Mystery Lorry

[termietermite]

Nowt to do with LM but then why should that stop me?

Paris registered, right hand drive.  Any ideas, chaps?


Photo taken 1955

[nopanic - neil]

OK - he we go with my guess.

Truck -  Saurer. "C" type,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saurer

As for right hand drive, I was told once (which maybe bullshit) that a lot of trucks that were driven around mountain roads had the driver on the in edge so he could drive right to edge of the road without going over. - Now I said that last bit does sound a bit bully 

So how close is that.

Oh year, TIR, front mudgaurd - so is that a custom officer ?
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TIR_Treaty, - but the date on the wiki say 1975, so may be not the same thing, anybody know??

[Grand_Fromage]

Saurer bus of similar design

http://pics.livejournal.com/tarrantry/pic/006zwyy6

[Grand_Fromage]

AFAIK, the right hand drive for countries that drive on the right was so that the driver would be able to pull up close to the curb to make a delivery, or in the case of the bus version, to let passengers on and off. In the USA, many Postal Service vans are RHD so that postie doesn't have to walk around the van to get to each mailbox.

[Lorry]

You called

TIR was just about dead by 1975, as there were simpler arrangements for EEC and EFTA (European Free Trade Association - a bit like a bigger EEC) countries, but had started in 1949.

Whilst not using the TIR arrangement, the TIR plate had to be covered up (god alone knows why) usually with a diagonal metal strap, which could be sealed in place by customs, using a lead seal and it looks like the Douanier is using his sealing pliers

How sad that I know that

[Grand_Fromage]

TIR was just about dead by 1975,

I thought the TIR convention started around 1975.... slightly confused.

TIR website - http://www.unece.org/tir/system/history/tir-history.htm

[Lorry]

TIR was just about dead by 1975,

I thought the TIR convention started around 1975.... slightly confused.

TIR website - http://www.unece.org/tir/system/history/tir-history.htm

That's what I read.  1975 is only when they started having conventions.  Its all in their long boring website, which includes mention of it not being necessary within the EU, only for places like Russia.  So there's very little about in the UK etc

[Lazy B'stard]

Yup, thats a Saurer. My uncle had one in the late 70's along with a a Saurer Charabanc. We all went on holiday to Cornwall in the bus. It was slow. We all got bad tempered

[chop456]

In the USA, many Postal Service vans are RHD so that postie doesn't have to walk around the van to get to each mailbox.

I've never seen an urban mail truck here that wasn't RHD. 

The current model:


Rural mail delivery is sometimes carried out by contract or part-time employees that use their own vehicles.  I've seen some of them in RHD vehicles, also.  Usually Subaru station wagons for some reason.  No idea if they're Japanese or UK/Aus/IRL market, nor would I know how to tell the difference.  I'd demand a DBR9, myself. 

[Canada Phil]

Hi Chop,
           There would be a lineup for the thankless job of rural postie  if they had DBR9's 
 Phil

[Andy Zarse]

In the USA, many Postal Service vans are RHD so that postie doesn't have to walk around the van to get to each mailbox.

I've never seen an urban mail truck here that wasn't RHD. 

The current model:


Rural mail delivery is sometimes carried out by contract or part-time employees that use their own vehicles.  I've seen some of them in RHD vehicles, also.  Usually Subaru station wagons for some reason.  No idea if they're Japanese or UK/Aus/IRL market, nor would I know how to tell the difference.  I'd demand a DBR9, myself. 

What an embarrassing heap of crap!