First 2429 rigid for Eire
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• The only Mercedes-Benz 2429 rigid in the UK or Ireland has gone into service with Dublin-based haulier Blueflite, which is using it as a drawbar plated at 38 tonnes GTW.
The 2429 is only available as a 6x2 tractive unit in the UK, but under Irish law right-handdrive versions of Continental spec trucks can be imported without special Type Approval.
"As long as they've got EC Type Approval I can import all sorts of oddballs," says Billy O'Neill, commercial vehicle sales manager at Ireland's Mer cedes concessionaire Motor Distributors. "In England you'd have to have about 100 orders to make going for Type Approval worthwhile."
The 216kW (290hp) 2429 has a lifting mid-axle as well as several green features, says Blueflite's managing director Jerry Kiersey. These include a speed limiter (not yet law in Ireland), ABS and air suspension on the prime mover and trailer and a streamlining kit.
The air deflection conversion — carried out by Coachcraft of Dublin — cost Blueflite E3,000, but its main purpose is safety, not fuel conservation. "You get a lot of cyclists in Ireland," says Kiersey.
"Side panels are much more friendly towards bicycles and motorbikes than sideguards."
Blueflite, which specialises in automotive distribution, hauls for Volvo, Honda and Lucas. It has a fleet of eight drawbars, all of which are demounts, and two 17-tonne rigids. It also uses up to 30 owner-drivers.
Mercedes-Benz says there are no plans to launch the 2429 in the UK as a drawbar rigid.