Scammell went in reverse with rigids
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SCAMMELL'S diamond jubilee coincides with the 45th anniversary of the company's production of rigid eightwheelers, the history of which has been recorded by Tony Billings in a frank and entertaining limited-edition booklet. Whereas most artics were evolved from rigids, the reverse was the case with the Scammell, for which the S26 Constructor-8 is the present standard production vehicle.
In a foreword to the booklet V. H. Wilkes, director and general manager, says that new 6x4 and 6x6 models "should put Scammell back where it rightly belongs." This tempts me to ask how and why the company ever lost that place.
Do I detect a faint lingering resentment towards Leyland in Tony Billings's comment that "the present rigid eight-legger was destined to be part of Leyland's T45 producion family but Scammell's own particular dexterity has ensured that it is still a Scammell in-house product."?
The Constructor-8, which went into production two years ago, helped to stave off possible closure of the Watford factory by capturing nearly a third of eightwheeler sales at a time when the market slumped by more than half in a year, "Thus," says Tony, "it is largely due to Constructor-8 that we have a 60th anniversary to celebrate." This is a sad admission for a proud company.