DEANB:
Click on page twice to read.0
That supports Valkerie’s findings. I’m surprised we didn’t think of asking Peter Davies in the first place! Better get me coat… R
Well I thought this “dead horse thread” had finally died a death!!! Apparently not ! but seeing as we are now experiencing difficult times I suppose it is as good a time as any to rekindle— no— regurgitate this Unicorn thread !
There is obviously some serious discrepancy with the arithmetic as it yo yo’s about between 37 and 40 chassis but funnily our long gone pal Trev H from Penkridge was adamant that the BRS apprentices that attended the Wolverhampton Tech with numerous fellow Apprentices from Guy Motors never heard them EVER mention Guy Big J’s having the 8LXB engine ! And for what it is worth, apart from maybe the odd one ( very odd) there is A) no way would Guy Motors be allocated 37/40 8LXB’s, one or two maybe. And B) United Transport Group the parent of SOM were large ■■■■■■■ users so on price alone they would not see any financial advantage of paying a premium for the 8LXB over the 205/220/250 ■■■■■■■ engines. And that is just supposing for one nano second that Guy Motors could even persuade Leyland Motors to allow them to even consider Gardner 8LXB engines which the combined forces of Foden, ERF and Atkinson had a strangle hold on the delivery of as all three of them could never obtain enough 8LXB engines to satisfy their many operators ! So Lads we are back at square one (1) as the believers are up “■■■■ creek” without a photograph. I can’t believe I am getting involved in this futile discussion as it is like standing a’top of Shap Fell trying to ■■■■ into the wind ! 
Bewick.
We got plenty of time Dennis, lets build one it would be worth a fortune we could get Guy Martin on board just a thought, Buzzer.
Plus there was one for sale in the classic magazine ?
Punchy Dan:
Plus there was one for sale in the classic magazine ?
Dan he’s gone to bed now so its too late to wind him up, Buzzer.
Without trawling back through the pages wasn’t there an ex Smiths driver on here who said he had driven one? Surely he wouldn’t be mistaken, he probably tripped over the two outside cylinders a few times when coupling up a trailer!
Pete.
windrush:
Without trawling back through the pages wasn’t there an ex Smiths driver on here who said he had driven one? Surely he wouldn’t be mistaken, he probably tripped over the two outside cylinders a few times when coupling up a trailer!Pete.
It was a sleeper cab model
Buzzer:
Punchy Dan:
Plus there was one for sale in the classic magazine ?Dan he’s gone to bed now so its too late to wind him up, Buzzer.
Now Dennis,
Now could be a good time to re-look at this as Buzzer and others have suggested, just think maybe better than looking at old 1 horse power cowboy films on Netflix…
Never say never… 
E.W.
Well this could help pass the time in the event of a full lockdown… 
And for you ■■■■■■■ info NO I haven’t gone to bed, yet !!! And whats wrong with watching a John Wayne film !!! Nobody ever ■■■■■■ about with Big John did they !!! However the resurrection of this Unicorn thread would seem to have set the hare “running again” but no one has a dog that can catch it !!! All I ever asked for back in the mists of time was a side view shot of an 8LXB engined Big J and to date, after many years, not one has been posted, well not an authentic one that is. Punchy Dan advertised one in a Truck Mag but I reckon he had been at “the glue” again !! But I suppose you need a sniff of Easy start or glue to get behind the wheel of a Foden , or a Skate Board 
Here we go here we go here we go !! 
Bewick:
Has anyone ever built one,sold one when new,repaired one,DRIVEN one,or at least seen one or possibly got a photo (side view) showing the 8 potter sticking out the rear of the cab .
Lets up date this thread to read " AEC 505" and we may get, at least, a more positive response from asking for shots of an 8LXB !! Cheers Bewick.
I rest my case !!!
Bewick:
pete 359:
hi dennis
i like everyone else has come across big j’s with several different types of ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ and gardner’s,but i personally have never seen one with the 8 cylinder 240! apart from the one parked outside elvis’s chipshop in grimsby!
regards andrewYou are a bundle of laughs Andrew !! I know that motor it’s the one Buddy Holly drives he subs for Joints dosn’t he if I remember correctly? Dennis . P. S. This is supposed to be a serious thread but I can see it degenerating into a shambles like the Smith of Maddiston one !!! Mind that snow drift !!!
A serious contribution from our South Wales Chapter !
Bewick:
Well I thought this “dead horse thread” had finally died a death!!! Apparently not ! but seeing as we are now experiencing difficult times I suppose it is as good a time as any to rekindle— no— regurgitate this Unicorn thread !
There is obviously some serious discrepancy with the arithmetic as it yo yo’s about between 37 and 40 chassis but funnily our long gone pal Trev H from Penkridge was adamant that the BRS apprentices that attended the Wolverhampton Tech with numerous fellow Apprentices from Guy Motors never heard them EVER mention Guy Big J’s having the 8LXB engine ! And for what it is worth, apart from maybe the odd one ( very odd) there is A) no way would Guy Motors be allocated 37/40 8LXB’s, one or two maybe. And B) United Transport Group the parent of SOM were large ■■■■■■■ users so on price alone they would not see any financial advantage of paying a premium for the 8LXB over the 205/220/250 ■■■■■■■ engines. And that is just supposing for one nano second that Guy Motors could even persuade Leyland Motors to allow them to even consider Gardner 8LXB engines which the combined forces of Foden, ERF and Atkinson had a strangle hold on the delivery of as all three of them could never obtain enough 8LXB engines to satisfy their many operators ! So Lads we are back at square one (1) as the believers are up “[zb] creek” without a photograph. I can’t believe I am getting involved in this futile discussion as it is like standing a’top of Shap Fell trying to ■■■■ into the wind !
I thought Valkyrie had a letter from the Commercial Vehicle Museum, confirming that a batch of the things had been built, and that copies of the original build sheets could be bought for £50?
Aha- I see your strategy: wind the buggers up, until someone else drops the dough, and posts the proof on here.
Bewick:
Well I thought this “dead horse thread” had finally died a death!!! Apparently not ! but seeing as we are now experiencing difficult times I suppose it is as good a time as any to rekindle— no— regurgitate this Unicorn thread !
There is obviously some serious discrepancy with the arithmetic as it yo yo’s about between 37 and 40 chassis but funnily our long gone pal Trev H from Penkridge was adamant that the BRS apprentices that attended the Wolverhampton Tech with numerous fellow Apprentices from Guy Motors never heard them EVER mention Guy Big J’s having the 8LXB engine ! And for what it is worth, apart from maybe the odd one ( very odd) there is A) no way would Guy Motors be allocated 37/40 8LXB’s, one or two maybe. And B) United Transport Group the parent of SOM were large ■■■■■■■ users so on price alone they would not see any financial advantage of paying a premium for the 8LXB over the 205/220/250 ■■■■■■■ engines. And that is just supposing for one nano second that Guy Motors could even persuade Leyland Motors to allow them to even consider Gardner 8LXB engines which the combined forces of Foden, ERF and Atkinson had a strangle hold on the delivery of as all three of them could never obtain enough 8LXB engines to satisfy their many operators ! So Lads we are back at square one (1) as the believers are up “[zb] creek” without a photograph. I can’t believe I am getting involved in this futile discussion as it is like standing a’top of Shap Fell trying to ■■■■ into the wind !
Firstly the posted article wasn’t contemporary it was a historical narrative obviously based on hearsay.While itself clearly stating that Leyland’s records show none actually built.
To be fair surely even you’d have to admit that the 8LXB ‘would’ have been the more economical motor to run in the long term more than recouping it’s extra cost over the ■■■■■■■ options ?.
Probably after market bitsas if anything on those grounds.
DEANB:
Click on page twice to read.0
I would imagine that someone of Peter Davies’ standing and reputation would have thoroughly checked his facts before committing the article to print.
Presuming the picture recently posted was taken by the magazine article writer or photographer I find it hard to imagine that s/he would not have taken a few pics of the vehicle from different angles, perhaps including one that would meet Bewicks´quite reasonable request. Is it just possible the negatives or prints of such a pic might be in an archive somewhere? But where?
windrush:
Without trawling back through the pages wasn’t there an ex Smiths driver on here who said he had driven one? Surely he wouldn’t be mistaken, he probably tripped over the two outside cylinders a few times when coupling up a trailer!Pete.
That was I Pete and Co,a brand new Big J complete with 240 Percy came down overnight trunk to Newton le Willows SoM depot.
Manchester depot Manager,Harold Gilmore drove me over to N le W depot where I drove the unit back to North Street Cheetham Hill,that was on my first day with SoM after I was made redundant from Humber McVeighs Salford,and I have to say, coming from a 180 Percy powered Atkinson,this Big J was a powerful beast.
It makes no odds to me in the slightest as to who believes or indeed disbelieves me,I know what I drove that morning.
David
5thwheel:
windrush:
Without trawling back through the pages wasn’t there an ex Smiths driver on here who said he had driven one? Surely he wouldn’t be mistaken, he probably tripped over the two outside cylinders a few times when coupling up a trailer!Pete.
That was I Pete and Co,a brand new Big J complete with 240 Percy came down overnight trunk to Newton le Willows SoM depot.
Manchester depot Manager,Harold Gilmore drove me over to N le W depot where I drove the unit back to North Street Cheetham Hill,that was on my first day with SoM after I was made redundant from Humber McVeighs Salford,and I have to say, coming from a 180 Percy powered Atkinson,this Big J was a powerful beast.It makes no odds to me in the slightest as to who believes or indeed disbelieves me,I know what I drove that morning.
David
PS Then I woke up !
Dipster:
Presuming the picture recently posted was taken by the magazine article writer or photographer I find it hard to imagine that s/he would not have taken a few pics of the vehicle from different angles, perhaps including one that would meet Bewicks´quite reasonable request. Is it just possible the negatives or prints of such a pic might be in an archive somewhere? But where?
He’s got them hidden away in that barn up in t’fells along with all the ■■■■■■■ engines he nicked out of Smith’s Big Js!
Would it be worthwhile asking any of these “Guys” (pun fully intended)
I don’t know if the society is still in existence but there’s every chance that at least one them will still have the same e-mail address.