Recovery vehicles: books - history and models

British Recovery Vehicles

As motor vehicles grew in size, recovery vehicles also became larger, evolving into heavy-duty trucks capable of towing lorries and buses. Specialized recovery companies emerged to handle breakdowns and accidents, while local garages continued to assist stranded drivers.

Modern recovery trucks are complex machines, featuring multiple axles, powerful cranes, and heavy-duty winches. Some of these vehicles are among the most impressive on the road.

In this book, Bill Reid showcases a wide range of Britain's recovery vehicles through a collection of rare and previously unpublished photographs.

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Dépanneuses poids lourds, les monstres de la route

The different chapters of this book trace the history of breakdown assistance and garages since the beginning of the 20th century. They highlight the vehicles used for the exercise of this profession little known to the general public.
Several reports present, with texts and numerous photographs, breakdown, towing and lifting companies, small and large, established in all regions of our country.

Readers who are passionate about the activity, curious newbies, but also lovers of beautiful trucks will find throughout the pages photos of old and modern vehicles, both civilian and military, in action during simple breakdown interventions or during spectacular traffic accidents.

The photos taken on the spot by the author during journalistic reports and the photographs lent by professional breakdown towing specialists who illustrate this book are for the most part unpublished documents.

The evolution of the technique, the regulations and the use of the different equipment are also explained with a wealth of technical and practical details and a presentation of the manufacturers and equipment suppliers.

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Schwere Abschleppwagen in Deutschland

The author presents the first comprehensive description of heavy tow trucks in Germany. All well-known truck manufacturers such as MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Iveco, Volvo, Scania, DAF and Renault supply chassis for recovery bodies.
The vehicles are shown from all sides, which is particularly pleasing to model makers. The history of the wire rope, the technology of winches and the everyday life of tow truck operators are explained.

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