The old A2 from Dover and to a lesser extent the A20 from Folkestone used to be thronging with Skoda 706s, FIAT 682s, Pegasos, RABAs, Hanomag Henschells and other exotic machinery from Europe with names like Olloquiegui on the side. It’s a bit boring now when it’s nearly all Scanias and Volvos.
cav551:
The old A2 from Dover and to a lesser extent the A20 from Folkestone used to be thronging with Skoda 706s, FIAT 682s, Pegasos, RABAs, Hanomag Henschells and other exotic machinery from Europe with names like Olloquiegui on the side. It’s a bit boring now when it’s nearly all Scanias and Volvos.
All crawling out of Boughton and up that steep hill in a slow, grinding procession. I remember it well! They were wreathed in dark diesel exhaust, often following one of East Kent’s AEC Regent V double-deckers. The Skoda’s ‘chuffed’ as they went - some peculiarity with their air-brakes - and there were majestic, brown, bonnetted Scania Vabis pulling Giraud tankers from France. And if you looked carefully, some of the LHD F88s and Scania 140s had British plates and a bit of Arabic scrawled on the bumper. The Gate Cafe awaited the weary at the top of the hill in Dunkirk. It’d be handy to nip back in time and have another look at that lot wouldn’t it? Robert
I remember the old Fiats, the Berliets of Girauds with the stainless single wheel triaxle tankers, what about the Spanish fridges with rear steer that were pulled by Jose Carrilio’s highly sign written Mercs.
Jeff…
Used to see those Skodas parked on the Silvertown Way. There was a pull out where the flyover touched ground and they would be in there for days.
Now then; Pegaso, there’s a real truck.
Here is my little Comet 1101 than I completely restored a couple of years ago.
David
Good looking wagon there David, handy for nipping out and getting some oranges…
It always found it interesting that those Raba’s and Skodas always used to brake down within sight of military instalations.
They must have transmitting some kind of disrupter beem…
Jeff…
A crawling Dafi, a time you learnt changing gears without syncro’s (ZF not easy as a Fuller and a two speed behind it).
And don’t forget the worst The Roman’s, very poor people,once I gave one an old English book map.
he was already some hundred miles too far driven.
Bye Eric,
From a classic vehicles exhibition in Malaga last weekend.
Ever get stuck behind one of those 4 wheelers? 150 non turbo smoke belcher!
BendiBus, first one in Spain.
tiptop495:
Fiat 682T3 200 PS SAE as it here was called.Eric,
I looked at that familiar cab and thought: ‘What huge doors’! Then I remembered that the cab was not that big. It was introduced in 1952 (the year I was born) and when I went on a trip to Germany in 1968 I saw them on the autobahns and thought they were the hound’s goolies! Well, here is Tip-top’s pic with Trilex wheels and a decidedly post-'50s side-skirt reminiscent of the '90s! And they didn’t even have the Fuller gearbox beloved of both Eric (Tip-top) and myself!! Notwithstanding any of which, I wouldn’t half mind getting behind the wheel of one today! Thank you for posting. Robert
robert1952:
tiptop495:
Fiat 682T3 200 PS SAE as it here was called.Eric,
I looked at that familiar cab and thought: ‘What huge doors’! Then I remembered that the cab was not that big. It was introduced in 1952 (the year I was born) and when I went on a trip to Germany in 1968 I saw them on the autobahns and thought they were the hound’s goolies! Well, here is Tip-top’s pic with Trilex wheels and a decidedly post-'50s side-skirt reminiscent of the '90s! And they didn’t even have the Fuller gearbox beloved of both Eric (Tip-top) and myself!! Notwithstanding any of which, I wouldn’t half mind getting behind the wheel of one today! Thank you for posting. Robert
Robert, not a Fuller but realy a nice box to drive, two sticks so 8 speeds no syncro’s, but liked it.
They sold very well here cheap 3 for the price of 2 Volvo’s and Scania was still more expensive. Vanhool did
the import en had a financial system to buy them in lots. They weren’t top quality but mostly reliable, if you hold the revs under 1900@. But with a slow drive axle ratio was that difficult. 
Eric,
tiptop495:
robert1952:
tiptop495:
Fiat 682T3 200 PS SAE as it here was called.Eric,
I looked at that familiar cab and thought: ‘What huge doors’! Then I remembered that the cab was not that big. It was introduced in 1952 (the year I was born) and when I went on a trip to Germany in 1968 I saw them on the autobahns and thought they were the hound’s goolies! Well, here is Tip-top’s pic with Trilex wheels and a decidedly post-'50s side-skirt reminiscent of the '90s! And they didn’t even have the Fuller gearbox beloved of both Eric (Tip-top) and myself!! Notwithstanding any of which, I wouldn’t half mind getting behind the wheel of one today! Thank you for posting. Robert
Robert, not a Fuller but realy a nice box to drive, two sticks so 8 speeds no syncro’s, but liked it.
They sold very well here cheap 3 for the price of 2 Volvo’s and Scania was still more expensive. Vanhool did
the import en had a financial system to buy them in lots. They weren’t top quality but mostly reliable, if you hold the revs under 1900@. But with a slow drive axle ratio was that difficult.
Eric,
Thanks Eric: I always enjoy your contributions! Robert
robert if i remember my cousin told me those f.troop romans had a column change as well
stevejones:
robert if i remember my cousin told me those f.troop romans had a column change as well
I was never a fan of column-change. I can do it but don’t like it much. Here’s a pic of one of many old 628s I saw (built under licence) in Libya. Wouldn’t fancy going there now!
Robert
Later this year I will visit Sardinia, where I hope to imbibe one of my favourite tipples: mirto di Sardegna. It’s made from myrtle berries and leaves. I used to drink it when I lived in Roma. 
Robert
hi robert sitting on the georgia/florida line could just slip a few of them at the moment they look great
stevejones:
hi robert sitting on the georgia/florida line could just slip a few of them at the moment they look great
And they are great - very more-ish! Probably Moorish too! Robert
I’ve just returned from Sardinia. What a lovely, unspoiled island! Here’s an old Fiat I spotted still at work in Palau, hoiking boats out of the marina. Robert
