pogweasel Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Here is a treat for you. A circa 1980 Austin-Morris-Leyland Sherpa Brochure. In full, uncensored and just gagging to please all your old van desiresCCF02022011_00000 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00001 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00002 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00003 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00004 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00005 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00006 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00007 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00008 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00009 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00010 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00011 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00012 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00013 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00014 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00015 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrCCF02022011_00016 by SherpaVanFan, on FlickrAnd a slightly shit attempt at getting all that CENTREFOLD in one shot, just for your pleasure.CCF02022011_00018 by SherpaVanFan, on Flickr Now if that doesn't get you HOT AND BOTHERED, I don't know what will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I think my first commercial driving experience was in a 1700 'O' series Sherpa van. I vividly recall it being so fucking slow that when it was replaced by a 400* series with a 2.5 Pugrot diesel engine the 400 felt like a Ferrari by comparison.They still had a certain charm though and the boat tailed pick up the company I worked for had (like the red fire engine one) pictured above was ace. I say ace but I actually mean it need welding about eleven times a week and was completely shagged. Absolutely love to have now now though. *It might have been a 300 now I think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreepingJesus Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I'm constantly amazed that they stuck with the cranked gear lever, thro' every evolution of the breed. Come to that, ditto for the drop beam front axle. They always looked the same, somehow, until the end, too.Always shite, always noisy, uncomfortable, slow and thirsty...but endearing 'cos you could kick 'em straight, and the parts were cheap! And yet, I still want to stick a big TDi in a 200/Pilot for shit'n'giggles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 That brochure is full of win!, I love how it's a 1980 brochure with 1975-76 plated vans in it. A old job i had used to have a L reg LDV 200 van, what a POS it was, It had the heaviest clutch and steering I've ever come across, Dangerously bad in fact, and it was slow, I was relived when i was given the G reg Maestro 2.0D Van to use instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike D Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 An LDV 200 pickup ranks 3rd in my worst ever vehicles list, behind only a Freelander and the Nissan Pao... it was lovingly referred to as 'the shitter' whereas my works weapon of choice was a Vauxhall Brava ( The Pig) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 At a motor show when I was a kid, I'm sure there was a video on the Sherpa stand of one being jumped off a ramp. The poor old van was being driven down a field, then in a quite surreal way there was a white wedge shaped very steep ramp that it launched up. Just bonkers. Wonder if the video still exists? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted February 3, 2011 Author Share Posted February 3, 2011 I think that the 12-seater minibus there is probably the most shite yet useful creation I could ever dream of.Wonder if ANY of that style survive....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I think this has stirred childhood memories of postmen screaming up to the local postbox to pick up the letters - which as a kid is obviously a magical thing to witness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 That brochure is full of win!, I love how it's a 1980 brochure with 1975-76 plated vans in it. A old job i had used to have a L reg LDV 200 van, what a POS it was, It had the heaviest clutch and steering I've ever come across, Dangerously bad in fact, and it was slow, I was relived when i was given the G reg Maestro 2.0D Van to use instead. Had two LDV200 crewbuses which were the early ones and had Perkins 2.0 lumps. Fair play they couldn't half go some and had bags of torque. Later ones had 1.9n/a PSA engines and were plenty slow. If anyone's desperate enough I know where there used to be (and probably still is) an early-ish one in a semi-restored state not far from Oswestry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Reverend Bluejeans Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 They used to be known as 'Shirkers' in the trade, although they were tough old bastards. Better than a Mark 1/2 Transit? They sold very well iirc, and typical of BL, they neglected it and sold off what could have been a very profitable business. I still refer to the LDV versions as a Sherpa - which did very well out of a van developed from the old J4 (1958?) in the early seventies. I'll have a grey one with an 1800 B Series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 is it bad i want that tipper are any of those still alive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompei Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Hey, less of that Frontera bashing! I love mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedSparrow Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Pog, in future please mark all posts containing such PORNOGRAPHIC FILTH as 'NSFW'. Ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren t claim Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 In 2008 I was living the dream and had an ex GPO LDV Pilot 9 seater as my daily driver. Not as slow as you may think with the n/a Pug 1.9 lump and plenty good on fuel as well. Pity the electrics behind the dash caught fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Ted Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I think that the 12-seater minibus there is probably the most shite yet useful creation I could ever dream of.Wonder if ANY of that style survive....?The one we had as a scout group mini bus with suicidal sliding doors certainly didnt after Malcolm twatted it into a dry stone wall in Borrowdale avoiding a flat capped twat on a delivery bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I have literally EATEN MY COMPUTER WHOLE because of the sheer beauty of the suicide-door Sherpa! Now i am touch-typing through my own stomach lining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooters Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I have a 1974 Leyland 240 autosleeper - renamed the Sherpa in 1975. I totally love this vehicle and feel that some of the comments above are pretty harsh. The van handles no worse than any other 60's van I have driven (ok it is a 70's vehicle but it ain't that bad) - no power steering and quite primative suspension but it does the job on the move and handles pretty well on the open road. It is certainly not thirsty - mine is a 1.8lt B series petrol and returns around 30-35mpg and that is lugging around several hundred weight of plywood and campervan fittings not to mention the top heavy roof. The B series is cheap to service and very reliable as it is very simple. The gearing on these vehicles is incredibly low and it is a very powerful vehicle at the low end - will quite easily rip out tree stumps in 1st and 2nd - 4th gear is good from 20mph upwards - very BMC when you think about it - A road cruising is good for 50mph and Motorways at 60mph - not bad for the period and seems to make no difference when carrying a load. The crooked gearstick makes it easier to walk through the cab The survivors were mostly rustproofed from new. But bodywork wise these vehicles are incredibly tough - thick steel ladder chassis and serious panels They are a nice place to be with plenty of light in the buses and campers If you want a reliable, cheap to run camper without the stupid scene tax and with a better safety record than the Commer or J4 with more robust mechanicals then you can do a lot worse than a Sherpa Autosleeper - you can get a minter for under 3 grand and a good working example - like mine for under £1500....you can keep you Commers and your Type 2-s sherpa for me everytime!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I remember seeing a V reg Pilot with slidey doors and a lift up tailgate and wondered if this was the last van sold with slidey doors? Could you choose just one slidey door for ultra measliness? Anyway, as I've probably mentioned plenty of times before on here, I used to work as a diver for Royal Mail so have a bit of a soft spot for 'Sherpas', since they never got rid of their name with RM staff. Here are some of my abiding memories of driving possibly some of the most abused vans in history: Sliding side door falling off Gear stick breaking inside the rubber gaiter, seeing the van stuck in reverse and left with a comedy floppy gearstick Turning the ignition off back at the mail centre, taking the key out and the van still running Steering box 'instability' after pressing on a bit (about 50mph) Rubber floor matting worn down to the metal (itself worn bare) near the pedals Reading this thread though has only made me want to drive another. And possibly own one at some point too. The only sherpa I've seen for sale in NZ had the original front but wasn't registered until 1983. There may be hope yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatdaft Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 add braking with the door not fully open and smashing a quarter glass ,and using a brick as 'cruise control' on the 400's for the airport run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooters Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 That brochure is full of win!, I love how it's a 1980 brochure with 1975-76 plated vans in it. The silver painted grill was discontinued after 1975 so not even that subtle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreepingJesus Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 @ cav_estate: did they also have the pov-spec seats which didn't adjust for height? ParcelFarce's 400's did, and half the time it felt like I was sitting on the floor, peering over the instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren t claim Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I must say that the later Pilots with power steering are quite pleasant to drive. Komedy Kinkpins at MOT time though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 @ cav_estate: did they also have the pov-spec seats which didn't adjust for height? ParcelFarce's 400's did, and half the time it felt like I was sitting on the floor, peering over the instruments. Yes, they had those seats, usually with large gouges taken out of them. I really couldn't understand why people would piss on their own doorstep, so to speak, even if they were seen at the time by the posties as vastly inferior to the Transits which were replacing them. Can't say the seating position caused any issues, though I may be a little weird, as I'd always put the seat down in the bottom position in Daf LFs and then rake the steering wheel down low - very comfy. I do remember a young lad arriving at the mail centre in a LWB Convoy and walking through the van and emerging through the back door onto the landing, since there was only the drivers seat and small bulkhead cage up front. At that point he realised that he'd left the keys in the ignition and the back doors self lock on shutting. Fortunately, one of RM's LDV keys worked but he left very shame-faced. Don't think he'd have been so lucky with a Transit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladalout69 Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Well said Scooters. The Leyland Sherpa Motorhome (Highwayman for me please) is a super old tool. They are tough and long lasting. Ok, they were old fashoined when new, but so were a lot of LCVs from that era. I have worked on most LCVs built from the 70's and the Sherpa has a certain charm to it that others lack. Maybe I am waxing lyical as I am picking up my LDV Pilot panel van that I bought yesterday......... Can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearoil Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I am picking up my LDV Pilot panel van that I bought yesterday......... Can't wait. Photos asap please, thanks. Cheers for posting this lot up Pog I've never seen a sherpa tipper before. There was a roofer with one of those pick up jobbies near me when I was a lad with a big fuck off ladder half in the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I'd generally agree Scooters, but I've driven an H van. Incredible to think that this front-wheel drive tin shed on wheels was launched in 1947! Sure, it's slow (50mph noisy cruising in top - third - gear) and the ride's a bit bouncy (torsion bars all-round) but it handles like a Mini, thereby pissing all over anything churned out from Washwood Heath. Can't help thinking that if Citroen had actually developed it during it's incredible 34 year production life (like fitting and engine and gearbox that didn't date from the 1930s perhaps) it would have been an astonishing tool. That said, my LDV 400 beavertail was a fine old truck. Had the turbo diesel Peugeot motor and would happily barrel along at 70mph. No PAS, so as light to drive as an H van (not at all then) but was great for just getting on with it. I've been a passenger in a Pilot (horrendous - there were three of us) and driven a Convoy (Transit engine, hideous kingpin wobble, horrendous dashboard) and rather prefer the 200/400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladalout69 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Collected my Pilot...!! love it....If i'm not driving it, i'm polishing it.... It will be going to the bodyshop soon for a few repairs, then I will polish it some more!. I am however a little upset the diff is quiet, where has the wailing Sherpa diff gone???. All was revealed on the ramp at work.... shock, horror a bloody DANA axle!!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIH Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 SO they would let you specifiy a mix of sliding and hinged doors ? That's brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 My dads CF had a sliding drivers door and a normal passengers/sons door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brammy777 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 That must be one of the best brochures ever made, it's like they made with the future in mind. In a bizzare moment of WTF, a couple of weeks ago I spotted a 1977ish Sherpa pickup with a 'safe' looking homemade winch on the back, travelling through Blackwater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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