Something lurks in the wood shed (Photo Jon Clark) |
Here's picture of this impressive machine, bodily pulling a Massey Ferguson tractor backwards up a steep slope. (Photo Jon Clark) |
Actually, for some reason this photo won't upload in any other orientation except this one. I've no idea why it won't lie down properly.
Currently, the fuel pump is blocked and due to be replaced by an electric one sourced in blighty. John hasn't driven it far. His initial impressions are of something similar to a contemporary Ford Transit except, of course, a Ford Transit doesn't have the same number of levers for its transmission or four-wheel-drive.
Maybe not Windscale Blue but Chernobyl Blue (Photo Jon Clark) |
According to some plates on the dash it was converted to right hand drive by Butel Autos Limited of The Foundry, Hook in Hampshire, distributors for Belaz trucks. These were off-road giant dump trucks and the firm's still going. At the 2000 MINExpo in Las Vegas, Belaz exhibited proposals for a 420 ton 4x4 dump truck.
Jon's Trekmaster still has some stickers on the dash in English on how to drive it. There's a lever for the high and low box and another to disengage drive to the front axle plus the usual gearlever for the four speed box. Another instruction is to "Disengage front axle when driving on dry hard roads."
An additional sticker gives the speeds in each gear depending on whether the high or low box is selected. Maximum speed in high is 59 mph while 3rd = 39mph, 2nd = 22mph, 1st = 14mph and reverse tops out at 11mph). Speeds in low are 6mph in reverse, 1st = 7, 2nd = 11mph, 3rd = 19mph and fourth is 29mph.
What great vistas have passed by that windscreen? (Photo Jon Clark) |
How rare this truck is in the UK is anybody's guess (Photo Jon Clark) |
From evidence supplied by the DVLA, Jon's truck has been off the road since 1986 and had probably been in the shed since then. He's already fitted a new ignition switch but lights and other wiring will need sorting out for the MOT. There is some rust but it doesn't look bad and Jon says the chassis is in really good nick.
All in all, it's quite a find.
If anyone has the other 20% of English language handbook, let me know and I'll pass the information on to Jon. He's promised me an account of his driving impressions when he's got it running properly.
I still have a funny feeling (like Mulder and Scully in The X Files) that there are more of them yet to be discovered. The Trekmasters are out there......
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