro
Never noticed the steering wheel position!
I will keep trying, one day i will hopefully find you something new.
Steve
Ro,
To be added to your publications list.
Transport Journal February 1973 magazine.
Not new pics unfortunately.
DEANB:
Ro,To be added to your publications list.
Transport Journal February 1973 magazine.
Not new pics unfortunately.
1
0
They’re valuable additions to the archives, Dean. I think if I’d seen those before the last book was published I might well have run a couple of paragraphs on union opposition to sleeper cabs in the early '70s. That caption is very revealing, as it not only quotes what the unions were saying but actually names the TGWU as being the union in opposition!