Here’s another one, taken at La Ferté-Alais in 2012, which was the French Gaydon. Probably a RD 615T fitted with a Sahara cab. Initially powered with the 190 bhp Willème 518T6, it was re-engined with a 250 bhp ■■■■■■■■ and remained in service until the mid-2000s.
The semi-trailer had to be disassembled to load/unload.
The inside of the beast’s cab, with what looks like a twin-stick gearbox. This system was known in France as “la Tricoteuse”, literally “the knitter”.
This was taken when I was working at our factory in Angola in 2006. We were based in Sonangol,s offshore fabrication yard in Lobito and this Willeme unit was used to move fabrication’s around the site. IIRC it was an ex French Nuclear industry example, I seem to remember the late Martin Phippard commenting about it when I put it on BLB some years ago.
I haven,t been back to factory for 6 years now so not to sure if it is still there and running.
Two UK registered beasts ? RAT 571 /572 C or G, cant make it out
Apologies if they’ve been on before
I would say that the two RATs are Polish reg.From Radom possibly? Orys,where are you■■? 
Fergie47:
Two UK registered beasts ? RAT 571 /572 C or G, cant make it outApologies if they’ve been on before
Evening all,
Fergie, those are the two ZTE-Radon, Poland, Perez et Raimond built TGs…, 200 tonner 8x4 on the left, and the 250/1000 tonner on the right.
Now you posted a picture of the 8x8 with their 8x8 Faun on the Saviem fan club thread, and from this picture both seem to be proclaiming ■■■■■■■ 335 power…yet the build sheets from Perez et Raimond state both as having V12/ V16 Detroit power, the same as the two Chinese exports. So did ZTE re motor them, or ,(more likely), the 8x4 came out with a Cu 335, but the 8x8 must have been V serie Detroit, or KTA ■■■■■■■■■■■ re-motored later on in her life.
The picture with the 8x8 Faun the TG must have been getting on for 20 years old at that point! ZTE, is a fascinating outfit, I think they are still going, based in Radon. Anything possible about their present activities, sir+, or Orys, it would be interesting to know.
jshepguis, the 8x8 you show I think is the ex Dessirier H Zucconi one, Martin, (RIP), and I spoke about this following your Big Lorry Blog post,Martin and I often compared notes, we both had a love of France, its lorries, and its people! Miss him now!
Cheerio for now.
Saviem:
Fergie47:
Two UK registered beasts ? RAT 571 /572 C or G, cant make it outApologies if they’ve been on before
Evening all,
Fergie, those are the two ZTE-Radon, Poland, Perez et Raimond built TGs…, 200 tonner 8x4 on the left, and the 250/1000 tonner on the right.
Now you posted a picture of the 8x8 with their 8x8 Faun on the Saviem fan club thread, and from this picture both seem to be proclaiming ■■■■■■■ 335 power…yet the build sheets from Perez et Raimond state both as having V12/ V16 Detroit power, the same as the two Chinese exports. So did ZTE re motor them, or ,(more likely), the 8x4 came out with a Cu 335, but the 8x8 must have been V serie Detroit, or KTA ■■■■■■■■■■■ re-motored later on in her life.
The picture with the 8x8 Faun the TG must have been getting on for 20 years old at that point! ZTE, is a fascinating outfit, I think they are still going, based in Radon. Anything possible about their present activities, sir+, or Orys, it would be interesting to know.
jshepguis, the 8x8 you show I think is the ex Dessirier H Zucconi one, Martin, (RIP), and I spoke about this following your Big Lorry Blog post,Martin and I often compared notes, we both had a love of France, its lorries, and its people! Miss him now!
Cheerio for now.
John…
Didn’t think they were in the UK as we would have heard about them years ago ( and youd have bought one by now). that’s why I questioned it, I thought they may have been registered in the UK, but used abroad somewhere…
Lesson learnt, didn’t know that Polish reg numbers were so similar to the (old) UK’s…
Thanks for the info John…
Just been reading through this intresting thread. Although i have heard of Willeme and seen a few in France
over the years,i never realised they made such awesome heavy haulage motors.
Some pics found on the net,which hopefully are of intrest.
Fergie47
hi dave
Saw 2 once at Hockley traffic lights , Winchester , 6x4’s with tandem axle 8 in line semi lows
went out there special to see them, they went through TWYFORD so they must of been high loads
otherwise would go straight up A33
Very impressive
Chris
It looks even the Chinese TG 200 are disused!
DISPATCHER:
Fergie47hi dave
Saw 2 once at Hockley traffic lights , Winchester , 6x4’s with tandem axle 8 in line semi lows
went out there special to see them, they went through TWYFORD so they must of been high loads
otherwise would go straight up A33Very impressive
Chris
Hi Chris… Did you get any photograph’s ? , and can you remember if they were French registered …
That must have been some sight, them going through Twyford…and if they impressed you, that’s saying something… 
fergie 47
Have some photos some where amongst the millions i have, they were french they came over on Thoreson ferry
they may have working for us but i dont think so
I have done a drawing of an 8x4 plus 8 axle nicholas not sure if i can get it on here, bit thick when it comes to
computers
regards Chris
Saviem.
Photo put on by DeanB shows as you say colours of Zuccini same as one in Angola. I do know it still had a French registration on vehicle, wish i had taken photo from better position but at time taking photo,s sometimes was frowned upon, that,s why original photo taken at a distance. Although i don,t know if vehicle is still operating in yard, will try and get some info from some work colleagues down there and maybe a photo, would be nice if still operational.
An advertisement for PRP (Perez & Raimond; Paris) showing a brand new TG 250 in action somewhere in France. PRP took over the producing of heavy tractors when Willème closed in 1971, and later merged with the Belgian MOL. The TGs remained in production until 1978.
molcy.com/en/
Hey, Who can tell more about the Willeme here.
Could be and '40’s or begin '50’s ■■?
Registered in Belgium, was willeme ever sold in Belgium ■■?
Or should it be an surplus ex US army WW II which is converted ■■?
Eric,
This is a L10 (4x2) or R 15 (6x2-6x4) type, which was built after WW2, in 1947 towards 1952 when the LC 610 ‘nez de requin’ was launched.
Perhaps some were sold new in Belgium but no trace of an importer. Any were also used in Spain, South America .
This is a R15 with 3 axles. Willeme offered also an 8 cylinders engine .
This K115-8 was in a haulage company called Galetti in the french Alps in the 50 th.
Before the war model, here a CA 7 just reconditionned.