Working vehicles past their sell by.

[5speedracer]

18 hours ago, cms206 said:

Still working near me is this Bedford TM, operated by an owner driver who's had it for over three decades.

Passed my Class 1 in a TM artic in 1985.

[grogee]

On 15/12/2024 at 17:01, LightBulbFun said:

I think I have mentioned it before

https://autoshite.com/topic/30877-what-makes-you-grin-antidote-to-grumpy-thread/page/1773/#findComment-1755535

but I would love to import/have one of those, being RHD and all that and I love they just keep on plodding on, also their story is in general is quite fascinating with the fact that the majority of them are government owned except a very few sold privately so to speak, plus I have a close friend of mine who for many years ran a couple of very shonky S10's of about the same generation as what those LLV's are based on  

I do hope that as those LLVs are withdrawn, they can be purchased/preserved by those interested in doing so, because I do fear that otherwise if the USPS are super strict about (like how the DHSS were very strict towards the end of the Invacar scheme), then very few will end up surviving and that would be a big shame, as say what you will about them they are a very iconic vehicle over there

(I do know that there are already a couple here in the UK, but I dont know exactly what their story is, I would love to know tho!)

 

+1 for me on LLV love. 

I have a thing for vehicles designed purely for purpose. The 'government contract' bit is interesting too. I guess the D&D cost was covered by billions of stamps being sold. 

What's interesting is that USPS didn't consider any existing van to be suitable. I bet an Econoline could have done 80% of the job, maybe RHD if they insisted. But the USA is big (populous) enough to justify a very specialised vehicle developed for a singular purpose. 

I was thinking that the closest we get in the UK is probably the FX4 or Metrocab. 

Neither is designed to be pretty. But they're relentlessly effective. Designed primarily for long life and easy servicing, and peculiarities of their role (cab turning circle, LLV sliding doors). 

Massive want. 

[reb]

2 minutes ago, grogee said:

 

I was thinking that the closest we get in the UK is probably the FX4 or Metrocab.

There's another, and it's tattooed on my right arm.

No, not the bicycle, the other one.

[ProgRocker]

On 18/12/2024 at 16:30, horriblemercedes said:

Does anyone on the forum have a Chrysler that's as big as a whale?

Like a Grand Voyager?

[MrBig]

21 hours ago, grogee said:

Those headlamps look unbelievably familiar. What are they off? Frontera?

[horriblemercedes]

4 minutes ago, MrBig said:

Those headlamps look unbelievably familiar. What are they off? Frontera?

I've never taken an interest in Metrocabs so I'm not sure where I'm getting this from...I must have read it online somewhere.

 

I think they are from a Leyland Daf 95

[ProgRocker]

29 minutes ago, MrBig said:

Those headlamps look unbelievably familiar. What are they off? Frontera?

Ford Granada mark 1 I'm certain. The original Metrocabs were mark 2 Granada units. 

[Rustybullethole]

Funny (for me at least). When they were first released I was a bit unsure though that boxiness has really grown on me over the years. Always believed they were granny lamps too.

Working donkey. Yesterday delivering animal feed in the cotswolds.

Today in South East London delivering no more weight in plasterboard than whatever the new legal limit for roof racks is.

No pic for reasons of possible incrimination.

 

 

Edited December 20, 2024 by Rustybullethole

[DavidB]

On 16/12/2024 at 16:27, howe said:

Almost forgot I had a picture of this one. The bloke I recently bought two Datsun Cabstars off (in addition to the one I already had...) has this and uses it day to day, including to haul stone back from a quarry on occasion.

It has the diesel engine rather than the 2.0 pushrod petrol and the bed on the back is one off a Transit that's been dismantled, trimmed down and bolted back together. I'm also quite fond of the crane he's got to lift things onto it.

Was it you that had the one that was recovered and was being restored a few years ago?

There used to be a very clean blue one near me being used by a joiner, it had the lovely white painted lettering on the side as well, I've not seen it recently though. My dad also had one of these in green, in the 80's though.

[morrisoxide]

This chap still uses this for his gardening services.

[Matty]

13 minutes ago, morrisoxide said:

This chap still uses this for his gardening services.

Take it he doesn't have a big round 😁

[warren t claim]

On 19/12/2024 at 13:08, grogee said:

+1 for me on LLV love. 

I have a thing for vehicles designed purely for purpose. The 'government contract' bit is interesting too. I guess the D&D cost was covered by billions of stamps being sold. 

What's interesting is that USPS didn't consider any existing van to be suitable. I bet an Econoline could have done 80% of the job, maybe RHD if they insisted. But the USA is big (populous) enough to justify a very specialised vehicle developed for a singular purpose. 

I was thinking that the closest we get in the UK is probably the FX4 or Metrocab. 

Neither is designed to be pretty. But they're relentlessly effective. Designed primarily for long life and easy servicing, and peculiarities of their role (cab turning circle, LLV sliding doors). 

Massive want. 

Honestly, you fucking don't want one of these shitboxes.

[sheffcortinacentre]

10 hours ago, ProgRocker said:

Ford Granada mark 1 I'm certain. The original Metrocabs were mark 2 Granada units. 

Mk5 cortina or MK2 Capri 

[Nibbler]

I’ve been trying for a whole week. So I hope you really appreciate these fantastic high quality pictures. Glebe is a local company in my part of the world and they operate a fleet of rusty Volkswagen T4s.

[Rightnider]

Great photos!

[artdjones]

I started cleaning the windows at this hotel in 1994. They had just bought this Corolla estate brand new for cash and carry runs and as a general hack. It's had the body tidied a couple of times. I went on Monday and it was parked in the back car park, but before I could take a picture someone jumped in and drove away. So still in use, even though they have a 2021 Partner van now.

[howe]

15 hours ago, DavidB said:

Was it you that had the one that was recovered and was being restored a few years ago?

There used to be a very clean blue one near me being used by a joiner, it had the lovely white painted lettering on the side as well, I've not seen it recently though. My dad also had one of these in green, in the 80's though.

It was yeah, I’ll make another post about it on here with details at some point. I just haven’t really bothered with updating accounts or the internet in general for the past couple years.

[SunnySouth]

13 hours ago, warren t claim said:

Honestly, you fucking don't want one of these shitboxes.

Mmmmmmm niiiiice!  

“Now reduced”.   …to tears?!

https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1782129

 

 

[406V6]

Previously posted on Mr B’s horsebollox thread, I give you this Dodge horse box. It’s still in use and always parked in the same place in Princes Risborough.

[sutty2006]

All in Tenerife, where nothing rots or seizes solid. 
 

 

[Captain Mainwaring]

Not uncommon to see stuff like this still working on the Greek islands. 

[horriblemercedes]

On 16/12/2024 at 14:47, Matty said:

A car that desperately needs its own thread. Unless you already have one and I'm being myopic again 😁

Thanks @Matty, I'd love to do a thread, but I don't think there would be that much interest in my very occasional work on it. I really like the car, but I haven't done much with it since September apart from prepare it for winter. It's in a dry and ventilated garage. 

 

I've had my attention since then taken by the death of a good friend and some family problems. Sorry for the late reply. Until about March, I'll just be checking on it. I'll start driving it again in March. My only plan is to clean the carb and change the plug leads and do an oil change in March and then start driving it. It doesn't really need anything else, as far as I can tell. 

[Matty]

8 hours ago, horriblemercedes said:

Thanks @Matty, I'd love to do a thread, but I don't think there would be that much interest in my very occasional work on it. I really like the car, but I haven't done much with it since September apart from prepare it for winter. It's in a dry and ventilated garage. 

 

I've had my attention since then taken by the death of a good friend and some family problems. Sorry for the late reply. Until about March, I'll just be checking on it. I'll start driving it again in March. My only plan is to clean the carb and change the plug leads and do an oil change in March and then start driving it. It doesn't really need anything else, as far as I can tell. 

Sorry for your troubles. You're right it makes things like messing around with cars seem irrelevant.

There'd defo be interest in the Austin. Even if it only ran to a page. But obviously only when you're ready.

[Three Speed]

On 18/12/2024 at 16:30, horriblemercedes said:

Does anyone on the forum have a Chrysler that's as big as a whale?

I do. Only big as a whale on the outside though. Inside only big enough for 6.

[mat_the_cat]

A Crouch Recovery Unimog towing a van out from a flood.

 

[sheffcortinacentre]

Yes they can see the stranded car but think their invincible.

[lesapandre]

1 hour ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

Yes they can see the stranded car but think their invincible.

Driver in the hi-viz gives them the 'I've seen it all before' look. Real salt of the earth type. They are lucky the Unimog (and driver) is about.

[Metal Guru]

On 29/12/2024 at 20:12, lesapandre said:

Driver in the hi-viz gives them the 'I've seen it all before' look. Real salt of the earth type. They are lucky the Unimog (and driver) is about.

Lucky? The Unimog recovery company are waiting there for guaranteed business. What’s the going rate? £100?

(Anyone admit to knowing ?)

[loserone]

They've got some decent looking kit about

 

[martc]

On 18/12/2024 at 20:35, Tayne said:

Launched in 1913.

 

 

 

HMS Victory is still on the capital list and is the  oldest commissioned warship in the world. She was launched in 1765.