Photo
VAR 854W, MAN 19-321, LHD.
Bought new by Mervyn, as a special order from Barking Vehilcle Engineering, in mid 1980.
Driven mainly by Ray Usher, commonly known as Norman the Conquerer.
Went like f++k in it’s day, not bad on derv too.
Came new on 1200x20’s.
Six months later Mervyn ordered two more, which ■■■■■■ of Ray, as they both came with Behr A/C’s on the roof.
Of course Tony Baker, who drove one of those, never took the pee out of Ray !!!
Steve…
Of course Tony Baker, who drove one of those, never took the pee out of Ray !!!
Steve…
What ? Tony take the piddle ? Never. 
Cheers, Archie.
Also the bottom pic is BER290V a 280. 1 of 3 bought second hand from Guyhern i did a few trips in that motor it was a good puller for a M.A.N.
How are you Steve, what are you up to nowadays?
(Glo)
geoff GB:
Also the bottom pic is BER290V a 280. 1 of 3 bought second hand from Guyhern i did a few trips in that motor it was a good puller for a M.A.N.How are you Steve, what are you up to nowadays?
(Glo)
Gloria,
my memory is fading, but i believe i am right in saying that the truck in the pic is FVA ( can’t recal the numbers ) as that was the only one of the three which was painted in M+C colours, the other two, BER and CEB both remained in their dark green with a light green stripe attire. All three gave Mervyn many years of good service.
The chap that started this thread is Alan Thornton, remember him ■■ His strange name on here comes from the village he now lives in which is east of Zagreb in what used to be Yugo.
Me, well i am enjoying my life here in Thailand, lived here for 9.5 years now. Spend some of my time touring Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia on my motorbike. I’m hoping that Myanmar / Burma sorts itself out soon as then i will go and tour there too.
Look at my Flickr site, well over 300 pic’s on there, click on anyone to see larger and to read the full description.
Do you still have that cushdy job for the F1 team ■■
Regards Steve.
Hi Steve
BER that is the one you rebuilt the cab on that was the motor i drove for awhile it was good motor
Hi Steve,number plates can be rather deceiving as you well know. this photo of the 280 outside the workshop at the braintree yard, shows BER 290V. Who said that pictures never lie!!!.
There was a spell when nobody knew what truck they were driving and it was all most as bad as tanker bill’s.
No one could dream up stories that could compare to the realities that went on in bonie’s yard over the years and the laughs that we had. regards Jamie.
M&C Jamie:
Hi Steve,number plates can be rather deceiving as you well know. this photo of the 280 outside the workshop at the braintree yard, shows BER 290V. Who said that pictures never lie!!!.
There was a spell when nobody knew what truck they were driving and it was all most as bad as tanker bill’s.
No one could dream up stories that could compare to the realities that went on in bonie’s yard over the years and the laughs that we had. regards Jamie.
Hello Jamie,
Yes, you are correct that at the end Mervyn used to ‘shuffle’ the plates around somewhat, he also re-painted some of the trucks himself in various colours, maybe to make them less conspicuous ? This was after i had left his employment and started working for myself.
I still maintain though that FVA was the only one of those three MAN’s which was ever painted in M+C colours. I also gave the cab the full Waxoil treatment at the same time which over the ensuing years helped it keep the old steelworm at bay…
Yes, there was many a tale that could be told about the Hill Farm and Cordons Farm days…
But that’s all history now.
How are you doing mate, and your good lady wife Betty i believe ■■ I hope all is well for the pair of you. Do you still travel around in the motorhome ■■
Regards Steve.