I thought the twin lights in the bumper were really cool then. (A bit naff now though.
Sweden. I missed the boat because I offered to sell a bottle of scotch (bought at crew’s prices) at the factory I delivered to, I didn’t realise the crane driver went home to get the money and lived about twenty miles away. My profit went on a sandwich and a bottle of lager.We didn’t seem to have to have rear number-plates then.
My first trip for Planthaul. Hadn’t a clue what I was doing. Michael Cave told me when I started that I would be driving an ■■■■■■ car for six months. I think I did two trips, then they gave me the keys to this 89 with a new R.B. drag-line crane to go to the Verona trade show. I wasn’t even sure I could get the thing to Dover. Only got captured once!
Brilliant photos…pure nostalgia…Superb.
niknak:
My first trip for Planthaul. Hadn’t a clue what I was doing. Michael Cave told me when I started that I would be driving an ■■■■■■ car for six months. I think I did two trips, then they gave me the keys to this 89 with a new R.B. drag-line crane to go to the Verona trade show. I wasn’t even sure I could get the thing to Dover. Only got captured once!0
Superb niknak, so many memories in that lot, it seems to sum up the operation fairly well, brilliant photos,
I did my first overseas trip with Barry Stringer, we both tipped Paris, he reloaded at the same place and he pointed me towards Belgium and said Dendermonde is that way I’ll see you at the end of the week, don’t worry everyone will look out for you…especially the Dutch guys. They did and it turned out to be the best job I’ve had… great bloke to start out with.
I still have the job offer letter from Mike Cave stating exactly what he told you, six months in a GTi Golf, a spell in the office and then on the lorries, in his words “If you prove yourself and you’re any good you could be in line to be a Project Manager” all this for £5,000 per annum (salaried)
Cheers, Nick
What is more amazing is the MCL fleet, imagine a modern supermarket driver having to put up with a lowly F7 never mind spending weeks away in it. 
Wheel Nut:
What is more amazing is the MCL fleet, imagine a modern supermarket driver having to put up with a lowly F7 never mind spending weeks away in it.
In the 70s there were still plenty of day cab units still going over…I had a few months in a bubble cab F.86, including the tail end of winter 1976 in Sweden, lots of smoke in the morning after ticking over all night!!
True to form with the paperwork…I loaded this pump on a Planthaul trailer for Bordeaux with an M.A.N 16.280 as the pump was supposed to be just under 20t, when the unit sat on it’s haunches Stanley John decided to give the load to Ron Fensome with this 19.330 plated for 56t, the paperwork said it was a 20m silo going to Belgium, Planthaul said it was all they had so “Blag it, nobody looks at permits anyway”…admittedly the reload was a silo from Belgium.
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Any idea where this was taken? Robsons used to do changeovers on the by-passed old road into Biggleswade, the background looks very similar and its just down the road from Bedford…?
Also, was Barry Stringer one of the Ampthill Stringer clan?
Steevo:
Any idea where this was taken? Robsons used to do changeovers on the by-passed old road into Biggleswade, the background looks very similar and its just down the road from Bedford…?
Spot on Steevo, it is indeed Bells Brook, both Ron Fensome and Syd Basson parked there, going back even further they did a changeover when they were on for Spinks in that very place…but that’s another story!!
Lemonmouth is the best man qualified to answer your last question.
Steevo:
Also, was Barry Stringer one of the Ampthill Stringer clan?
I don’t recognise him Steevo, so he must be one of the Bedford clan 
Could be a distant relative though 
Trev.
niknak:
Easter in Italy… well you had to think of something to pass the time away!0
Niknak nice one I’m made up to see OVS 245W I had it for a few years, looks well smart on your pic, proper old workhorse.
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Two pics one before the cab overhaul & one after 
Maybe not.
niknak:
Easter in Italy… well you had to think of something to pass the time away!0
Here’s my contribution to this great thread. Enjoy…
My first visit to Planhaul yard as a “youngster” 
Must have been 17 or 18.
Living locally, I went back “a few more times” to say the least. Snapped these at the yard;
Who’s that lurking in the background?
Snapped away from the yard; Some of these are mine, some from unknown sources.
John Cooper from Bedford was a regular subby. His was the ONLY 140 on the fleet!
Convoy on route Italy - UK
John’s 140 broke down (once) so he used a Planthaul F12 to collect a trailer from Goldhoffer Germany. Accompanied by Stanley John MAN - One for you Nick
John also used his own liveried Scania’s
Couple of MCL snaps
KNK 13V
KNK 13V & LBM 516V
And finally some press articles
truckerash:
Here’s my contribution to this great thread. Enjoy…
My first visit to Planhaul yard as a “youngster”
John’s 140 broke down (once) so he used a Planthaul F12 to collect a trailer from Goldhoffer Germany. Accompanied by Stanley John MAN - One for you Nick
Nice set of photos Ash, I can see the dreams and envy emanating from you leaning against that F89!!
Thanks for the M.A.N one, I’m not sure what happened to the two V10s when they were sold, the one remaining one had a turbo 280 put in when the V10 gave out, Stanley hated V engines for some reason.
Planthaul borrowed S. Johns King lowloader for a cable drum job they had…when it came back it had been painted red and black…Stanley threw his toys out of the pram…stamped on his cap, muttered something in Polish and sent it to be repainted.
I followed this one from Milan to Auxerre where we were hauled in by the police for trying to escape on a Sunday.
And some from the brochure
Cheers, Nick
