Truck Stop Classics: 1969 And 1976 Scania, 1969 Bedford, 1970 DAF – Conventional Woodies

Four conventional 4×2 trucks showed up at the starting point of a tour for classic vehicles, late April 2019. All in the same livery of the nearby Van den Broek hauling and trading company, representing truck makers from the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Starting with a 1969 Bedford TJ-series flatbed truck with dropsides. Bedford was GM’s commercial vehicle division in the UK.

The TJ-series was introduced in 1958, it was offered with a range of gasoline and diesel engines.

This one is powered by the truck maker’s 330 cu.in. (5.4 liter) inline-six diesel. The registered payload capacity of the Bedford is 5,980 kg (13,184 lbs).

Over to Sweden, a 1969 Scania L50 with a Nooteboom dump bed. Prior to 1969, this very same truck model was sold as the Scania-Vabis L36.

The letter L was used for conventional trucks and tractors with a 4×2 chassis. The LS was a 6×2 with a liftable tag axle, the LT was a 6×4. Cabovers: respectively LB, LBS and LBT.

Its short nose tells us it’s powered by an inline-four diesel, displacement 5.2 liter.

Highly common back then, a dump bed with dropsides. Nothing to dump? Then you can also use it as a flatbed truck.

Among Dutch truck enthusiasts, this conventional DAF model -introduced in 1957- has reached cult status. American looks all the way!

Although it was marketed as the DAF 13-16-18 series, everybody simply calls this conventional the (first gen) DAF Torpedo. The 1970 A13DA at the show features a Netam three-way dump bed. The letters DA refer to a 4.75 liter, inline-six diesel engine.

This generation of the Torpedo was only offered as a 4×2 truck or tractor chassis. The diesel engine options were the DA, the DD (5.75 liter, naturally aspirated) and the DS (5.75 liter, turbocharged). By the way, torpedo is simply a synonym for a conventional truck or tractor.

The last one of today’s collection, a 1976 Scania L81. Never mind it says 80 on the nose, Scania’s 1969 0-generation was replaced by the 1-generation in 1975 (so 80 became 81). Both the L80 and L81 were fully based on the pre-1969 Scania-Vabis L55.

The digit 8, just like the 5 on the short-nose further above, reflects the engine displacement. A 7.8 liter inline-six, naturally aspirated in this case, with a maximum power output of 163 DIN-hp.

From 1969 onwards, Scania also offered the 110 (inline-six) and the legendary 140 (V8). If it said Super on the nose or cab, it meant the diesel engine was turbocharged, not supercharged.

Another Nooteboom dump bed. I wonder if this is the truck’s original set-up, given the long rear overhang. Usually, a dump bed pivots right behind the rear(most) axle, just have a look at the DAF to see what I mean.

The Scania’s drive axle and its suspension.

A PTO-driven crane between the cab and the bed, common equipment then and now, especially on dump trucks. A 4×4 truck with a three-way dump bed and a crane was and often still is the preferred municipal vehicle. Maximum versatility and maneuverability!

(photo courtesy of Gebr. Van den Broek)

On the left, a more modern way to haul sand and such, a MAN TGA 10×4. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Scania L50 fits in its dump bed.