The first two screenshots Dave is talking about Crusaders and he mentioned he also brought back a Fiat unit. The first photo is of one of the BRS Marathons and the last photo shows the only one that didn’t make it back. Don’t know how long they were running to Iran but it was certainly a year or two.
Dennis Javelin:
ERF-NGC-European:
sandway:
These photos and the little anecdote are courtesy of Dave Stroud who worked for BRS in the mid 70’s driving a Leyland Marathon to Iran. The vandalised Crusader had been dumped in Tehran and Dave brought it back to the UK.Great pics, Sandway! I know lots of day-cabbed ‘ancient Brits’ headed east back in ’75 but it still amazes me that BRS sent down day-cabbed Crusaders. There’s some youtube footage showing glimpses of one (or two) heading down to the Gulf on here somewhere – possibly on this very thread. The demise of this particular Crusader didn’t deter them from setting up their ill-fated Iran service with sleeper-cabbed Marathons a bit later.
Ro
If it was hired out to a company why was it running in BRS livery?
In my experience, loaned or hired out vehicles remained in livery unless on very long contracts, owing to the high cost of repainting and signing a unit. Companies ran rental units and rental tilts down the TIR-trail in the livery they arrived in the yard in.
Some preferred rental vehicle liveries because they were anonymous and you could keep your head below the parapet.
sandway:
The first two screenshots Dave is talking about Crusaders and he mentioned he also brought back a Fiat unit. The first photo is of one of the BRS Marathons and the last photo shows the only one that didn’t make it back. Don’t know how long they were running to Iran but it was certainly a year or two.
That clears up the mystery of the BRS day-cabbed Crusaders. I assume then, that other than their Iran / Marathons venture, BRS didn’t do much else, if anything, on the Middle-East run.
ERF-NGC-European:
Dennis Javelin:
ERF-NGC-European:
sandway:
These photos and the little anecdote are courtesy of Dave Stroud who worked for BRS in the mid 70’s driving a Leyland Marathon to Iran. The vandalised Crusader had been dumped in Tehran and Dave brought it back to the UK.Great pics, Sandway! I know lots of day-cabbed ‘ancient Brits’ headed east back in ’75 but it still amazes me that BRS sent down day-cabbed Crusaders. There’s some youtube footage showing glimpses of one (or two) heading down to the Gulf on here somewhere – possibly on this very thread. The demise of this particular Crusader didn’t deter them from setting up their ill-fated Iran service with sleeper-cabbed Marathons a bit later.
Ro
If it was hired out to a company why was it running in BRS livery?
In my experience, loaned or hired out vehicles remained in livery unless on very long contracts, owing to the high cost of repainting and signing a unit. Companies ran rental units and rental tilts down the TIR-trail in the livery they arrived in the yard in.
Some preferred rental vehicle liveries because they were anonymous and you could keep your head below the parapet.
Prior to the introduction of the truck rental division, which was in 1975, I don’t think BRS would have entered into a vehicle only contract as I don’t think they were legally allowed to. I know that, certainly in 1979 when I joined them, the contract hire division were unable to supply any other nationalised company on any kind of contract or leasing deal. Our local Freightliners depot had tractor units on contract hire from Transfleet as we were forbidden from supplying them although we could supply units on short term rental. If they did these deals would have been a minimum of two years and any vehicles supplied would either have been plain colours or painted in the hirers livery. I don’t imagine that you would have been given a truck in BRS colours. Could be wrong though.
^^^^^ in reply to Dennis above:
Ah! With this more detailed information, I can now see the sense of your original question. The thick plottens!
ERF-NGC-European:
NMP0
fantastic looking truck! though probably worth less than the ■■■■■■ parked next to it,in today’s values 
carryfast-yeti:
ERF-NGC-European:
NMP0
fantastic looking truck! though probably worth less than the ■■■■■■ parked next to it,in today’s values
I know which one I’d rather drive! Horrible tinny little things, those Escorts 
ERF-NGC-European:
Yet another Crusader on Middle-East work!NMP
Dont recall seeing that company before Ro ? Thats what you call a belly tank !
DEANB:
ERF-NGC-European:
Yet another Crusader on Middle-East work!NMP
Dont recall seeing that company before Ro ? Thats what you call a belly tank !
I don’t remember that name either. It was on an L-plate so about 1972/3 build then. That belly tank is good for at least 1000 litres of cherry going down; and Saudi diesel at pennies per litre coming back.
DISPATCHER:
0.
That appears to be the early radiator, as it is identical to the Crusader exhibited at the 1968 Motor Show. The sole Samson, also on a J-plate, had the same radiator.
ERF-NGC-European:
DISPATCHER:
0.That appears to be the early radiator, as it is identical to the Crusader exhibited at the 1968 Motor Show. The sole Samson, also on a J-plate, had the same radiator.
Im not sure it may have been the vehicle at the show ?
stevecook:
Family helping with the maintenance!
0
Cracking pic, just noticed the chimney on the cab roof. Did he have a coal fire in there ?
Suedehead:
stevecook:
Family helping with the maintenance!
0Cracking pic, just noticed the chimney on the cab roof. Did he have a coal fire in there ?
If you saw the smoke it laid down on frosty mornings you would think it needed chimneys!
stevecook:
Suedehead:
stevecook:
Family helping with the maintenance!Cracking pic, just noticed the chimney on the cab roof. Did he have a coal fire in there ?
If you saw the smoke it laid down on frosty mornings you would think it needed chimneys!
