Trucks - Great Britain: Books - Classic Trucks and Their Preservation

Scrapped and Disused Lorries

It is not possible to save and restore all lorries that have come to the end of their working life.
In operators' yards there is often an assortment of old vehicles, with some used for spares to keep others running. Scrapyards also often have a motley collection of vehicles in various forms of decay.
Of course, with the ever increasing interest in preserving our past quite a few vehicles have been rescued and rebuilt from seemingly impossible states of disrepair.

This book offers a fascinating insight into the twilight years of some of these lorries.

Classic Trucks

Classic trucks are an important part of our heritage and are supported by many enthusiasts in the preservation world and the general public. Events nationwide throughout the year command lots of vehicle entries from the many clubs and preservation groups, and large numbers of the general public.
It could be well known liveries from the past, the sound of a particular engine or the smell of diesel that stirs the interest of those who see them.

This book has a wide selection of trucks from the early 1900s to late 1970s, some on the rally field, some at work or abandoned - each one has a story to tell.
With a wealth of previously unpublished images, Roy Dodsworth offers a nostalgic and charming look at a range of classic trucks.

The Writing's on the Truck : The Tales and Photographs of a Traditional Signwriter

A pictorial look at the traditional art of signwriting on commercial vehicles, by renowned signwriter John Corah. John began signwriting in 1982 working for Brian Harris Transport Ltd.
Brian's well-turned out trucks were regularly seen on the roads between the Southwest and the North of Scotland and with this excellent showcase for his skills, John quickly built up a large customer base.

Since then, he has written on ERFs, Leylands, Guys, Fodens, Atkinsons, Albions and AECs to name but a few and he is responsible for the distinctive livery of a number of traditional family run haulage companies.
In some cases he worked on the vehicles when brand new and then again when restored some 20-30 years later!
Sadly many of the once familiar and iconic companies have disappeared over the years and today computer generated vinyl lettering has almost completely taken over the art and few modern fleets are signwritten.

"The Writing's on the Truck" includes 210 fully captioned and previously unpublished photos of the vehicles he worked on, many of which will be remembered by transport fans UK-wide. The book tells the story of the development of John's business, the methods he uses to create particular effects and numerous anecdotes from his working life.
It will be of interest to anyone involved with road haulage and the preservation of classic trucks.

The London to Brighton Commercial Vehicles Run- 1968 to 1987

The London to Brighton run, held each year by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society, is a key date in the diary of any vintage vehicle enthusiast or member of the preservation community.
David Christie attended the run on a number of occasions between 1968 and 1987, and the images included here document the wonderful variety of commercial vehicles that could be seen - all captured in stunning full-colour photography. Vehicles featured include buses, steam wagons, heavy lorries and some lighter vehicles.

These images were captured at various spots along the route, finishing at the sea front in Brighton. Immensely evocative and immaculately preserved, these photos act as both an important historical record and a triumphant celebration of our motoring heritage.

The London to Brighton Historic Commercial Vehicle Run: 1971-1995

The London to Brighton Historic Commercial Vehicle run is one of the premier events in the calendar for preserved commercial vehicle owners and enthusiasts alike. First held in 1962, this annual event has continued to feature every year since.

Until 2019 it was traditionally held on the first Sunday in May, with vehicles traveling from London to Brighton where they line up on Marina Drive for judging and prize-giving in the afternoon. There is a rolling minimum age limit of twenty-five years, but vehicles may date back to the very origins of the internal combustion engine, while steam-powered traction engines and wagons are also included.

Malcolm Batten first visited Brighton for the run in 1971, and has been back each year without exception. In this book, some of the highlights of the years 1971 to 1995 are showcased. This period saw the run sponsored in turn by Foden, Wincanton Transport and then Scania.

The Trucks of the Trans Pennine Run : A Photographic History

Every year on the first Sunday in August, hundreds gather to see one of the greatest displays of historic commercial vehicles. First organised in 1969, the Trans Pennine Run attracts an annual entry of around 200 vehicles coming from all over the UK.

The event starts at Birch Services on the M62 at Manchester at about 7.30 in the morning and runs for 64 miles via Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford, taking in some of the finest Yorkshire scenery along the way.
From 11.30 the vehicles start arriving at the famous Harrogate Stray where they are then displayed to the public.

Avid photographer, Roy Dodsworth has been following the event since the late 1990s and has a collection of over 3000 images taken there.
This book collects together 262 of Roy's favourite truck photos, including a bit of history about each of the vehicles - many of which have been restored to their original livery.

"The Trucks of the Trans Pennine Run" is a must-have for any driver who has ever participated in the run. Current and former truckers and anyone else with an interest in transport history will all enjoy being reminded of these beautiful old vehicles.

25 Years of the Ayrshire Road Run

The Ayrshire Road Run was instigated in 1993 as an adjunct to the established annual vintage rally organised by the Ayrshire Vintage Tractor & Machinery Club (AVT&MC).
The idea was to promote the rally by running entered commercial vehicles around the major towns in Ayrshire. Over the following years the Road Run attracted more and more vintage vehicles, from small vans and double-decker buses to full-sized articulated lorries.

The event has continued to grow, attracting more than a hundred vehicles each year. Here, organiser Bill Reid celebrates twenty-five years of the run with a superb collection of photographs documenting the various participants from over the years.