Underfloor engined Atkinson?


I found this photo on the internet,sorry if someone has copyright.I thought I was pretty clued-up on old lorries,but not come across this before.
Can anybody kindly give me info on it ?
Regards John.

Now that IS weird!
The visible part of the engine (?) doesn’t appear to have the same shape as a “normal” engine and there seems to be several brass pipes on the side of it.
I don’t know if it’s relevant, but I don’t think the reg. number is original. Maybe one of Stamper’s old chaps can enlighten us?

Well IIRC, Atkinson Vehicles ran this motor on trade plates carrying spares to their main dealer outlets, It didn’t get registered until it went onto road haulage work. So as you say the reg is a much later one than it would have been if it was registered when new, ■■?, Regards Larry.

Would that be a secret testbed for a 240 8 potter for a Guy :laughing:

Thanks Larry,I was going to ask if anyone knew what make the engine was until I noticed Wing and a Prayer had posted !! :smiley: .
Seriously,does anyone know?
Regards. John.

old 67:
Thanks Larry,I was going to ask if anyone knew what make the engine was until I noticed Wing and a Prayer had posted !! :smiley: .
Seriously,does anyone know?
Regards. John.

As far as I know its a 4 Cylinder Gardner, Regards Larry.

old 67:
Thanks Larry,I was going to ask if anyone knew what make the engine was until I noticed Wing and a Prayer had posted !! :smiley: .
Seriously,does anyone know?
Regards. John.

Hi John ( old 67) there is one or two Atkinson specialists on here like Chris ( 240 Gardner ) and Atkiman so I don’t think it will be very long before all is revealed
cheers Johnnie

I think the owner at one time was a fellow called John Douglas ■■?, from Alston Area, He also had an ex Pollock very smart 8 wheeler Atki flat, Regards Larry.

Underfloor-Engined Atkinson.

Lawrence Dunbar:
I think the owner at one time was a fellow called John Douglas ■■?, from Alston Area, He also had an ex Pollock very smart 8 wheeler Atki flat, Regards Larry.

Atkinson L744,Bowfront-cabbed,underfloor Gardner 4HLW diesel-engined,Flat-bodied,4x2 Lorry,Chassis No.FC.4388,282 GRM,Friday,6th April,1962,
in ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ coachbuilt Bowfront Cab was available on Atkinson lorries up until at least 1965. I think it was operated by Stampers,and yes,
John Douglas of Alston did own this lorry at one time,as well as the Atkinson L1786X,Mk 1 Panoramic-cabbed Rigid Eight-Wheeler Lorry,3722 SC,
TWO CAPITALS,originally operated by Pollock Scot-Trans,then became a Crows fairground lorry,bought by John Douglas who restored it and
eventually sold it back to Pollocks :smiley:

John Smith of Tadcaster had a fairly large fleet of Atkinson underfloor -engined 4x2 brewery lorries.

Vehicle details
Vehicle make :SEDDON/ATKINSON
Date of first registration :06 April 1962
Year of manufacture :1962
Cylinder capacity (cc) :0cc
COâ‚‚Emissions :Not available
Fuel type :HEAVY OIL
Tax class :HISTORIC VEHICLE
Export marker :No
Vehicle status :Tax not due
Vehicle colour :MAROON
Vehicle type approval :Not available

VALKYRIE

Lawrence Dunbar:

old 67:
Thanks Larry,I was going to ask if anyone knew what make the engine was until I noticed Wing and a Prayer had posted !! :smiley: .
Seriously,does anyone know?
Regards. John.

As far as I know its a 4 Cylinder Gardner, Regards Larry.

It’s a HLW Gardner viewed from the sump, drain plug on the left corner oil filter on the right.

Here is what the other side would look like

Regards Ken.

John Smiths Tadcaster 2013 006.JPG

Thanks, Ken. That’s why it appeared to be a peculiar shape from the nearside! Bit of a snug fit in the chassis.

Thanks for the replies everyone,mystery solved ! I knew a lot of buses and coaches had under floor Gardners back in the day and a few lorries with other makes of underfloor engines,like our Albion Claymores at Ripponden and District,but just seamed odd to be in an Atkinson.
I assume it was an experimental one off and didnt go into production.
Regards John.

Weren’t some of these underfloor Gardner engined Atkinsons used by John Smith’s brewery at Tadcaster? Magnet Ales.

old 67:
Thanks for the replies everyone,mystery solved ! I knew a lot of buses and coaches had under floor Gardners back in the day and a few lorries with other makes of underfloor engines,like our Albion Claymores at Ripponden and District,but just seamed odd to be in an Atkinson.
I assume it was an experimental one off and didnt go into production.
Regards John.

Hi John,
Have a look on the Crew Cab Atki thread on this site.
Regards Ken

Hi “Gingerfold” et al ,
Heres one of the underfloor-engined Atkinsons , in John Smiths livery.
It was photographed on display at the Kirkby Stephen & Brough Easter Weekend Rally.
This is a much later model than the one of Stamper`s.

Cheers , cattle wagon man.

Thanks again lads for the extra information,the crew cab post answered my one remaining question.
It was obvious to me why coaches used under floor engines,should have guessed it was to get to get extra “bums on seats” with a lorry as well !! :blush:
The Claymores we had gave a straight through flat floor cab with a low step height,ideal for town centre multi-drop.Thanks again.
Regards John.

And I’m happy to admit that I was so wrong about it’s original reg. number.
I know nothing!

old 67:
0
I found this photo on the internet,sorry if someone has copyright.I thought I was pretty clued-up on old lorries,but not come across this before.
Can anybody kindly give me info on it ?
Regards John.

theres a picture of this motor on the j g stamper thread on this page. fredm



DSCF0517.JPG

Hi,

A few pics of the Stamper Atkinson including one of the all important engine manufacturers plate.
Hope these shed a bit more light on the subject.
Taken at Barnard Castle Truck Show

Bassman

DSCF0514.JPG

VALKYRIE:
Underfloor-Engined Atkinson.

Lawrence Dunbar:
I think the owner at one time was a fellow called John Douglas ■■?, from Alston Area, He also had an ex Pollock very smart 8 wheeler Atki flat, Regards Larry.

Atkinson L744,Bowfront-cabbed,underfloor Gardner 4HLW diesel-engined,Flat-bodied,4x2 Lorry,Chassis No.FC.4388,282 GRM,Friday,6th April,1962,
in ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ coachbuilt Bowfront Cab was available on Atkinson lorries up until at least 1965. I think it was operated by Stampers,and yes,
John Douglas of Alston did own this lorry at one time,as well as the Atkinson L1786X,Mk 1 Panoramic-cabbed Rigid Eight-Wheeler Lorry,3722 SC,
TWO CAPITALS,originally operated by Pollock Scot-Trans,then became a Crows fairground lorry,bought by John Douglas who restored it and
eventually sold it back to Pollocks :smiley:

John Smith of Tadcaster had a fairly large fleet of Atkinson underfloor -engined 4x2 brewery lorries.

Vehicle details
Vehicle make :SEDDON/ATKINSON
Date of first registration :06 April 1962
Year of manufacture :1962
Cylinder capacity (cc) :0cc
COâ‚‚Emissions :Not available
Fuel type :HEAVY OIL
Tax class :HISTORIC VEHICLE
Export marker :No
Vehicle status :Tax not due
Vehicle colour :MAROON
Vehicle type approval :Not available

VALKYRIE

I don’t think that John ever owned it - I understood at the time that it was Jeff Stamper’s motor, and that he funded the restoration, at least part of which was carried out by Longton Coachcraft. It has the same green interior trim as Bowker’s Mk.1 tractor, restored at around the same time…

It’s one of a pair used by Atkinson on trade plates - I do have a photo of one of them but, as it’s on trade plates, I don’t know if it’s this one. They were later replaced by a pair of Mk.1 4-wheelers. Amongst other duties, they carried completed cabs from the cab shop at Lostock Hall, and chassis frames from Atherton Brothers in Preston, to the factory at Walton-le-Dale.

John, of course, rallied it extensively. You’re absolutely right that he did own and restore 3722 SC, and then sold it on to Pollock (Scotrans).