It occurs to me that there are two kinds of ‘world truck’: those that have emerged by a process of natural selection; and those that have been developed specifically as ‘world trucks’ to suit all terrains in poorer countries.
In the first category there remain in poorer quarters of the world, tried and tested old lorry models that have become the standard truck for the area. They are usually pretty strong, and by and large reliable, practical vehicles. And since their design, engine and operation are standard throughout the region, parts and labour are abundantly available — so long as you stick with this standard. Deviating from the norms of construction and operation or using major components (like engines and gearboxes) that are uncommon is asking for trouble because a breakdown or need for technical assistance can go unanswered. You can be inconvenienced and stranded if the parts and labour you need fall outside normal expectations.
A couple of examples spring to my mind: the Mercedes-Benz 1924 bonneted unit ubiquitous throughout the MENA (Middle-East / North-Africa) countries (see pic below); and the Fiat 682 that held sway in many parts of Africa for about four decades.
Can anyone think of other examples, perhaps in South America or the old Soviet countries?
In the second category I believe Tata, Mercedes and Leyland, among others, recognising this phenomenon came up with sturdy vehicles to fulfil this role and tried to recreate it from scratch instead of waiting to develop naturally. Can anyone add information about the quest for a ‘World Truck’? Robert
Still a lot of F series Volvos getting about, in central and south America… Australia as well… Kamaz, Graz, and Tata in central Asia seem to rule. … But it really has to come down to running gear… ■■■■■■■ Fuller Rockwell under any cab…
As you mentioned Merc the Arab world is very revered… I remember seeing a bloke with the bonnet open on one of those iconic bull nosed Mercs and was very happy with the 520 V8 engine transplant he had in it… A bit like the Americans using 1960’s Kenworth Iron Horse’s with modern ■■■■■■■ ERG. or Big Cat running gear… classic looks with vintage chic and go like hell power. I often wonder it they’ve sorted the rest of the chassis… Something that came out the factory with a 290hp must twist about a bit when you bang in over 500hp…
You forgot to mention those old German designed fridges that usually go behind the ubiquitous Merc… Used to see lines of them revving there ■■■■■■■■ of sitting at the Saudi border…
And what about all those old 1940’s Macks that the Iranian guys used to run up to Germany… even in the 80’s…
A friend of mine used to buy a merc sk and a trailer load it up drive to Doha tip the load and sell the lorry and fly back ,he did about 28 trips over 4 years .other makes he took were Volvo s and scania but best sellers were the 1628 merc none turbo .
there was a chap in staffs who would buy up all those old fiats and unic’s, i think most of them had tri lex wheels in the 70’s,
we’d drop the wheels off and stack them up on trailers. we always used wire to secure them not chains or straps. and off to
pastures new. in the few months i was helping this chap i’d say he shipped 100 worn out fiats. always a good one(ha ha )
to pull the trailers.
Yep that’s the ones Robert, and look there’s even a bull nose Merc pulling it… now do you a photo of a yellow one with a big bull bar on the front of it… Arabic prayers across the bumper… and an aluminium clad Turkish cool box on the side of the trailer big enough to hold a car as well ■■?
Shouldn’t be to hard to find most of them looked like that…and there needs to be about 20 of them sitting in a row, with all the drivers squatting under a trailer drinking chai…
Jelliot:
Yep that’s the ones Robert, and look there’s even a bull nose Merc pulling it… now do you a photo of a yellow one with a big bull bar on the front of it… Arabic prayers across the bumper… and an aluminium clad Turkish cool box on the side of the trailer big enough to hold a car as well ■■?
Shouldn’t be to hard to find most of them looked like that…and there needs to be about 20 of them sitting in a row, with all the drivers squatting under a trailer drinking chai…
That would be a proper Christmas card !!!
Jeff…
You’ll probably find one posted on the Astran thread - I put dozens of them on there some time ago! Robert
Jelliot:
Yep that’s the ones Robert, and look there’s even a bull nose Merc pulling it… now do you a photo of a yellow one with a big bull bar on the front of it… Arabic prayers across the bumper… and an aluminium clad Turkish cool box on the side of the trailer big enough to hold a car as well ■■?
Shouldn’t be to hard to find most of them looked like that…and there needs to be about 20 of them sitting in a row, with all the drivers squatting under a trailer drinking chai…
That would be a proper Christmas card !!!
Jeff…
You’ll probably find one posted on the Astran thread - I put dozens of them on there some time ago! Robert
I’ll just sit here drinking a look warm can of coke with half the writing worn of, and eat my last melting Mars bar. ( I never wanted for those 3 legged KitKats, they always looked a bit weird ) Better keep the window shut or the cab’ll fill up with even more dust…I should have an out of date packet of Tesco home brand crisps under the bed somewhere as well… dip them in my always handy Branstone pickles and I’ll almost have a feast… I through out that water I got from the Turkish road side well earlier in the week cause I’m sure it’s giving my the skoot… Living the dream.!!!
All good examples chaps! And I’d forgotten that the Bedford TJ was still a good contender: I saw plenty of those in Pakistan (badged Hindustani) and more recently in Sudan (badged AWD). Robert
Mercedes round-bonnet (I think that’s what the Germans call them, to distinguish them from the earlier long-bonnet ones)
Volvo 495/N88
Fiat 682
Bedford TJ
If you add Scania Vabis L76, Leyland Beaver and Berliet GBH to the list, you will conclude that most of the “bigger” European makes’ 1960s ranges had a “World Truck” amongst them.
