Saviem's fan club (Part 1)

[saviem]

Fergie47:
Back on track… a few wreckers…

I must get off to bed, then I see Fergies pictures of “wreckers”, and the memories come flooding back!

Third one down, the well worn, and hard worked looking Berliet GLM10R (Ricardo), was the breakdown for Garage de Villette, L`Etrat, Saint-Etienne, an ex Berliet dealer who stayed with Renault Vehicules Industriels. She was retro fitted with the MAN combustion system MDZ23M 9500cc 180 hp engine, and the lifting gear came from a WW2 Diamond T 969.

When she came into Garage Villettes ownership she was a long wheelbase "Primeur" bodied rigid, complete with overcab "Capucine", that is why the cab looks so peculiar. Boy, she did some work in her time! Garages Villette were also a subsidiary of ATA, (LAssociation des Transporteurs Artisans), that Fergie posted some pictures of earlier on this thread. A super company, who ran some spectacular rigid vans, and 3 wheeled FAR/Scammell tractors, and were pioneers of the Rail/Route concept.

Maybe I should write a little about them as transporteurs, but there are some really funny stories about the ex Berliet Dealership, particularly in the “pre merger” street fighting days between the Saviem, and Berliet dealerships…

But Im away to my bed,

Cheerio for now.

[froggy55]

I understand you did see the monster with your own eyes, Saviem? Did you take any pictures?

[saviem]

Froggy55:
I understand you did see the monster with your own eyes, Saviem? Did you take any pictures?

Hello Froggy,

Oh if only!.. Back then all I was intent upon was my job, not carrying a camera, or taking pictures. You went out as the" Factory" man, to support the local Dealers, and meet people. I loved every second of my job, and in particular meeting the operators, and their drivers, although on many occasions it was very far from easy. You were the pinch point between what had to be achieved in terms of sales and market penetration for my employer, and trying to keep the local Dealers happy with what we were supplying them with, and trying to keep them profitable, and above all keeping the operators, and their drivers and mechanics really happy with the product.

I did my job my own way, it raised many eyebrows, as “Factory men” were not expected to actually leap into our lorries and show what they could do! Let alone grab the Dealership Management by the" scruff of the neck", and make them get stuck into the job. Caused all sorts of problems initially, particularly when I was first at Venissieux, but it worked for me, and it worked for the company, though there were many “torrid” moments.

Yet in the US it worked easily, and there were never ever any torrid moments…but Mack as a company did not" do" company politics, a superb outfit, with superb people. Francois Zanotti was totally right about them, just a shame that he was restrained by the Politics of the Regie. ( Tomdhu`s previous post and link to the academic thesis on RVI, in the context of the French motor industry is well worth reading, it is very good indeed).

Now I regret not taking photographs, but in the context of my jobs, and the situations that I was in on a daily basis, taking a photograph would have been rather difficult…but now so many years later I do wish that I had!

Cheerio for now.

[pete_smith]

Hi Saviem,
How about this old girl from Banks’s fleet, did you ever try and stick them any Sed-Atki’s in the fleet or had Atwoods got it sewn up with Bedford’s?

[oiltreader]

Slight diversion and Berliet cars.
Oily

[pete_smith]

Big Fergie and little Fergie! Size of them ain’t half changed in 60+ years

[froggy55]

Just a slight power upgrading with 260 bhp for the 8470, when the little grey donkey produced some 20 bhp.

[fergie47]

pete smith:
Big Fergie and little Fergie! Size of them ain’t half changed in 60+ years

Size doesn’t matter…ask Mrs Smith…

Froggy55:
Just a slight power upgrading with 260 bhp for the 8470, when the little grey donkey produced some 20 bhp.

DONKEY, bl**dy donkey…you Philistine…insulting my dear little tractor…

[pete_smith]

Fergie47:

pete smith:
Big Fergie and little Fergie! Size of them ain’t half changed in 60+ years

Size doesn’t matter…ask Mrs Smith…

Froggy55:
Just a slight power upgrading with 260 bhp for the 8470, when the little grey donkey produced some 20 bhp.

DONKEY, bl**dy donkey…you Philistine…insulting my dear little tractor…

Hi Fergie, you are wrong about size does not matter, Mrs Smith moaning about my size 19.5 stone!!!

[fergie47]

Another little Berliet

[fergie47]

Saviem mentioned A.T.A, …plus a few of the famous V.I.T with 2 older wagons, then the newer Renaults …a fair few stories there…

[fergie47]

pete smith:

Fergie47:

pete smith:
Big Fergie and little Fergie! Size of them ain’t half changed in 60+ years

Size doesn’t matter…ask Mrs Smith…

Froggy55:
Just a slight power upgrading with 260 bhp for the 8470, when the little grey donkey produced some 20 bhp.

DONKEY, bl**dy donkey…you Philistine…insulting my dear little tractor…

Hi Fergie, you are wrong about size does not matter, Mrs Smith moaning about my size 19.5 stone!!!

Fortunately Pierre, I’m a lightweight at 12.5 stone, which is a good job really, if I was any heavier I wouldn’t fit on to my little grey DONKEY would I… Can’t post any more pic’s to-day, too upset, off to lay down after the insult to my Fergie…

[pete_smith]

Fergie47:

pete smith:

Fergie47:

pete smith:
Big Fergie and little Fergie! Size of them ain’t half changed in 60+ years

Size doesn’t matter…ask Mrs Smith…

Froggy55:
Just a slight power upgrading with 260 bhp for the 8470, when the little grey donkey produced some 20 bhp.

DONKEY, bl**dy donkey…you Philistine…insulting my dear little tractor…

Hi Fergie, you are wrong about size does not matter, Mrs Smith moaning about my size 19.5 stone!!!

Fortunately Pierre, I’m a lightweight at 12.5 stone, which is a good job really, if I was any heavier I wouldn’t fit on to my little grey DONKEY would I… Can’t post any more pic’s to-day, too upset, off to lay down after the insult to my Fergie…

Hi Fergie, Think of the extra traction if you put a “bit on”! I can get on my Cropmaster ok,big wide double seat, yes I’ll put that in before you state it Mr Fergie

[saviem]

pete smith:
Big Fergie and little Fergie! Size of them ain’t half changed in 60+ years

Evening all,

Now I can see trouble here…the little Fergie, superb, petrol/TVO, or even the (lethargic), diesel version…but those big Masseys, never rowed my boat…personally I am, and always will be a Green John Deere man…better lift, better torque, better turn on the headland, (and even better on tracks), better support, better parts prices, (and they were always there when you wanted them)…and oh, oh, bliss, so much better to look at…and far, far, better to work with…Masseys…red rubbish…BUT Not the little Grey Fergie…boy you could get some work out of them, and then they came back for more…Beautiful tractors, (and just starting to realise their true financial value)…those big Red Buggers never will…Orrible things, power without breeding… Mucky Masseys!!

Fergie stick to your little grey Thoroughbred, but Pete, if you really have a Cropmaster, now that gem from the David Brown Stable…sheer delight to work with, nimble, torquey, great to look at, and so cheap to run…as good, as the Fergie…and that dual seat tempted me one summers evening to go a “wooing” with a buxom lass from scenic Shropshires Rattlinghope…sadly she had other ideas than to accompany me upon the gently vibrating dual seat of my, (freshly washed and polished Cropmaster), up onto the Long Myndd to view the magnificent Stars above…choosing some moneyed wayward type with an MG TD …No taste that one…better fish would surely be on the Horizon…or was it the whiff of cow dung that I simply could not remove from my person…or the Cropmaster!..ah the loves of ones youth!

Adieu mes braves.

[john_west]

So,

Just to avoid any confusion… You’re not that keen on Masseys - I mean we wouldn’t want anyone getting the idea that you may have liked them just a tiny bit…

Ah. MGs! A friend of mine had a TC. It was in British racing green. He ■■■■■■■■■■■ it by putting Austin Healey 3 litre wheels on it. It was further abused when he sold it to another chum who sprayed it electric blue! I was his passenger when we somehow managed to get into the 1973 Barrow hospital parade. We were waved at and collected coins - sometimes in unfortunate places, for an hour!

It was then bought by someone who recognised its worth and it was re sprayed in BRG again and had the original wheels restored and replaced. It has been in a garage in St Bees for about 40 years and the current owner, Eileen, promises me that she intends to restore it to its total glory.

The TD was probably more beautiful than anything else on the road in those days, so I don’t think a Fergie would compete Saviem! I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but still…

I had an MGB GT 1968? in about 1973 - it had the original chrome bumpers and the big ends rattled for a second or two after you started it in the morning. What an honest car! No problems and would do 90 all day at 4000 revs in overdrive on those pre camera motorways! Bristol - Barrow in just over 3 hours! Ah, good times. Had a couple of MGBs thereafter including the one the ex-wife got in the divorce - she got the mine I got the shaft!

Happy days!

John

[pete_smith]

Saviem:

pete smith:
Big Fergie and little Fergie! Size of them ain’t half changed in 60+ years

Evening all,

Now I can see trouble here…the little Fergie, superb, petrol/TVO, or even the (lethargic), diesel version…but those big Masseys, never rowed my boat…personally I am, and always will be a Green John Deere man…better lift, better torque, better turn on the headland, (and even better on tracks), better support, better parts prices, (and they were always there when you wanted them)…and oh, oh, bliss, so much better to look at…and far, far, better to work with…Masseys…red rubbish…BUT Not the little Grey Fergie…boy you could get some work out of them, and then they came back for more…Beautiful tractors, (and just starting to realise their true financial value)…those big Red Buggers never will…Orrible things, power without breeding… Mucky Masseys!!

Fergie stick to your little grey Thoroughbred, but Pete, if you really have a Cropmaster, now that gem from the David Brown Stable…sheer delight to work with, nimble, torquey, great to look at, and so cheap to run…as good, as the Fergie…and that dual seat tempted me one summers evening to go a “wooing” with a buxom lass from scenic Shropshires Rattlinghope…sadly she had other ideas than to accompany me upon the gently vibrating dual seat of my, (freshly washed and polished Cropmaster), up onto the Long Myndd to view the magnificent Stars above…choosing some moneyed wayward type with an MG TD …No taste that one…better fish would surely be on the Horizon…or was it the whiff of cow dung that I simply could not remove from my person…or the Cropmaster!..ah the loves of ones youth!

Adieu mes braves.

Hi Saviem,
Yes I have a Cropmaster Diesel,a very early model that preceeds the 25D and 30D (same bore + stroke as the 30D) good battery on her,excess fuel button in quarter throttle and she fires up no bother, the beauty of direct injection! Cheer’s Pete

[froggy55]

Fergie47:

Froggy55:
Just a slight power upgrading with 260 bhp for the 8470, when the little grey donkey produced some 20 bhp.

DONKEY, bl**dy donkey…you Philistine…insulting my dear little tractor…

Your pet must by no ways feel insulted! The Grey Fergie, know in France as “Petit Gris” had a very good reputation. One of my neighbours still uses one (petrol engine) for gardening and grass-cutting. Moreover, donkeys are reputed to be valiant and sturdy pullers.

Now, to remain in the farming world, here’s a Seaman, powered with a straight-4 2-stroke GM. No idea if its British or American. Picture taken in the Loir-et-Cher (France) in 2012.

[pete_smith]

Froggy55:

Fergie47:

Froggy55:
Just a slight power upgrading with 260 bhp for the 8470, when the little grey donkey produced some 20 bhp.

DONKEY, bl**dy donkey…you Philistine…insulting my dear little tractor…

Your pet must by no ways feel insulted! The Grey Fergie, know in France as “Petit Gris” had a very good reputation. One of my neighbours still uses one (petrol engine) for gardening and grass-cutting. Moreover, donkeys are reputed to be valiant and sturdy pullers.

0
Now, to remain in the farming world, here’s a Seaman, powered with a straight-4 2-stroke GM. No idea if its British or American. Picture taken in the Loir-et-Cher (France) in 2012.

Carryfast will get half a thick 'un on when he see’s that!

[saviem]

John West:
So,

Just to avoid any confusion… You’re not that keen on Masseys - I mean we wouldn’t want anyone getting the idea that you may have liked them just a tiny bit…

Ah. MGs! A friend of mine had a TC. It was in British racing green. He [zb] it by putting Austin Healey 3 litre wheels on it. It was further abused when he sold it to another chum who sprayed it electric blue! I was his passenger when we somehow managed to get into the 1973 Barrow hospital parade. We were waved at and collected coins - sometimes in unfortunate places, for an hour!

It was then bought by someone who recognised its worth and it was re sprayed in BRG again and had the original wheels restored and replaced. It has been in a garage in St Bees for about 40 years and the current owner, Eileen, promises me that she intends to restore it to its total glory.

The TD was probably more beautiful than anything else on the road in those days, so I don’t think a Fergie would compete Saviem! I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but still…

I had an MGB GT 1968? in about 1973 - it had the original chrome bumpers and the big ends rattled for a second or two after you started it in the morning. What an honest car! No problems and would do 90 all day at 4000 revs in overdrive on those pre camera motorways! Bristol - Barrow in just over 3 hours! Ah, good times. Had a couple of MGBs thereafter including the one the ex-wife got in the divorce - she got the mine I got the shaft!

Happy days!

John

Evening all,

John, do you like me, look at the price that some of these old bangers now command, and remember just how B Orrid they were to drive, and think…not ever again, and not at that price!

My good lady, when we had our Daughter, I bought her a 3 bearing MGB, deep maroon, fitted a car child seat in the back…and sun hats on off they went…not possible today!

Then I “dealt” a Lenham Sprite …set up for Hill Climbing…the carburettors were as big as the bores…sadly not an easy starter…but the Mothers used to wait for my beloved, after school, (she was a Schoolteacher then), and push start the beast…bang, rrrrrasp, (sheet of flame from the exhaust)…and away…never late to get my tea…

But early married days…there was the ex Mc Credies of Ayr Volkswagon pick up…every journey you could smell the Kippers…or the Vauxhall Viva, that she complained about the heavy steering…I never believed her…untill one Snowy day I saw her leave 4 independent tyre tracks as she drove away…

But before marriage…to impress the girl I was to marry I dealt a 3.8 Jaguar, chrome wire wheels, white, (and rust), coachwork…and the registration 4060 HP…had to go as I could not afford to run it…go like hell, switch off…coast…turn on…repeat…then wonder why my love was pressed hard against the passenger door…

Or the Riley Roadster, pencil slim, burned oil like a heavy smoker, gorgeous to look at…but utterly worn out…Like the Jensen 541, British Racing Green, Red Leather, Fibreglass coachwork crazed like some concrete layers nightmare…took four of us to club together enough funds for the petrol to go out in…it had to go…

As did so many…high steppers…but far beyond my means to run them…easy to acquire…less so to run…as was the Ford Thames 100E …10 mpg…10 mp pint…all my mates used to club together and give me the waste oil from their motorcycles…certainly cramped my style as a play boy…pick up some spectacular talent in a van laden with waste oil cans…then stop every so often to tip the contents into the smoking power plant…

My life has had sort of evolving swerves in its progress…

Cheerio for now

[robert1952]