jsutherland:
newmercman:
It sometimes feels as if my lorry is a circus wagon.Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk
In what way?
Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
Some days I’m surrounded by clowns.
Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk
Thanks for the clarification
Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
newmercman:
jsutherland:
newmercman:
It sometimes feels as if my lorry is a circus wagon.Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk
In what way?
Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
Some days I’m surrounded by clowns.
Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk
Dear me, your jokes don’t improve much as the years go by fella 
robert1952:
A very entertaining and informative page all round - thanks chaps! I hope that Pernod Fils trailer had air-con with all that glass. Cheers, Robert
Nice looking unit on the front as well Robert, real styling…
I even had to explain that one!
Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
This one seems to have been preserved:
caradisiac.com/retromobile-2 … 106617.htm
Does our genial host have any pertinent details?
Fergie47:
On the discussion of specialist body builders, here is a mix
Evening all,
Fergie, nmm, thanks for the pictures, my regret is that I cannot, with our sub standard internet access, have the ability to show some of my odd snaps, and can only ramble on regarding the lorries!..my apologies!
First cut, and a heavy one at that, of organic sileage today…Im well knackered, no other expression, but very happy…my Doctor told me that I would never do it without, “consequences”…but I feel ok, and raring to go again…its the heady scent of the fresh mown that does it!
Anyroad up, forgive me if I have a little meander along routes stimulated, and revived by Fergies pictures…First one was a typical, publicitaire/magasin, mobile shop body by Carrosserrie Arnault, on a Citroen chassis, probably a serie 60 petrol 4 cylinder.
Now that handsome Nestlé outfit with 30s Renault power, I think had bodywork by Leffendré, but is she not a great looker?
Then we come to the products of the golden age of French lorry bodywork, the 50s through to the 70s, and what gems lie here, from the works of Arnault, Augerau, Cherau, Cheéraud, Cottard, Currus, (with their incredible plexi glass 1 and a half decker coaches, and double deckers also, that simply defied any rational description before they morfed into Heulitz, and gave such style to their adopted parent). Then there was" l`enfant terrible"…Lebastard, and that so iconic Italian immigrant in Colombes, Di Rosa…so unrecognised, yet so innovative. Charbonneaux is recognised so well for his creations in lorries, as well as for Renault cars, (the 8, the 16, the 12), yet of equal style is the work of George Ham…
And Fergies picture of the Pernod Fils Panhard IE45 110 hp petrol powered"Super car" of 1953 is one of Hams creations…Bodied by Colombes based Di Rosa, utilising the electro/hydraulic expanding body system of Dépliex, capable of expanding the covered area to 6.5 metres, with an enclosed Piano Bar reception for up to 70 guests, and an outside deck/bandstand, with 17 speakers capable of supporting the design brief to be capable of creating the centre for an event of up to 20000 people! Fergies 7th picture shows the “super car” fully extended and ready to work…just imagine waking up in a French Provincial town square of the 50s and seeing that vehicle, fully erected and ready to go…what a site, what excitement that she would give!
Di Rosa is worth a few words, because he did not just create spectacular lorry bodies…he nearly, but just not quite, put a big spoke in the wheel of the GBs spectacular success in the USA s small sportscar market of the 50s…He created a real, viable MG TD/TF beater, on a Panhard chassis…
The Fergus Motor Company of New York saw the possibility of a stylish, open two seater back in 1950, and based on strong Panhard mechanicals Di Rosa was commissioned to create such a motor car…and he did…and the Americans loved it…so much that Panhard, (greedy for the margin of profit, that it made, took production “in house” to Orleans in 53…then in 55 along came Citroen…and took the whole lot in one go…and Di Rosa and Panhard ceased to exist!
Fergies fourth picture, again a Di Rosa, a tandem axle exhibition Tour de France trailer pulled by a 2.3 metre wheelbase Panhard petrol IE65 K192 of 20 tonnes gtw, the trailer body being based upon a Titan chassis…Although not pictured Kleber-Colombes Tyres also had a similar Tour de France single axle artic but bodied by Lebastard…perhaps marginally more handsome and better balanced…but the same low powered petrol 4 cylinder Panhard unit…with lots, and lots of glass and chrome!
Picture 5 is the famed Vins Postillion Chereau built, design by Léffondre western coach pulled by a Citroen 55 , (but visually by those two magnificent grey horses)! This remarkable and outrageous design ended up as a Créperie in the Cirque Pinder caravan…visually this was perhaps one of the most striking outfits ever in a Tour de France Caravan…those horses totally dominated the onlookers visual senses…lorry…never!
Then forgive me this indulgence, we leap to Phillipe Charbonneauxs fabulous recruiting vehicle for the French Air Force......in retirement utilised by Teleavia as a mobile showroom. Conceived in 1951, and because of strict budgetary constraints had to be built on a standard service, (nez de couchon), "Pig Nosed" Chausson APH 521 bus chassis with its 6 cylinder Hotchkiss petrol engine, Carrosserrie Antem were the body creator.......and what a body, this vehicle was still working in the 80…but by then carrying refrigerated internals, for those most celebrated Ice Cream manufacturers, the Oritz Brothers…better known as Glacés Miko…and their ice cream could rival that of Davidsons from the Isle of Man…and that is some challenge indeed!
The works, and creations of the design studio of PhillipeCharbonneaux are perhaps the most spectacular publicity vehicles, and remain best known…and non more so than the Pathé Marconi super car of 1952, as shown in Fergies eighth picture…The actual design concept was the work of Charbonneaux employee Paul Bracq, and the finished article with bodywork by Antem, who were “policed” by project manager Michel Vioche , on behalf of Charbonneaux…The finished vehicle was of a standard rare to see in a commercial project…the Orchestra to entertain Pathé s guests were housed above the swan neck, below was a superbly luxurious reception/hospitality area for 50,......and this lorry exists today, and can be seen in Charbonneauxs museum, …like so many of his creations, they still exist…and it is hard to imagine just was their impact back in the" Golden Age"…truly, in the 21st Century we have no equals whatsoever!
It would be unfair of me not to point anyone who perhaps could be interested in finding out a little about these wonderful concept, (but working) vehicles without mentioning the…
Mobile Hoover vacumn cleaners based on that truly horrible Renault Estafette
Di Rosas spectacular ASPRO creations......(you needed to take an Aspro after seing these)! Insecticide Foodroyans dead fly creation by Pourtout..... Charbonneauxs Rocket Space Ship semi trailer for Esso, built by Léffondre, and somewhat let down by its motive unit being a 1940s International M426…but that is cost cutting for you!..The Formica outfits of Charbonneaux…
BIC Biro rocket cars…Lebastard again…what creative metal workers its artisans were…no…true artistes!!!
George Hams incredible Kleber-Colombes Delahaye 145 creations realised by Carrosserrie Beaublet…beyond belief…
Propogaz`s Rocket cars…on Renault 8s!!!..But like Fergies last picture of the late 40s Unic ZU52T 4 cylinder Primagaz 15.9 tonne hauled exhibition trailer…but even that had expanding electro/hydraulic sides by Depliex…
And many were even more wild in creative design than any of these…yet the design led to development for the lorry driver…Charbonneaux`s concept for RTF…led to the Bernard Television cabin…
Truly great vehicles, and a golden period…
Im away to a “medicinal” Bollinger…
Cheerio for now.
Fergie47:
On the discussion of specialist body builders, here is a mix
Evening all,
Fergie, nmm, thanks for the pictures, my regret is that I cannot, with our sub standard internet access, have the ability to show some of my odd snaps, and can only ramble on regarding the lorries!..my apologies!
First cut, and a heavy one at that, of organic sileage today…Im well knackered, no other expression, but very happy…my Doctor told me that I would never do it without, “consequences”…but I feel ok, and raring to go again…its the heady scent of the fresh mown that does it!
Anyroad up, forgive me if I have a little meander along routes stimulated, and revived by Fergies pictures…First one was a typical, publicitaire/magasin, mobile shop body by Carrosserrie Arnault, on a Citroen chassis, probably a serie 60 petrol 4 cylinder.
Now that handsome Nestlé outfit with 30s Renault power, I think had bodywork by Leffendré, but is she not a great looker?
Then we come to the products of the golden age of French lorry bodywork, the 50s through to the 70s, and what gems lie here, from the works of Arnault, Augerau, Cherau, Cheéraud, Cottard, Currus, (with their incredible plexi glass 1 and a half decker coaches, and double deckers also, that simply defied any rational description before they morfed into Heulitz, and gave such style to their adopted parent). Then there was" l`enfant terrible"…Lebastard, and that so iconic Italian immigrant in Colombes, Di Rosa…so unrecognised, yet so innovative. Charbonneaux is recognised so well for his creations in lorries, as well as for Renault cars, (the 8, the 16, the 12), yet of equal style is the work of George Ham…
And Fergies picture of the Pernod Fils Panhard IE45 110 hp petrol powered"Super car" of 1953 is one of Hams creations…Bodied by Colombes based Di Rosa, utilising the electro/hydraulic expanding body system of Dépliex, capable of expanding the covered area to 6.5 metres, with an enclosed Piano Bar reception for up to 70 guests, and an outside deck/bandstand, with 17 speakers capable of supporting the design brief to be capable of creating the centre for an event of up to 20000 people! Fergies 7th picture shows the “super car” fully extended and ready to work…just imagine waking up in a French Provincial town square of the 50s and seeing that vehicle, fully erected and ready to go…what a site, what excitement that she would give!
Di Rosa is worth a few words, because he did not just create spectacular lorry bodies…he nearly, but just not quite, put a big spoke in the wheel of the GBs spectacular success in the USA s small sportscar market of the 50s…He created a real, viable MG TD/TF beater, on a Panhard chassis…
The Fergus Motor Company of New York saw the possibility of a stylish, open two seater back in 1950, and based on strong Panhard mechanicals Di Rosa was commissioned to create such a motor car…and he did…and the Americans loved it…so much that Panhard, (greedy for the margin of profit, that it made, took production “in house” to Orleans in 53…then in 55 along came Citroen…and took the whole lot in one go…and Di Rosa and Panhard ceased to exist!
Fergies fourth picture, again a Di Rosa, a tandem axle exhibition Tour de France trailer pulled by a 2.3 metre wheelbase Panhard petrol IE65 K192 of 20 tonnes gtw, the trailer body being based upon a Titan chassis…Although not pictured Kleber-Colombes Tyres also had a similar Tour de France single axle artic but bodied by Lebastard…perhaps marginally more handsome and better balanced…but the same low powered petrol 4 cylinder Panhard unit…with lots, and lots of glass and chrome!
Picture 5 is the famed Vins Postillion Chereau built, design by Léffondre western coach pulled by a Citroen 55 , (but visually by those two magnificent grey horses)! This remarkable and outrageous design ended up as a Créperie in the Cirque Pinder caravan…visually this was perhaps one of the most striking outfits ever in a Tour de France Caravan…those horses totally dominated the onlookers visual senses…lorry…never!
Then forgive me this indulgence, we leap to Phillipe Charbonneauxs fabulous recruiting vehicle for the French Air Force......in retirement utilised by Teleavia as a mobile showroom. Conceived in 1951, and because of strict budgetary constraints had to be built on a standard service, (nez de couchon), "Pig Nosed" Chausson APH 521 bus chassis with its 6 cylinder Hotchkiss petrol engine, Carrosserrie Antem were the body creator.......and what a body, this vehicle was still working in the 80…but by then carrying refrigerated internals, for those most celebrated Ice Cream manufacturers, the Oritz Brothers…better known as Glacés Miko…and their ice cream could rival that of Davidsons from the Isle of Man…and that is some challenge indeed!
The works, and creations of the design studio of PhillipeCharbonneaux are perhaps the most spectacular publicity vehicles, and remain best known…and non more so than the Pathé Marconi super car of 1952, as shown in Fergies eighth picture…The actual design concept was the work of Charbonneaux employee Paul Bracq, and the finished article with bodywork by Antem, who were “policed” by project manager Michel Vioche , on behalf of Charbonneaux…The finished vehicle was of a standard rare to see in a commercial project…the Orchestra to entertain Pathé s guests were housed above the swan neck, below was a superbly luxurious reception/hospitality area for 50,......and this lorry exists today, and can be seen in Charbonneauxs museum, …like so many of his creations, they still exist…and it is hard to imagine just was their impact back in the" Golden Age"…truly, in the 21st Century we have no equals whatsoever!
It would be unfair of me not to point anyone who perhaps could be interested in finding out a little about these wonderful concept, (but working) vehicles without mentioning the…
Mobile Hoover vacumn cleaners based on that truly horrible Renault Estafette
Di Rosas spectacular ASPRO creations......(you needed to take an Aspro after seing these)! Insecticide Foodroyans dead fly creation by Pourtout..... Charbonneauxs Rocket Space Ship semi trailer for Esso, built by Léffondre, and somewhat let down by its motive unit being a 1940s International M426…but that is cost cutting for you!..The Formica outfits of Charbonneaux…
BIC Biro rocket cars…Lebastard again…what creative metal workers its artisans were…no…true artistes!!!
George Hams incredible Kleber-Colombes Delahaye 145 creations realised by Carrosserrie Beaublet…beyond belief…
Propogaz`s Rocket cars…on Renault 8s!!!..But like Fergies last picture of the late 40s Unic ZU52T 4 cylinder Primagaz 15.9 tonne hauled exhibition trailer…but even that had expanding electro/hydraulic sides by Depliex…
And many were even more wild in creative design than any of these…yet the design led to development for the lorry driver…Charbonneaux`s concept for RTF…led to the Bernard Television cabin…
Truly great vehicles, and a golden period…
Im away to a “medicinal” Bollinger…
Cheerio for now.
Apologies…Specsavers glasses, and wobbly fingers!
Saviem:
Apologies…Specsavers glasses, and wobbly fingers…equal inadvertant 2nd post…SORRY.Just looked at your caradisiac link Anorak…like so often simply does not do the works of the creator justice!The booted R16 was killed by Dreyfus, PDG of the Regie, but the R16 concept went ahead…superb cars…I did 100s of thousands of kilometres in them…comfy as an armchair!
From car washing brushes, via washing machines, Televisions, lorries, concept vehicles, furniture, Charbonneaux cannot be easily defined…a true conceptualist!..and he was a journalist as well…(well, as a young man he produced an aircraft magazine)…well worth researching
Cheerio for now.
Newmercman.
Brilliant. You played it perfectly. Johnnie bit - as did I.
Fergie.
Wonderful images. My early favourites were mainly Guys. Solid, slab fronted ‘British’ lorries!
How ‘fashionable’ were the French - even in the austere post war days.
M. Saviem,
Thank you for your insight into what was actually going on, this is social history at its best. As soon as I see you’ve posted I want to read it!
John
Same here. I just cannot imagine how Saviem could have amassed such expansive knowledge, let alone remember it as he does. Until this thread came along I had no idea that France’s road transport hardware was so different to ours. Fascinating stuff!
John West:
Newmercman.Fergie.
Wonderful images. My early favourites were mainly Guys. Solid, slab fronted ‘British’ lorries!
How ‘fashionable’ were the French - even in the austere post war days.
John
jsutherland:
Fantastic pictures Fergie. Thanks.Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
Thank you both…the pictures are the easy bit, it wouldn’t be the same without Saviems vast experience and knowledge to make the pictures come alive…bit like a double act really, not too sure which one though… 
Fergie47:
John West:
Newmercman.Fergie.
Wonderful images. My early favourites were mainly Guys. Solid, slab fronted ‘British’ lorries!
How ‘fashionable’ were the French - even in the austere post war days.
John
jsutherland:
Fantastic pictures Fergie. Thanks.Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
Thank you both…the pictures are the easy bit, it wouldn’t be the same without Saviems vast experience and knowledge to make the pictures come alive…bit like a double act really, not too sure which one though…
Hi Fergie,
I agree with your above comment, your pictures are spot on and Saviem gives the facts behind them, Thank you much appreciated
pete smith:
Hi Fergie,
I agree with your above comment, your pictures are spot on and Saviem gives the facts behind them, Thank you much appreciated
Missed you Smithy, where you been, thought you’d got stuck in that old Atki and they’d had to chop the roof off to get you out…too many of those pork pies…and chips… 
Fergie47:
pete smith:
Hi Fergie,
I agree with your above comment, your pictures are spot on and Saviem gives the facts behind them, Thank you much appreciatedMissed you Smithy, where you been, thought you’d got stuck in that old Atki and they’d had to chop the roof off to get you out…too many of those pork pies…and chips…
On holiday, just found out the password for Internet! and do not be so rude, even I have feelings
pete smith:
Fergie47:
pete smith:
Hi Fergie,
I agree with your above comment, your pictures are spot on and Saviem gives the facts behind them, Thank you much appreciatedMissed you Smithy, where you been, thought you’d got stuck in that old Atki and they’d had to chop the roof off to get you out…too many of those pork pies…and chips…
On holiday, just found out the password for Internet! and do not be so rude, even I have feelings
You can’t have…not looking like that… 
, So Scarborough is it ?, more pork pies, more chips, and jellied eels for afters. …with custard… …and to think you could have spent time over here with me…French cuisine, lots and lots of beautiful wine, and insults come gratuit !..
Fergie47:
pete smith:
Fergie47:
pete smith:
Hi Fergie,
I agree with your above comment, your pictures are spot on and Saviem gives the facts behind them, Thank you much appreciatedMissed you Smithy, where you been, thought you’d got stuck in that old Atki and they’d had to chop the roof off to get you out…too many of those pork pies…and chips…
On holiday, just found out the password for Internet! and do not be so rude, even I have feelings
You can’t have…not looking like that…
No near Harlech, France is on the cards for next year so get the woodshed sorted
Pete, I am wondering if Fergie is missing the pork pies etc. and is actually a tad jealous… 
Evening all,
Grief its been a hard day…
The Pork Pies wee no problem…Mad O`Rourkes descendants offered a special rate for “export”…
But then Gills decided to undercut the rate…being as they operate from the site of a famous Wolverhampton Haulier…E A Smith…and do not operate rather care worn Bow Front Atkinsons of dubious vintage… but rather clean Teutonic lorries with the three pointed star!
Getting them over to Fergie…(24pallets only in our Crane-Gray and Adams tandem fridge ), was no real problem…untill our local, friendly Romanian haulier offered to take 36 palletts, plus 25 tonnes of steel plate, and several thousand Chickens over for the same rate less 20%!
A hard decision…but it was swung by a former ■■■■■■■■ haulier offering free traction…(for the first 5 kilometres), then cost plus 100% for the remainder, (all Ferries to be paid by us), utilising a Guy Big J with an 8 LXB Gardner…and Fergie can have a free of charge drive in the unit when it gets to him!!!..but it do`nt have a sleeper cab…
But the phone has just rung again…it looks like Romania has it…they are offering a 125 cu metre mega cube, and they will pay us for sending Fergie his Porcine supplies…and we get 50 cases of Romanian Champagne plus free Cinema tickets , plus as many Iced cakes as we can eat…
No I think that we should ring the retired ■■■■■■■■ ex pat, in sunny Morecambe…wonder if its cheaper to ship those crusty Pork Pies under a canvas fly sheet than in a fridge?..After all with 240 horses that Big J will move like no other!!!
Cheerio for now.