Took these at belle vue in the late eighties
little ha ba:
Took these at belle vue in the late eighties
I would hazzard a guess that the 4 wheeler Atki AAO 493J would have been new to J.G. Stamper of Penrith,and would that be a Gardner 100 badge on the grille? or a 180? Cheers Bewick.
240 Gardner:
Bewick:
I fully accept that, without doubt, the longer a conversion (Jennings) was in service problems would more than likely arise! But the main thrust of my opinion was my,then,intention to keep the conversion work to the minimum and retain the “stylish” looks (yes,stylish,you philistines!!!) of the Borderer,which, I think IMO,were achieved with the Jennings conversion! Having said all this we didn’t run these two Atki conversion longterm,I think they were gone in about 3 years or maybe less! The scandinavian invaision was,by '76,in full swing and never to be stemmed!! Finally,when my thoughts and opinions are underwritten by a chap that is only £1 behind Chris Kelly I can’t be so wrong surely!!! Cheers Dennis.Well, I’d have to disagree with you on this one Dennis - I think that the ‘Nightingale’ (the ‘official’ Atkinson sleeper) and the Riding conversions were far smarter, with their one-piece, full-length roof. More expensive, of course
Hiya Chris, I’d forgotten about the Atkinson owned Nightingale Engineering in London!! However while I accept what you say about the very substantial conversions by Ridings and Nightingale it was never my intention to go so far as that.All I wanted was a minimal,lighter, conversion which Jennings offered.The Nightingale job is a major piece of work that IMO changes the whole appearance of the Atki,more akin to a crew cab I think.By the looks of it there must have also been a weight penalty which was definitely not what I was after either.Keep practicing those scales!! Cheers Dennis.
Hi bewick not sure who owned it first but this truck went on to be owned by ian craig of denny
little ha ba:
Hi bewick not sure who owned it first but this truck went on to be owned by ian craig of denny
It was indeed Jeff Stamper, I believe, as Dennis says. The badge says “180” - big power for a 4-wheeler, eh, Dennis?
Bewick:
240 Gardner:
Bewick:
Hiya Chris, I’d forgotten about the Atkinson owned Nightingale Engineering in London!! However while I accept what you say about the very substantial conversions by Ridings and Nightingale it was never my intention to go so far as that.All I wanted was a minimal,lighter, conversion which Jennings offered.The Nightingale job is a major piece of work that IMO changes the whole appearance of the Atki,more akin to a crew cab I think.By the looks of it there must have also been a weight penalty which was definitely not what I was after either.Keep practicing those scales!! Cheers Dennis.
I’m not sure how long a job the Nightingale was, but Riding’s schedule was to have a motor in the yard Friday night, start it Saturday morning and finish by Sunday night, ready for the paintshop on Monday morning. I’ve actually got a Riding sleeper kit, and I’m sure it would be reasonably straightforward for someone who knows what they’re doing… rules me out, of course 
The Chinese 6 unit in the pic has a Riding cab, and I think it compares well with the Nightingale.
little ha ba:
A few more from belle vue
GOB 455N was ex-Killingbeck, and HMF 766N is now with Blakeman’s.
Like the Pandoro Venturer above, GOB 455N has a Killingbeck-special bottom bumper instead of the factory tin one.
little ha ba:
Took these at belle vue in the late eighties
A certain contributor to this forum would be very pleased to see the pic of the Viewline at Belle Vue in 1990…
We were parked next to it with our Viewline cabriolet:
And no, that’s not me!
240 Gardner:
little ha ba:
Took these at belle vue in the late eightiesA certain contributor to this forum would be very pleased to see the pic of the Viewline at Belle Vue in 1990…
We were parked next to it with our Viewline cabriolet:
And no, that’s not me!
The strange thing about the 4x2 ballast tractor was the cab suspension was like the Ford Trascon. it pitched and rolled all over the place but the 6x4 artic was far better and was extremely comfortable for its time.
cheers Johnnie
240 Gardner:
little ha ba:
Hi bewick not sure who owned it first but this truck went on to be owned by ian craig of dennyIt was indeed Jeff Stamper, I believe, as Dennis says. The badge says “180” - big power for a 4-wheeler, eh, Dennis?
Awesome!! I wonder if it had Eaton 2 speed axle? Dennis.
Gentlemen, little ha ba, Chris, quite makes me miss" WANG", when I see photographs of her! Thank you. She was, as you probably know, ex RTITB, even had a log book with every journey, gallon of fuel, pint of oil, that she had undertaken/used untill she was demobed. I bought her from Junction 10 commercials, (Hartshornes), found the ride a little lively, so had a near copy of the Pickfords Viewline body built by Tony Summerfield, at Wolverhampton. They made a cracking job, and with a bit of weight in it the ride was not too bad. She was Rolls 220, ZF6sp, Kirkstall BDR, P.A.S. Sold her to Roberts Bros at Ross, and I think that she was sold when they had a big sale. (Did their 6x4 Viewline last into preservation)? Do not know who owns her now, but i still have a set of door keys for her, if they would like them! The antics of that big old windscreen used to give me the “collywobles” on a bumpy road! I like the Viewline cabriolet, much better quality than the T45!! In the background you can see my Defender Tanker, TAY384N, now she really was a gem, with an interesting history, but I will not bore you now.Thanks again for sharing the photographs, and lastly, the sleeper cab conversion, please have a look at the Adam Jones thread, and the shot of their 8LXB with the vanplan sleeper, surely it is the best looking one bar none! Cheerio for now.
Saviem:
… found the ride a little lively, so had a near copy of the Pickfords Viewline body built by Tony Summerfield, at Wolverhampton. They made a cracking job, and with a bit of weight in it the ride was not too bad…
I found that about 18 tons of concrete test weights sorted out the ride quite nicely 
Some more to look at…
This one was put back to work on general haulage around 1991 for a little while; it’s now preserved in Northern Ireland
Just the thing for internal work in Portugal, a RHD Mk.1 Atki!
This started life as a 4x2 tractor:
From the LSM Group
Line-up in the old factory yard to mark the 10th anniversary of the end of Mk.2 production, 1985. The Jag belonged to Stanley Husband, the only Atkinson director to stay on with Seddon
Borderer in Jamaica, on a “trunk run”…
Shunter at Bethnal Green, c.1985
XTF 235N during its rebuild - new to Canning’s, now with Taylor’s of Oldhanm, and recently advertised on E-bay
At work in Preston in the mid-80s
Early Borderer on traction work for Pandoro:
Is it really 21 years since that Atkinson / Seddon gathering at Belle Vue? I was there with my AEC powered Seddon. Does anyone know how many of those lorries that attended are still with the same owners? Which have disappeared off the preserved scene altogether?
gingerfold:
Is it really 21 years since that Atkinson / Seddon gathering at Belle Vue? I was there with my AEC powered Seddon. Does anyone know how many of those lorries that attended are still with the same owners? Which have disappeared off the preserved scene altogether?
It certainly is! My copy of the entry list will be packed in a box from 2 or 3 house moves ago, I fear. I suspect that many of the ones not out and about now may be those which were still in active service at that time
Here you go 240…XTF 235N Then & Now.I think I have posted the Taylor one before (my apoligies if so)
Saviem:
Gentlemen, little ha ba, Chris, quite makes me miss" WANG", when I see photographs of her! Thank you. She was, as you probably know, ex RTITB, even had a log book with every journey, gallon of fuel, pint of oil, that she had undertaken/used untill she was demobed. I bought her from Junction 10 commercials, (Hartshornes), found the ride a little lively, so had a near copy of the Pickfords Viewline body built by Tony Summerfield, at Wolverhampton. They made a cracking job, and with a bit of weight in it the ride was not too bad. She was Rolls 220, ZF6sp, Kirkstall BDR, P.A.S. Sold her to Roberts Bros at Ross, and I think that she was sold when they had a big sale. (Did their 6x4 Viewline last into preservation)? Do not know who owns her now, but i still have a set of door keys for her, if they would like them! The antics of that big old windscreen used to give me the “collywobles” on a bumpy road! I like the Viewline cabriolet, much better quality than the T45!! In the background you can see my Defender Tanker, TAY384N, now she really was a gem, with an interesting history, but I will not bore you now.Thanks again for sharing the photographs, and lastly, the sleeper cab conversion, please have a look at the Adam Jones thread, and the shot of their 8LXB with the vanplan sleeper, surely it is the best looking one bar none! Cheerio for now.
Hi Saviem,
Vanplan was formed when Gerry Crowe, Arthur Rathbone and a salesperson who we never dealt with, (as we dealt with Ken and Jeoff Marsden) left Marsden Coachbuilders Ltd after a large argument. Arthur Rathbone had worked from leaving school in the fifties for old Mr Marsden and without formal qualifications had developed into an excellent designer and worker in fibreglass. I’m sure he will have produced that sleeper extension. You can read more on W.H.Williams thread about Marsden and vanplan, who between them built us more that one hundred pantechnicons
Regards Carl Williams
Stanfield:
Here you go 240…XTF 235N Then & Now.I think I have posted the Taylor one before (my apoligies if so)10
And once more, from the factory archives:
