The Leyland Octopus (Commercial Vehicles Archive Series)

Product Information

The last time I actually saw the Gardner=powered Constructor it was buried in foliage with thorn bushes actually growing out of the radiator grille. All 12 are now fully drivable and not only that but his secret pride and joy has now joined the ranks of his seemingly immortal aging fleet. We spoke on the ‘phone a few weeks ago and he slipped into the conversation that his 1979 Leyland Octopus was out of the shed after many years and also running.

He also agreed that 10 tippers on a B licence and a further five tippers on another B should be transferred, the radii of the normal users being calculated from Wythenshawe. Due partly to the cab's propensity to rust and also to the admittedly short life of commercial vehicles, any Roadtrain in commercial operation is now a very rare sight indeed. However, a small number remain in use throughout the country as towing-and-recovery vehicles. The cab was a re-worked version of the "Ergomatic" tilt cab of 1965, heavily modified with different lower panels, raised height etc., and was available in day and sleeper cab form. Engines were decided from the outset to be in the higher power category to be competitive with rival vehicles. The only existing engine within the Leyland empire suitable for such an application (following the demise of the ill-fated fixed-head 500 series and AEC's underdeveloped and unreliable V8) was the AEC AV760 straight-six, which was turbocharged and designated as the TL12. Other engine options included a 200bhp Leyland L11, as well as Cummins 10- and 14-litre engines at 250 and 330bhp, respectively. Leyland Motors has a long history dating from 1896, when the Sumner and Spurrier families founded the Lancashire Steam Motor Company in the town of Leyland in North West England. Their first products included steam powered lawn mowers. [1] The company's first vehicle was a 1.5-ton-capacity steam powered van. This was followed by a number of undertype steam wagons using a vertical fire-tube boiler. [2] By 1905 they had also begun to build petrol-engined wagons. The Lancashire Steam Motor Company was renamed Leyland Motors in 1907 when it took over Coulthards of Preston, who had been making steam wagons since 1897. [3] They also built a second factory in the neighbouring town of Chorley which still remains today as the headquarters of the Lex Autolease and parts company.IN SEPTEMBER last year Leyland introduced its latest version of the Octopus eight-wheeled chassis which, it is claimed, is 500kg (10cwt) lighter in chassis cab form than its nearest competitor.

Donald Stokes, previously Sales Director, was appointed managing director of Leyland Motors Limited in September 1962. [6] Originally a Leyland student apprentice he had grown up with the company. [7] He became chairman in 1966. Chronologically, the 1960s growth of Leyland Motor Corporation (LMC) was as follows: The Leyland driver who came on the trip found it easier to take the seat out if the steering wheel was removed, although this is theoretically unnnecessary. An over-centre catch mechanism keeps the cab in its tilt position which is only to an angle of 30 degrees. Holding company: Leyland Motor Corporation [ edit ] Share of the Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd, issued 8. January 1968RHD DAF CF in New Zealand. Same cab as Foden Alpha, same chassis as Kenworth T401, same drivetrain as Kenworth T410. Paccar MX13 engine, Eaton-Fuller Road Ranger gearbox and Meritor diffs. Grab handles are fitted for the driver and passenger, but to enter the driving seat it is necessary to reach for the steering wheel. In 1955, through an equity agreement, manufacture of commercial vehicles under licence from Leyland Motors commenced in Madras, India at the new Ashok factory. The products were branded as Ashok Leyland.

A DISPUTE regarding the weight of L-1a trailer involved in low-loader work arose at Manchester last Tuesday during a series of applications by R. Walker (Haulage), Ltd., in respect of a change of base. Mr. I. Booth, for the company, said that they wanted their B licences to be renewed and wished to move from the Royal Oak Garage, Wythenshawe, to Hall Lane, Woodley, the two points being nine miles apart. A souvenir from my original career as an aspiring road haulage manager. I joined British Road Services as a management trainee straight after graduation in September 1972, one of two dozen new recruits. Our arrival coincided with the break-up of BRS into autonomous regional companies. Thus I found myself drafted to Southern BRS. As well as traditional hire-and-reward haulage, the company had an extensive contract hire operation, providing vehicles for dedicated service to specific customers, the vehicles often being in that customer’s colours rather than standard fleet livery. A Power-Plus 0.600 140-b.h.p. diesel is employed, with the clutch and gearbox in unit with it. The light-alloy box has forward ratios of 7.24, 4.61, 2.75, 1.69 and 1 to 1, with reverse of 6.5 to 1, and the option of an additional overdrive ratio of 0.76 to I. The new double-drive bogie uses lighter versions of the Leyland double-reduction rear axle and has the usual Leyland non-reactive four-spring suspension. Ratios of 5.55, 6.13 and 7.71 are offered. Telescopic dampers are fitted to the front axles, and a steeringspecification change is the use of Burman recirculating-ball gear without servo instead of Marks cam and double roller with servo. Copies of the new regulations are available from the British Plastics Federation, 47-48 Piccadilly, London, W.I. Visibility from the driving seat is good although the large quarter lights can partially obstruct the driving mirrors, in certain positions.The new Octopus will be exhibited on the Leyland stand at the Commercial Motor Show next month, together with an .entirely new two-axle van and lorry chassis of 4 tons gross vehicle weight, powered by a four-cylinder diesel engine. Details of this will be published in our September 7 issue. Another neW exhibit will be a Super Beaver four-wheeled normal-control export chassis with a gross rating of 18 tons. Leyland Motors produced a film in 1977 entitled The Quality Connection showing the importance of quality control. It featured well known actors including Frank Windsor, George A Cooper, David Suchet, Michael Robbins, Madeline Smith and Trevor Bannister. [19] See also [ edit ] was a year which was to open up the military market for Leyland as their 3-tonner, commonly known as the ‘RAF-type’, was to become the standard subsidy vehicle. The following year saw the start of work on the Farington plant, later associated with bus production. By the outbreak of war in 1914 the company had 1500 employees and had produced approximately 1275 petrol engined vehicles and 415 steam wagons. The engine cover intrudes a great deal into the cab making the provision of a third seat impossible. More attention has been paid to the sound insulation on this latest vehicle, particularly around the engine cover. a new group holding company was incorporated to own Leyland Motors Limited, ACV and new acquisitions [6]