I’ve always loved these trucks. I remember, as a young boy, watching the show people arriving and setting up near my house. They had a brown coloured Atkinson double axle KAV44F.
Iused to drive these, Beautiful machine even then I appreciated it, Atkinsons at that time were the king of the road. During the 1960s and 70s I collected coal and ash from Kersley pit Coventry for local power stations. Best days of my life sadly all done retired now thanks for the video really good enjoyed so many memories.😊
I’m now 54 but I remember when I was 8 or 10 I used to go and stay with my grandparents in westgate Co Durham, a little beautiful village running next to the river wear in weardale. Every weekday morning a Atkinson exactly the same as this one would pass by at around 7am and would shake every window in the house as came to the top of the incline where my grandparents house was on the way to the cement works a short distance further on . I used to rush out of bed to see it go by . What wonderful commercials we used to make when Britain was great and men were men !!! Powered by the legendary gardener. Thank goodness that they are preserved for generations to see . These videos take me back to that time. Such sad days now that we seem to of lost nearly everything that was truly British and built by world leading engineers and craftsmen .
A real old school truck, for real old school drivers. I bet most "drivers" these days wouldn't be able to drive it because it has no power steering or air-conditioning and it's not an automatic. I love it, thanks for the footage
They wouldn't be able to drive it because Volvo and Scania have taken the skill and pride out of driving lorries , and as for supermarket drivers I,m speechless.
All I see when I look at that is yet another gutless heap that although reliable (lets face it there was nothing in the cab to break) broke to many drivers backs etc etc.
My boss (real gentleman) had two Atki's one with a Cummins the other a Gardner both 8 wheelers. The Cummins was like a heavy rock band you could here it coming a mile away, the Gardner was like Dean Martin in comparison. I drove the Cummins powered one once which was once to much, the noise was terrible, on the other hand I drove the Gardner on numerous occasions and I loved it, the sound was great the whole lorry put a smile on my face from the moment I started it up till I switched it off at night. I have driven a lot off different lorries including Actros, Volvo Globetrotter, Berliet (which was the fastest and most powerful) Man, Renault (various kinds), ERF (various kinds), Foden, DAF, Scania, and more, I liked them all, but the lorry I liked most was the Atki. The one I did not like at all was the Leyland Bison it was the most stupidest truck design ever and not only because the exhaust was behind the driver.
Been a trucker for 26 years but would love to have a go in a really old girl such as this. Modern trucks are great and so easy to drive but these are proper trucks that you actually had to drive. Sounded great to
You really heard the unique sound of these old engines, each having they own unique sound to each manufacturer not muffled by a turbo charger, in my opinion Leyland 680 still sounds the best.
Bhoy I have watched this video over and over. Can't get over that Beautiful Sound of the Gardner Engine. Was the fuel injection pump CAV? Beautiful drive would Loved to have been in that cab. Cheers TC
@@gegwen7440 I cant remember any driver comforts. I remember the noise, cold, fumes, rattles, draughts, and if all that didnt kill ya, the steering would. They were also lethal in an accident. We must've been crazy to drive them bastard things.
back in the day when employers gave you a big accelerator pedal and a little brake pedal a nice big hump in the middle as opposed to a bed and a plastic cab so in the event of a crash .I went for a job once at a transport company I got the job and when I saw the Atki Borderer I just spun round and walked away
You made the right decisiin Stevie. I wish I had your wisdom. I hopped in and drove away, never forgive myself. If anything that don't kill ya just makes ya stronger an Atki driver should live forever.
@@pauldadson3812 Morning Paul I am retired now after 29 years as an hgv class 1 driver looking back your right I should have been an office worker but then again.I wouldn't have been working for a major UK car transporter company as a HGV driver earning a fortune with a good pension enabling early retirement.
I, it sounds like a Gardner but she's gie dour at the pulling, is he giving her full throttle? A180 Gardner should pull better than that. Thanks for posting.
The lurry was empty, he set off in 3rd through to 6th. It’s a David brown overdrive box, that is why top gear is forward. It is quite low geared and will do 47mph.
@@markwhite5983 no he didnt block shift, 4th and 5th are side by side. You needed endless patience to drive one of them, and if anyone slowed down or stopped in front of you it was a nightmare to get moving again.
@@seamusburke9101 great days out as s.kiddie,,, loved it,, no 1 days my first trip was bury st edmonds,,, load.a.stone from matlock, w,h, phillips, hualage, from wirksworth,,
