I wonder if the smaller Rad & new front panel allowed Guy the option to be able to squeeze the 240 engine to such a short wheelbase…
dave docwra:
I wonder if the smaller Rad & new front panel allowed Guy the option to be able to squeeze the 240 engine to such a short wheelbase…
I have definitely seen the 240LXB in a Seddon 32/4 which was the same wheelbase as the Big J at 9’ 6’’ but for some reason Seddons derated the engine to 200BHP which no one could understand at the time although I’m not sure which gear box they used, possibly the poxy DB 6:600 which may account for the derate. Cheers Bewick.
[
Dave the Renegade:
Avert is Chaddesley Commercials from Kidderminster,which is under DeMaulder’s,a trip to specsavers is on the cards for you 
.
: .
Cheers Dave.
[/quote]
Big J 8LXB which M A Evans bought advertised by Chaddesley Commercials.LXB
HI, MR, Bewick we had a Seddon ex woodhouses 8lxb 6 speed D/B NOT much go in it , L REG , Cheers Barry
Dave the Renegade:
[Dave the Renegade:
Avert is Chaddesley Commercials from Kidderminster,which is under DeMaulder’s,a trip to specsavers is on the cards for you
: .
Cheers Dave.
Big J 8LXB which M A Evans bought advertised by Chaddesley Commercials.LXB
[/quote]
Nice one Dave ,best evidence yet imo ,had look in loft no CM’s only Truck from 75 76 ect ,no mention of any Guy what so ever .
Bewick:
I have definitely seen the 240LXB in a Seddon 32/4 which was the same wheelbase as the Big J at 9’ 6’’ but for some reason Seddons derated the engine to 200BHP which no one could understand at the time although I’m not sure which gear box they used, possibly the poxy DB 6:600 which may account for the derate. Cheers Bewick.
More like bloody minded guvnors going by the logic that the drivers would spend the time made up with all the ‘extra’ ‘power’ of the 240 in the cafe.Although look on the bright side it probably added another 100 years to the engine life. 
So, Dennis,
As a ‘bloody minded guvnor’, who was actually already moving onto more ‘driver friendly’ vehicles, for a variety of reasons - had you realised that in 1974, a Guy with a 240 Gardner was available, would you have changed your buying policies?
John.
John West:
So, Dennis,As a ‘bloody minded guvnor’, who was actually already moving onto more ‘driver friendly’ vehicles, for a variety of reasons - had you realised that in 1974, a Guy with a 240 Gardner was available, would you have changed your buying policies?
John.
Blimey I might have got it wrong but I think it took Bewick a bit later than 1974 to see the light regarding the change from being a committed Gardner operator. 
That silencer shouts 8 potter doesn’t it?
John West:
So, Dennis,As a ‘bloody minded guvnor’, who was actually already moving onto more ‘driver friendly’ vehicles, for a variety of reasons - had you realised that in 1974, a Guy with a 240 Gardner was available, would you have changed your buying policies?
John.
NO ! 
Dennis.
Carryfast:
John West:
So, Dennis,As a ‘bloody minded guvnor’, who was actually already moving onto more ‘driver friendly’ vehicles, for a variety of reasons - had you realised that in 1974, a Guy with a 240 Gardner was available, would you have changed your buying policies?
John.
Blimey I might have got it wrong but I think it took Bewick a bit later than 1974 to see the light regarding the change from being a committed Gardner operator.
Very perceptive of you “CF” me old Mucker, the last Gardner engine chassis I bought was in 1984,a brace of Sed/Atks which actually were a decent spec and well liked by the drivers but by this time there was 60 odd Scanias and a few Volvos on the fleet ! Cheers Bewick.
Time & time again , scanned copies have been posted , reference has been made , & links have been added to the Fri Nov 2nd 1973 edition of Commercial Motor article re the option of the 8LXB engine in a Big J , & all Guy Big Js having the restyled front .
Where does this November date sit with the list posted by Valkyrie , which includes 5 with a date of Aug 73 ?
If the dates posted on this list are used to tie vehicles in to registration mark , ( excluding the first 5 listed ) the result is listed below
13 M registration mark
9 N registration mark
2 listed dates uncertain
5 possible conflict with date with reference to Commercial Motor article .
29total
Now , onto operators who have been mentioned in this thread .
Smith of Maddiston
Swiftways
MA Evans
GL Baker
Longton Transport
The MA Evans GDS 427 N , included in previous page , was previously mentioned by Dave to have worked for an oil company in Scotland , prior to MA Evans purchase of vehicle , from the advert also included . The vehicle was said to have been with the oil company for around 6 months . This would not now appear to be the case , as only 2 on the list posted by Valkyrie did not go to Smith of Maddiston .
GDS 427 N fits in with a 1975 registration issued in the Glasgow area , & also 1 of the 9 N registered .
As for Longton Transport , below is a quote from Saviem , from page 79 .
Saviem:
Evening all, it keeps on rumbling on does it not!!Valkyries post, the RK Crisp Big J, all were ■■■■■■■■ and some, like the illustration, had Longton Garages, (Stoke on Trent), sleeper cabs, as did their, (the Longton Industrial Holdings Group), Knight and Riley Big Js.
Longton did some spectacular cabs for Leyland Group, crew cabs for the Roadtrain/Constructor models, and a very good sleeper for the Roadrunner,nice operation, and some well skilled “Potters” working there.
Back to my Bollinger, long day "on the “Prarie”, but good acerage planted ready to grow…hopefully!
Cheerio for now.
Casual Observer:
The MA Evans GDS 427 N , included in previous page , was previously mentioned by Dave to have worked for an oil company in Scotland , prior to MA Evans purchase of vehicle , from the advert also included . The vehicle was said to have been with the oil company for around 6 months . This would not now appear to be the case , as only 2 on the list posted by Valkyrie did not go to Smith of Maddiston .
GDS 427 N fits in with a 1975 registration issued in the Glasgow area , & also 1 of the 9 N registered .
The advert for the Evans example suggests that it was possibly an after market engine change/‘fit’. 
My computer developes a “nasty” for a few days and Bewick slips back into the country unannounced! Must have a word with those useless border guards- they’ll let anyone into the country these days. He probably came in clinging to the axle of a 240-powered Big J, the customs blokes too interested in such a wonderful vehicle that they forgot to search it for illegals.
Carryfast:
Casual Observer:
The MA Evans GDS 427 N , included in previous page , was previously mentioned by Dave to have worked for an oil company in Scotland , prior to MA Evans purchase of vehicle , from the advert also included . The vehicle was said to have been with the oil company for around 6 months . This would not now appear to be the case , as only 2 on the list posted by Valkyrie did not go to Smith of Maddiston .
GDS 427 N fits in with a 1975 registration issued in the Glasgow area , & also 1 of the 9 N registered .The advert for the Evans example suggests that it was possibly an after market engine change/‘fit’.
No it wasn’t Geoff, it was new to a Scottish oil company,. M A Evans bought off Chaddesley Commercials when it was six months old.
Cheers Dave.
Dave the Renegade:
Carryfast:
Casual Observer:
The MA Evans GDS 427 N , included in previous page , was previously mentioned by Dave to have worked for an oil company in Scotland , prior to MA Evans purchase of vehicle , from the advert also included . The vehicle was said to have been with the oil company for around 6 months . This would not now appear to be the case , as only 2 on the list posted by Valkyrie did not go to Smith of Maddiston .
GDS 427 N fits in with a 1975 registration issued in the Glasgow area , & also 1 of the 9 N registered .The advert for the Evans example suggests that it was possibly an after market engine change/‘fit’.
No it wasn’t Geoff, it was new to a Scottish oil company,. M A Evans bought off Chaddesley Commercials when it was six months old.
Cheers Dave.
.
Dave , the point I am making regarding GDS 427 N , is that of the oil company owning it for 6 months does not seem to fit in with the list , which reads that the 2 Longton ones were the only examples which did not go to Smith of Madddiston .
Casual Observer:
Dave the Renegade:
Carryfast:
Casual Observer:
The MA Evans GDS 427 N , included in previous page , was previously mentioned by Dave to have worked for an oil company in Scotland , prior to MA Evans purchase of vehicle , from the advert also included . The vehicle was said to have been with the oil company for around 6 months . This would not now appear to be the case , as only 2 on the list posted by Valkyrie did not go to Smith of Maddiston .
GDS 427 N fits in with a 1975 registration issued in the Glasgow area , & also 1 of the 9 N registered .The advert for the Evans example suggests that it was possibly an after market engine change/‘fit’.
No it wasn’t Geoff, it was new to a Scottish oil company,. M A Evans bought off Chaddesley Commercials when it was six months old.
Cheers Dave..
Dave , the point I am making regarding GDS 427 N , is that of the oil company owning it for 6 months does not seem to fit in with the list , which reads that the 2 Longton ones were the only examples which did not go to Smith of Madddiston .
It may be that Smith’s allowed two of their order to go the oil company as a bartering tool to receive other work, back in that period of time vehicles had to be ordered a long time in advance & could be sold on before delivery if needed.
Dave.
Certainly a possibility of the above , but it is further conjecture .
2 things though , why would they do this with a brand new unit with an engine which carried a premium , when they would have others , even one of their by now already used ones . The other being that this particular one , is said to have came up for resale at only 6 months old . If that were the case , would Smith not have had a chance of first refusal on it .
It seems a bit odd that a unit with a premium power plant , of which very few existed was resold within a very short time from new
Where did the 2 you mention come from , there is no mention of the oil company , if they had this one , having any others .
Carryfast:
Casual Observer:
The MA Evans GDS 427 N , included in previous page , was previously mentioned by Dave to have worked for an oil company in Scotland , prior to MA Evans purchase of vehicle , from the advert also included . The vehicle was said to have been with the oil company for around 6 months . This would not now appear to be the case , as only 2 on the list posted by Valkyrie did not go to Smith of Maddiston .
GDS 427 N fits in with a 1975 registration issued in the Glasgow area , & also 1 of the 9 N registered .The advert for the Evans example suggests that it was possibly an after market engine change/‘fit’.
I thought so too, especially as the 29 are accounted for. Robert
EDIT: sorry, just read the following posts
The only oil companies in Scotland that used Guys were (Phillips petroleum) these were owned by Scottish road services Falkirk. The other was ELF Petroleum, These companies were based in The Grangemouth Falkirk area. They would have been full pet reg vehicles with cargo pumps etc, So if one of these guys went to a Scottish oil company it could have been one of the above.