MARK STEWART MID EAST DRIVER
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Words: Ashley Coghill
Since its introduction in 1969 at the German Motor Show, Scania’s mighty V8 has continued to win the hearts of operators and drivers alike. The new 1-series truck was badged as a 140 and with 350hp on tap it soon became the truck to be seen in. During the next four years, improvements were made and in 1975 a slightly revised and up-to-date cab was introduced. This was in readiness for another milestone achievement by the Swedish manufacturer: it was about to replace the 140 with what many now class ‘the iconic’ 141.
From the outside, the cabs looked identical and internally there were some subtle changes, but it was under the floor that the important changes had taken place. Major V8 components had been reworked and the engineers had increased torque and extracted more power to give the 141 a massive 375hp. On its introduction, Scania proudly crowned it ‘the most powerful truck in Europe’.
Intrigued by all this was Mark Stewart, who, as a young boy, wanted nothing more than to drive his own Scania to the Middle East after watching the BBC television documentary Destination Doha in 1977, the star of which was clearly the big Scania V8.
He had to wait 11 years before he could begin to realise his dream. After passing his HGV test with flying colours, Stewart began working for a parcel company, but by the time he was 23 could no longer suppress his desire to own a big Scania, so he sold his house to raise the cash. Even though he could afford a newer vehicle, with more luxury and in better condition, his dream was to own a 141.
Stewart visited Trio Commercials near Leicester and, to his delight, came away with a T-registered 4x2 tractor that had previously belonged to WM Young Transport from Stoke on Trent. “I was so pleased with the truck. It was the most powerful thing in the world and, above all, it sounded fantastic,” he says.
Stewart’s first foray as an owner-driver came in 1987. It cost him a girlfriend and about £7,000, but as he proudly explains: “Look what I gained. There weren’t many 23-year-old lads who owned a V8 Scania. I had the freedom of the road, the excitement of travelling across the channel and then driving my beloved truck through Europe, the Communist Bloc and all the way to the Middle East.”
Back for a second bite
The 141 lasted him 18 months and he only changed it because he needed something that could carry more weight. A second visit to Trio Commercials brought him another 141, this time a 6x2 tag-axle tractor. It had originally belonged to reputable tank haulier Norman Lewis so Stewart knew it would have been well looked after. He struck a deal to part-exchange his first 141, plus £1,000, for the Lewis one. Even though his new truck was a year older, it suited his needs perfectly. Stewart decided to give the 141 a complete makeover. He had the cab stripped and extended to make it a double-length sleeper, had the interior refitted with red and black leather, and added plenty of goodies, including air conditioning and a huge custom-made camel bar. The truck and trailer were then sprayed in the distinctive livery of Astran to whom he was contracted. The 141 was now a real head turner and Stewart enjoyed the attention it got and revelled in driving it. He was finally living his dream and enjoying every minute of it.
“Times were good and I had a great lifestyle, but I have to say my bubble did burst one day and I suddenly realised I was indeed in the real world,” he says. “After I’d delivered a load to Doha, I was offered a load from Syria to Moscow and was well on my way towards Russia. I’d noticed the oil pressure getting lower all the time, but I just kept topping the oil up and finally managed to get the Moscow delivery done.
Major repairs needed
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing and had I gone straight back to the UK the truck may well have survived without too much trouble. As it was, I was returning through the Lithuanian border into Poland when things took a serious turn for the worse. Just after entering Poland I noticed a terrible knocking sound and debated whether to drive the truck to destruction or to pull up and try and repair it.
“With the help of Ron McNulty who I was running with, I limped my truck into a nearby bus garage. Ron deduced that the bottom end had gone, which meant major repairs. I realised that I was not too far away from Sweden where I had a good mate who I thought could help, so I telephoned and asked him to source a decent second-hand engine. I flew up there and found Cornelius waiting for me at the airport in his old Volvo car and huge trailer. We drove to a scrapyard where I was assured an engine they had was in tiptop condition and would fit my truck.
“I admit I was a little uneasy but we took it back to Poland and with some help from the garage mechanics we replaced the knackered unit with the new one. All-in-all it took about three days. The new engine was certainly more powerful than the original. The Continental spec always seemed to be better than the UK version and this engine was rated at about 400hp. There also seemed to be a lot more torque so, of course, I was delighted. I ran back to the UK empty as I wanted to run it in gently, but I did suffer a few teething problems along the way due to the new engine not being properly compatible with the old engine’s components.
“When I worked it all out, I reckon the cost of the new engine, all the travelling and Cornelius’s time was around £2,000 so I reckon I got off quite lightly and, ironically, I came out with a better truck than I’d had before.”
Devastating end to a dream
Stewart’s 141 served him extremely well for the next two years on his regular overland runs to the Middle East. Incredibly, he then lost it in an electrical fire as he was running through Bulgaria loaded with wine for the UK. He was devastated. “My dream job and my dream truck, both gone up in smoke in an instant.” He still has fond memories of his very special 141. “I clocked up about 100,000km, if not more, in her and apart from the engine problem I never had a murmur of trouble until the fire. In its prime it was streaks ahead of anything else on the arduous overland run,” he says. “It really was the daddy of the truck world. The cab was a truly iconic shape, which pushed all my buttons and of course it had that fantastic engine note that only a Scania V8 can give. It was truly amazing and in my eyes simply the best truck ever built.” It’s clear the iconic Scania 141 was the only truck Stewart ever wanted, the only one he ever had and, by the sound of it, the only one he would ever have again. “I’ve driven all sorts of trucks over the years with all the bells and whistles and some with automatic gearboxes, but none of them have given me an engaging drive like the 141 did,” he says. “I have tried to ‘abuse’ some of the modern trucks to get more from them, but the computer simply won’t let you. I find today’s trucks quite boring. It was great fun, very thrilling and somewhat challenging at times behind the wheel of my 141s.” Asked if he would have a 141 tomorrow, Stewart replies: “Of course I would. It was definitely the best truck I’ve ever driven in my entire career. When I was 23 and ready to drive one, the technology had moved on, but my dream hadn’t so I class myself extremely lucky to have been able to live my dream.” n