Did any drivers on here........?

[coastie]

In the 70's my Brother and I used to go to Wednesbury to our paper suppliers. When we got onto the M6, we'd see lorry chassis with lights precariously placed, being driven by men sitting in plywood "boxes" and wearing bright yellow oilskins, scarves and goggles going up the M6. We never knew where they came from for definite or where they were going. Looked an interesting, albeit a slighly dangerous job, did any of the drivers on here do that job? If so, where were you going and what was it like?

[billyboy]

could have been vehicle chassis going up north to have bodywork put on them for the fire service Coastie. the simon snorkel type

[billyboy]

the Daimler busses used to leave Coventry with a plywood box at the front. they used to drive them to places to have bodywork fitted.

[G-CPTN]

Most likely Leyland Bus chassis heading from Leyland to Duple at Blackpool. Later they were moved on transporters.

[billyboy]

Yes thats another possibility. hard to say without actually seeing the chassis

[Ian]

They could also have been heading to Wigan Northern Counties, or East Lancs at Blackburn, both body builders.
Leyland, AEC, Guy and Daimler all used Northern Counties

Ian

[coastie]

Thanks for that Gents, we gathered that they were going somewhere to have bodies fitted, just didn't know where. Some were LHD as well. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos. I often wonder what elfin safety would say about that practice now!!!

[billyboy]

Well ity would have to be EU standard plywood Chris...LOL

[G-CPTN]

I p*sted details and photos on here some time back . . .

[coastie]

I p*sted details and photos on here some time back . . .

Oh, sorry, I haven't come across them yet.:o

[G-CPTN]

I can't find them either . . .

[Energumen]

Is that classed as a 'Senior Moment'?. Ha ha

[grandad]

in the 70's my brother and i used to go to wednesbury to our paper suppliers. When we got onto the m6, we'd see lorry chassis with lights precariously placed, being driven by men sitting in plywood "boxes" and wearing bright yellow oilskins, scarves and goggles going up the m6. We never knew where they came from for definite or where they were going. Looked an interesting, albeit a slighly dangerous job, did any of the drivers on here do that job? If so, where were you going and what was it like?

hello mate, i had the dubious distinction of piloting some of those lethal missiles,lol. We were running out of slip -end near luton with bedford "chassis cabs destined for duples of blackpool to have coach bodies fitted. After which we hitched back on our trade plates.they were deemed unsafe shortly after tho they had been driven like that for years and years. From about 76 they had to delivered by transporter. You had to be a bit nuts to put up with no screen no seat, only a bit of ply, and no saftey belt! Lol.

[G-CPTN]

I was responsible for testing new chassis before they were released for delivery.
We had a track that was raised concrete blocks unevenly spaced. Front-engined bus chassis were OK (sort of), but when we built the first rear-engined bus it was impossible to stay on the wooden seat!

BTW - what you describe was just a 'chassis' (or maybe a 'chassis-cowl'). A chassis-cab was a proper truck (though without a load-carrying body).

Brave man!

[les turnbull]

I was responsible for testing new chassis before they were released for delivery.
We had a track that was raised concrete blocks unevenly spaced. Front-engined bus chassis were OK (sort of), but when we built the first rear-engined bus it was impossible to stay on the wooden seat!

BTW - what you describe was just a 'chassis' (or maybe a 'chassis-cowl'). A chassis-cab was a proper truck (though without a load-carrying body).

Brave man!

Sounds like mk1 leyland national chassis even with body fitted u would be clashed to death by the front suspension,i remember ticket machine flying of its stand many times after going over sink hole or pot hole .

[G-CPTN]

It's to do with the ratio of sprung weight to unsprung weight.
When the engine is near the axle it acts as a damper to the oscillations over rough terrain. Having the driver stuck way out beyond the lightly-laden front axle merely exacerbates the situation.

[grandad]

I was responsible for testing new chassis before they were released for delivery.
We had a track that was raised concrete blocks unevenly spaced. Front-engined bus chassis were OK (sort of), but when we built the first rear-engined bus it was impossible to stay on the wooden seat!

BTW - what you describe was just a 'chassis' (or maybe a 'chassis-cowl'). A chassis-cab was a proper truck (though without a load-carrying body).

Brave man!

Yeh, sorry about that, i meant "open chassis". The older i get ................. Merry Christmas.lol. Grandad.

[stu.andrews]

I can remember seeing similar on the A4 when drivers clad in oilskins & crash helmet used to take Bristol PSV chassis from Bristol to Eastern Coach Works at Lowestoft. What would H+S think of this today?

[coastie]

Oh they would have a field day as regards the drivers safety!!

[Fazer9553]

Thanks for rejuvenating this thread, hadn't seen it before. As a kid I did see the open chassis heading North on the M6. Made a big impression on me especially when watching from the back seat of a car during heavy rain - poor chaps in goggles and raincoats.

Would love it if someone managed to find G-C's pics and write-up.

[coastie]

hello mate, i had the dubious distinction of piloting some of those lethal missiles,lol. We were running out of slip -end near luton with bedford "chassis cabs destined for duples of blackpool to have coach bodies fitted. After which we hitched back on our trade plates.they were deemed unsafe shortly after tho they had been driven like that for years and years. From about 76 they had to delivered by transporter. You had to be a bit nuts to put up with no screen no seat, only a bit of ply, and no saftey belt! Lol.

Hello Grandad! Sorry, I haven't seen this posting before so that's why it's taken me so long to reply, but yes, it must have been you, or at least one of your colleagues. We joined the M6 at the junction where the M54(?) joined so it couldn't have been anyone further north.

Luton to Blackpool eh?? Quite a run in conditions like that, especially if it was raining.

[scania nut]

In the 70's my Brother and I used to go to Wednesbury to our paper suppliers. When we got onto the M6, we'd see lorry chassis with lights precariously placed, being driven by men sitting in plywood "boxes" and wearing bright yellow oilskins, scarves and goggles going up the M6. We never knew where they came from for definite or where they were going. Looked an interesting, albeit a slighly dangerous job, did any of the drivers on here do that job? If so, where were you going and what wait like?

hiya did not do the job, but what yousaw were bus chassis,s most likely going to Plaxton,s of Blackpool. It still goes on today but they are carried on specialised trailers by a firm called Boules. Aint much good at spelling but best of my knowledge this correct.
Oh sometimes they chassis,s went to Leyland Bus, Cumbria, Workington i think.
All the Best Mate

[coastie]

Thankyou for that info, Scania nut and a very warm welcome to the forum from a warm and sunny Holyhead!

[Fazer9553]

Just found this:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4352912605_c8013e1853.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xavnco2/4352912605/

[G-CPTN]

I see that they were pulling the '11d' trick back then, making you think you were only paying 14/- (or 8/-) when, in fact, you were paying (almost) 15/- or 9/- . . .

[Fazer9553]

'Back then' I understood it to be a tax thing. If they went up a whole shilling there was some difference. Not sure what though ....

[quest-uk]

'Back then' I understood it to be a tax thing. If they went up a whole shilling there was some difference. Not sure what though ....

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/moneyold.htm

found thid but havn't had time to see if there was anything on here for the tax codes, and for the younger ones on here to understand the shillings and pence.