The Classic Commercial Vehicles (Bus, Trucks etc) Thread

islero · 3rd January 2008, 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

karlos, you will be surprised that many of the vehicles in your first post are actually running in the city peripherals here. The Dodge, Bedford, Premier trucks carry bricks, waste etc here without papers, will try to catch them on camera sometime. And that standard 20 is also very much still here.

Also, there are some 5-10 Dodge trucks with tow hooks, which are always parked near Melody theatre. Looks like they are in regular use too.

esteem_lover · 3rd January 2008, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by islero

Also, there are some 5-10 Dodge trucks with tow hooks, which are always parked near Melody theatre. Looks like they are in regular use too.

These are used by traffic cops to tow vehicles parked in the no parking areas. They sure are being used, but i am not sure how good the papers are for these vehicles.

Mpower · 3rd January 2008, 23:13

Yup, I seen these in Chennai around 5-6 years ago. They carry construction sand all over the city. The engines are silent but they belch out black smoke.

Interestingly, I haven't seen these in any other city.

esteem_lover · 3rd January 2008, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

They carry construction sand all over the city. The engines are silent but they belch out black smoke.

And their chassis will twist & bend like a salsa dancer & still survive.

Stanher · 4th January 2008, 00:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Ive spotted this massive and unique Mack truck a couple of times in Pune, apparently belonging to the municipality (it bears Maharasthra Shasan painted on it).

Wow, for a municipal truck in use in India, it sure is in good condition! Atleast compared to the other ones Ive seen!

karlosdeville · 4th January 2008, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanher

Wow, for a municipal truck in use in India, it sure is in good condition! Atleast compared to the other ones Ive seen!

Thats the first thing that strikes you. Like I said, it is obviously a very specialised vehicle, and they need to maintain it as there is probably no alternative.

AMATMO · 4th January 2008, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Thats the first thing that strikes you. Like I said, it is obviously a very specialised vehicle, and they need to maintain it as there is probably no alternative.

what you mean,cant tata/ALL substitute it?

BTW what is the truck posted used for?

fx45 · 4th January 2008, 23:52

this is a wonderful thread.. never knew that shaktimans were also used in civlillan duties.. good info

1100D · 5th January 2008, 02:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by fx45

this is a wonderful thread.. never knew that shaktimans were also used in civlillan duties.. good info

Shaktimans retired from the army fleet were sold outside to be used mostly for Garbage duty.

AMATMO · 5th January 2008, 18:45

is there nobody from the classic car collectors who care to restore
these old commercial vehicles

fx45 · 20th February 2008, 16:58

i had seen some very good old BEST buses plying on the mumbai city roads off late.. can any one find more info on that?

DarshanS · 24th February 2008, 01:08

A bedford truck near my hometown in Goa. Even at this age, it is a bread earner.

condor · 24th February 2008, 09:24

Darshan, is this still in it's original state or has it undergone modifications ?

moralfibre · 25th February 2008, 11:10

A Dodge fire brigade in Sawantwadi. Recently restored and still in use with lot of Tata parts to keep it running (You don't want the fire brigade to break down while on duty, do you?) :

DHABHAR.BEHRAM · 26th February 2008, 16:45

Dear fx45 - On BEST buses, I would like to share some information. Some models of BEST buses used to have what is known as a pneumocyclic grearbox. The double deckers were known as "Cheetah" and the single deckers were known as "Tiger Cub".

The tiger cub had a very interseting feature. The engine was a 6 cylinder unit horizontally mounted under the floor in the middle of the bus (as seen lengthwise), hung from the chassis (you sleep below it to set the valve clearences. If it fell by any chance, you would be history. I used to do this work as I wanted to learn, then someone would start the engine with me still below it to check if all was OK). There was a long shaft driving a fan in front and a very small propeller shaft coming out of the engine and going to the gearbox. The gears would be changed by the driver in normal fashion but there was no clutch pedal. The gear lever essentially was a pneumatic valve operating solenoids which in turn would compress or release bands inside the gearbox. The gears would be stars, planets and cylindrical rings. The lever would be slotted (just like in today's Ferraris). Operation of the lever would result in a "swish" noise as the air pressure applied and released the bands.

It was in regular use till the end 70s. Alas, nowhere to be seen now.

I know because I used to be a trainee in the BEST workshop in Dadar in 1975. Now I am a GM somewhere. I used to enjoy life more when I was a trainee.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

3rd January 2008, 23:13	#33
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,729 Times View My Garage	Yup, I seen these in Chennai around 5-6 years ago. They carry construction sand all over the city. The engines are silent but they belch out black smoke. Interestingly, I haven't seen these in any other city.
	() Thanks

4th January 2008, 23:52	#38
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 384 Times	this is a wonderful thread.. never knew that shaktimans were also used in civlillan duties.. good info
	() Thanks

5th January 2008, 18:45	#40
AMATMO Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore\GOA Posts: 1,456 Thanked: 7 Times	is there nobody from the classic car collectors who care to restore these old commercial vehicles
	() Thanks

20th February 2008, 16:58	#41
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 384 Times	i had seen some very good old BEST buses plying on the mumbai city roads off late.. can any one find more info on that?
	() Thanks

24th February 2008, 01:08	#42
DarshanS BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dubai/Goa Posts: 39 Thanked: Once	A bedford truck near my hometown in Goa. Even at this age, it is a bread earner.
	() Thanks

24th February 2008, 09:24	#43
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,864 Thanked: 16,008 Times View My Garage	Darshan, is this still in it's original state or has it undergone modifications ?
	() Thanks

25th February 2008, 11:10	#44
moralfibre Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MH-12 Posts: 8,443 Thanked: 13,956 Times	A Dodge fire brigade in Sawantwadi. Recently restored and still in use with lot of Tata parts to keep it running (You don't want the fire brigade to break down while on duty, do you?) :
	(1) Thanks

26th February 2008, 16:45	#45
DHABHAR.BEHRAM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 3,060 Thanked: 5,353 Times	Dear fx45 - On BEST buses, I would like to share some information. Some models of BEST buses used to have what is known as a pneumocyclic grearbox. The double deckers were known as "Cheetah" and the single deckers were known as "Tiger Cub". The tiger cub had a very interseting feature. The engine was a 6 cylinder unit horizontally mounted under the floor in the middle of the bus (as seen lengthwise), hung from the chassis (you sleep below it to set the valve clearences. If it fell by any chance, you would be history. I used to do this work as I wanted to learn, then someone would start the engine with me still below it to check if all was OK). There was a long shaft driving a fan in front and a very small propeller shaft coming out of the engine and going to the gearbox. The gears would be changed by the driver in normal fashion but there was no clutch pedal. The gear lever essentially was a pneumatic valve operating solenoids which in turn would compress or release bands inside the gearbox. The gears would be stars, planets and cylindrical rings. The lever would be slotted (just like in today's Ferraris). Operation of the lever would result in a "swish" noise as the air pressure applied and released the bands. It was in regular use till the end 70s. Alas, nowhere to be seen now. I know because I used to be a trainee in the BEST workshop in Dadar in 1975. Now I am a GM somewhere. I used to enjoy life more when I was a trainee. Best regards, Behram Dhabhar
	(2) Thanks