The M-series was introduced as a lighter rigid in the late '70s. Its cab was based on the B-series and was later replaced by the Steyr cab and later still by the Turkish BMC cab.
Here’s a pic of a typical M-series. Robert
ERF-Continental:
In the press release a three-axled M-series was intended to attract for more heavier applications?
I’ve a suspicion that that there was little point in marketing a 3-axle M-series. All the 3-axles rigids of that time seemed to be B-series IIRC. 3-axle drawbar outfits were also all B-series. The whole point of the M-series was to meet the demands of the domestic (UK) market for 16-tonne four-wheelers. I don’t know, but I would imagine that any exports would have gone to the Commonwealth, rather than European, countries which had plenty of their own lightweight rigids. Just a thought. Robert
Just to flesh it out a bit more:
The M-series was launched in 1978 in 2-axle (16-tonner) and 3-axle (24-toner) forms. They offered Gardner 6LXB, Perkins T6 354.4 or Dorman diesel engines.
But you could also get B-series rigids at the same time. The M-series didn’t do nearly as well as expected and it is thought that this was because the B-series based cab was not compact enough. That was why the M-series was replaced in about '88 with the ES 6 & ES 8 which used the little Steyr cab (and later the BMC cab). Robert
Well, I’ve looked through all my books and none of them even mentions ■■■■■■■ and M-series in the same breath, but mentions the other three engines.
HOWEVER 
, for once, REVS comes up with all the goodies! This quarter’s edition of REVS magazine (issue 156) has an excellent eleven-page article about the M-series with fantastic pictures, by Andrew Thorpe. And yes, it does say that later M-series units could have the ■■■■■■■ 555 V8 207bhp engine. As this is the current edition of the magazine it is not possible to post it here. Robert
With regard to ERF in Europe, bloggers may be interested to read the two contributions I made this morning to the LHD ERF E-series thread about ERF’s return to the European scene in 1992/3 following the melting of EU borders. 
Robert
Evening all,
Just a few odd bits and pieces…I was looking at some old diaries tonight, looking for a telephone number, when in the 1980 one I came across the following notes, made on the eve of the Dutch RAI Motor show, when I was doing some quick market comparisons…
ERF, list as available in the Netherlands two models 4x2.
40C2TR powered by ■■■■■■■ NH250. Price 89000 Sleeper option plus 107,500)
40C2TR powered by ■■■■■■■ NTCE290 Price 97,750 . " " " "
Berliet TR 305 Price 111000
Berliet TR356 Price 139000 (6x4)
Scania 111 Price 139000
Volvo F10 Price 131000
DAF 2800DKTD Price 148,600
Mack F786 Interstator Price 135000 (6x4)
So why did ERF not receive loads of business…
Interesting what you find in old diaries…
Cheerio for now.
.
Saviem:
…So why did ERF not receive loads of business…
The sleeper added 18,500 (Guilders?) to the price of the 250bhp tractor (107,500-89,000). The 290bhp version would therefore be 97,750+18,500=116,000. The ERF was, therefore, undercut by the Berliet. The French marque would have had a more comprehensive service network in Europe. The TR305 was a bit more powerful than the E290 and most people would prefer the Berliet cab to the ERF, I guess.
xyz
ERF-Continental:
Saviem:
Evening all,1xERF NGC420, Reg `77, Cu335, RTO9509, 3.03M WB, Double sleeper, paint Olive Green, (90%) Reg 76, 200000kms, all good.
I wonder why this vehicle was registered twice (in '76 & '77) 
Robert
Evening all,
ERF Continental, if your diaries are like mine, (and it looks that way), we should get together and publish both lots of them…it would probably be a really good view of the European Industry…but without the “gloss” that the manufacturers try to paint everything with!
Somewhere I wrote about those ERFs, and the advert…yes they were DAF breakers, and used lorry people…Wonder what happened to them all?..Never drank Stella Artois @ a Kermesse, or a 6 day…Belgium has far better beers to enjoy! Somewhere I have a signed photograph of Rik Van Looy…(sad is it not), from a very exciting Ghent 6 day!
Cheerio for now.
ERF-Continental:
Either Saviem missed his Bollinger and during kermesse he got a tough load of Stella Artois, after which
his notes turned out to be ? or the chassis was imported (with in Netherlands the year of first registration
which most times is the date of production) from Belgium and got another registration…possibly Prooi’s
At one-year old, one wonders if that olive-green Prooi unit went to the UK to become one of the Q-plated lorries. Who knows? Robert
Bumped up for DEANB. It was on page 27, would you believe. Mind you, you’ll see why when you realise how much stuff has been deleted: all the lists you wanted have been erased. We’ll have to invent the wheel again! R
ERF-NGC-European:
Bumped up for DEANB. It was on page 27, would you believe. Mind you, you’ll see why when you realise how much stuff has been deleted: all the lists you wanted have been erased. We’ll have to invent the wheel again! R
See what you mean Robert ! Obviously deleted everything in a tantrum ! 
Saviem:
Evening all,ERF Continental, if your diaries are like mine, (and it looks that way), we should get together and publish both lots of them…it would probably be a really good view of the European Industry…but without the “gloss” that the manufacturers try to paint everything with!
Somewhere I wrote about those ERFs, and the advert…yes they were DAF breakers, and used lorry people…Wonder what happened to them all?..Never drank Stella Artois @ a Kermesse, or a 6 day…Belgium has far better beers to enjoy! Somewhere I have a signed photograph of Rik Van Looy…(sad is it not), from a very exciting Ghent 6 day!
Cheerio for now.
After roughly one year it remains emotional that John (Saviem) didn’t had the opportunity to
proceed with his diaries, loaded with information and more important crucial details! R.I.P. John
