When I reflect on the 1970s and my younger years, I always think it was a time when there was a real excitement in the Road Haulage industry as the Continental truck makers had started to make a real impact on the British HGV market, as Paul Fox explains.
It was also a time when British lorry makers started to fight back. The scene was set for an era of operators having a choice of lorries all boasting driver comforts, tilt cabs with factory fitted sleeper cab options and power ratings of 240/290hp being common.
DAF, Scania, Volvo, Mercedes, Fiat, MAN, Saviem, Berliet, Renault, Magrius Deutz et al, were offering models which were fitted with sleeper cabs that were more appealing to drivers. Ease of access, smooth gear changes, ease of steering and control, heaters that actually kept the drivers warm with fitted radios the driver could hear, were just some of the advantages.
Many of the European models had been introduced to the UK during the 1960s. The fact was, that the British makers had to offer the same driver comforts if they were looking to win future markets for their products. Operators also wanted
