These were a brilliant concept, especially the quick coupling and superb turning circle. I can't help thinking the design is due for a re-laiunch using electric motors as a town delivery system.
As a youngster, I was fascinated by these little workhorses. As an oldster, I find it equally fascinating to see your beautiful restoration especially as it is the last one. Well done!!
In 1962 when I was 5, I remember these, we lived in Dartford, Kent, they were painted yellow and I think they were operated by British Rail, I found them fascinating, happy days, nice restoration and film.
My dad used to drive one for the railway in Birmingham in the 60’s took me out for the day on his deliveries weird lorry but great, you could turn it round on tanner
I remember seeing these vehicles when I was a kid. They were used by British Rail to deliver parcels on a flat bed trailer. The livery was what was known as 'rhubarb and custard' Very nostalgic.
As an 8 year old I used to watch BR shunting trailers with these at Doncaster, out of my bedroom window. When the Circus came, they used the Sarab's & trailers to take all the animals etc to the big top. They amused me for hours at a time. Circa 1958/62. Michael now in Australia. Good Vid..
In the mid 60's I worked at a garage that specialsed in Scammels especially the Scarab, some were fited with a Perkins diesel engine, others (early models had a side valve engine) that had a Scintilla Magneto, often when they cane into the work shop for an overhaul we would replace the engine with Perkins. if they did not have a trailer connected they could be a pig to drive and would easily topple onto it's side if the front wheel was turned too fast. Removal of the engine, gearbox and rear axle was a doddle and we designed a small wheeled carriage that would fit under the engine allowed for the entire power train to be removed in one go if the rear wheels were left on. We also used to two 3 legged axle stands to hold up the cab by placing them under rear under carriage rails.
That’s fantastic! I’ll keep that in mind if I ever need to work on mine again, there’s lots of parts to it took quite some time for me to work out how it went together, it was half taken to bits when I got it
Seeing that old Scammel lorry brought back a memory from my schooldays. Our school caretaker Mr Doyle had an unusual face , he looked normal from the front but from the side I can only describe it as flat, almost concave. We were both keen cyclists and I got to know him quite well and one day he told me what happened to his face. He was cycling on the Redheugh Bridge over the river Tyne when his front wheel dropped into the tramlines ,which ran the length of the bridge, he was catapulted over the handlebars and fell on his back on the road right in front of a Scammel coming in the opposite direction. The driver slammed on his breaks but the single front wheel came to rest on top of Mr Doyle,s face. The driver realised that the man was alive but was suffocating under the wheel so very quickly he reversed the cab back over Mr Doyle's forehead. All of the bones in his face were broken but in the those days there was no plastic surgery so he was left with a damaged face .
Oh my God, absolutely beautiful. I used to marvel at these at The Bricklayers Arms depot on the Old Kent Road when I was a very young boy, now nearly 70 am still very fond of the Scarab. Well done for restoring it, it looked very sad being dumped in that yard. Much respect to you sir.
Thank you for letting us see your wonderful Scarab. I'm old enough to remember these terrific little lorries, in British Railway's livery, delivering to my Auntie's village shop.
Thank God there was somebody like yourself that’s restored this workhorse . I remember seeing these in GWR brown and cream at railway stations shifting goods in the 60s down here in the West Country and in breweries and down at the Weymouth docks . Well done for such a fine restoration - it’s a joy to see it now in such a good condition. Love to see this down at Beaulieu auto jumble this year ( I’m guessing you’d have to trailer it down but I think it would attract many admirers and be one of the stars of the show
@@LewiBuchProductions I’m assuming that you are way up in Scotland - there are two auto jumbles that Beaulieu has - one early summer then in late summer covering several fields , an auction plus those willing to bring their classic vehicle along - pre Covid it was very international so hopefully this year it will be back to normal- also enjoyed the forensic and meticulous description of how the trailer attached to the Scarab - absolutely fascinating and as you said so simple. And that tight turning circle which you demonstrated so well , was its forte on railway platforms without much width ,being able to turn on a sixpence and negotiating tight corners pulling loaded trailers with parcels and utilised frequently on Royal Mail trains
I remember Scammell Scarabs delivering and collecting goods at my father's business in the 1960s. They were used by British Road ServiceLtd (BRS) as well as British Rail and the GPO.
In the 60's I'd see loads of these working in the railway near me, flat beds box type and side curtains I always wanted to jump in one and drive it around the yard but my nerves got the better of me lol. Awesome little truck and restoration.
Same here, Worcester Shrub Hill railway station, 1960. Lots of these, lots of posties/rail staff. Jobs galore. All you see at stations nowadays are the other passengers.
@@johntimken9842 I was only a small boy at the time but lived right by a goods yard and sidings and you would see the trucks post office dropping off mail to go on the trains, even spotted a few GPO ones as you may remember that was the General Post office in the day which today we know as open reach.
I have vague memories of seeing them when I was a boy. They seem like a useful truck for working in tight areas and that coupling must have been very useful in those days. Not sure I'd trust it as much as modern day fifth wheels I use! Nice job and I'm looking forward to seeing the trailer restored and hooked up together!
When I was a kid I used to see Scammell Scarabs working in the Tooths 'Kent' Brewery in Sydney. That was the mid 1970s. The local glass bottle company used to use them too.
I think lots of companies used them as they were such a versatile vehicle until the brake laws changed that ended there run. As these vehicles only had rear wheel braking and vehicles required all wheel braking
I remember these things in the early 70s loading and unloading the mail at London rail termini. Very flexible, could get into all the tight spaces in the platforms in a way a 4 wheeled van couldn't.
I saw them around Marylebone goods yard in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They looked great in their original "plumb & custard" livery, but not so good in InterCity bright yellow.
Great video ! In the middle sixties I was a fitter (mechanic) for the London Co-op dairy in Sth Ealing, London & we had a fleet of these for moving the trailers loaded with milk crates around the yard, I didn't work on these though as we had a fitter specially trained on them, I just serviced the road artics & of course the electric milk floats. Great memories !
Great subject for restoration Lewi, as a kid the Scarab was everywhere in my little town employed by institutions & companies moving all manner of goods, I used to watch them maneuvering at the local railway station a lot as much of the transport was done by British Rail at night time, about 20 trailers lined up at the station to transfer goods from local businesses to rail goods vans, as back in the day to run a transport company you had to have a 'C' license displayed in the window and permission was a requirement from The National Union of Railway workers to have such a license! Today that would be called unfair competition!
@Lewi Buch Productions. Excellent work on your restoration of this unusual commercial classic! You may find this of interest. The transport company that my father worked for had a Scammell like yours as a "shunter" in their yard. Most of their Bedford TK and (maybe) some of the newer KM tractor fleet had the Scammell coupling (Plus they had some flat six cylinder Commer tractors with the Scammell coupling as well). However, sometimes they would have a non fleet/"foreign" trailer dropped off with a fifth - wheel coupling, which the Scammell could not hitch up to and move. So (and I hope I've remembered this correctly) they had a Scammell coupling with the folding wheels and bogies (bottom half) modified with a fifth - wheel coupling plate (top half). And I think my Dad said they had a frame made (at coupling height for the Scammell) to store the freestanding unit when not in use. The driver of the Scammell yard shunter just had to remember to lower/raise the front legs on fifth - wheel trailers where required! Keep up your good work sir! You and yours stay safe and well.
Yes brilliant job on the restoration well done, they bring back memories for me. My dad worked all of his working life from 14years old on British Railways later to become National Carriers. He drove those Scammell Scarabs regularly, I remember him taking me for a ride in one in the mid fifties. They said that you can turn them around on a sixpence as you have shown and proved in the video.
It's one of those vehicles you remember when growing up but never understood just how they worked, the trailer linkage always puzzled me, so thanks a lot for not just saving it but taking us a look around.
Thanks and your welcome! Always happy to show my Collection for people to be able to enjoy! I really can’t wait to get the complete outfit out to shows this year!
I saw a TH-cam video about these last night. I'd never seen one before. The first thing that came to my mind was that we need them again and electric versions for cities and towns.
Nice little scammell Great video well done for saving it I remember watching the salvage squad restoring a earlier example that was used by Cadbury s dairy that's available on TH-cam too should anyone want to see it ♥️
Brilliant restoration. I remember loads of these, they were all over when I was a kid. Loved that ride in the cab, it brought back memories of bone shaker car rides as well. Excellent video. Tony
I just saw the history of the Scammel Scarab, and then this popped up. I just love how perfect it was for it's time and place, in any other country it wouldn't have worked, or in any other time. There should be a modern electric version of this made.
I could hardly believe my luck when I stumbled across your channel. As a child I lived in a street with a station at one end and can remember. The British Railways Scammell "Mechanical Horses" passing our house.
Welcome to the channel! Glad your enjoying the video of the scarab, they are fantastic little machines and so versatile, really feel lucky to of saved and be a part of this one’s story!
I remember these in use at the Fratton shunting yards in Portsmouth when I was a nipper! Buzzing around like bees they were :-). Perfect for what they needed to do. Got a KIA EV6 on order now. Like a bloody SPACE SHIP compared to the rattle traps of the 'Sixties. Simpler times. . . . .
I do really wish I could of seen all these amazing vehicles in there day! Modern motors to me are very dull compared to the vehicles of the past filled with character
@@LewiBuchProductions Time was you could look at the silhouette of a car and be able to identify it. Look at the lighting arrangement and ID it (think the iconic Pye shaped rear light clusters on the for Cortina). Now they all look pretty much the same 😞 What got me was when I saw a NEW BMW and thought that it was a Ford Escort from behind! Ford got there model out first, and the Beemeer looked like a copy! Me? I am a firm believer in taking an old classic and converting it to an EV. It means you are saving a car from the scrap yard, can use it as a 'daily driver' without the worry of a motor that WILL fail sooner or later, (probably expensively), leaving you stranded, and can drive with zero (tailpipe) emissions. You can even buy a brand-new MG with bespoke interior, made from the original pressings, but with an electric motor. Costs a bit though 🙂 rbwevcars.com/rbw-e-to-ev-type/
@@coniow Time was when I could stand (on the pavement, I should add!) with my back to the oncoming traffic, and tell my mother what vehicle was approaching by recognising its sound! That's a mini. That's an Anglia. That's a Cortina, that's a Land Rover........
As a kid, one of these came down our lane on a frosty cold morning rather like in the video. At the end of the lane was a small fordable stream. Unfortunately it wasn't very fordable to a Scarab that had already lost traction on the descent to it and the whole rig gently slid into the unfordable part.....Unfortunately I was on my way to school and couldn't wait for the undoubtedly interesting recovery, beyond checking the driver was OK. He wasn't happy. But OK......It was a BRS Parcel vehicle, if I recall correctly.
That’s a great story 😅 I’ve heard similar ones about my scarab, how they used to slip down a cobbled street that was on a hill in winter days, and how one accidentally missed the edge of a railway platform and landed onto the tracks before the Mail train got in 😅
We had these plus the newer ones at Watson st off Sandgate Manchester NCL parcels yellow colour they were great thanks. John Rooney st.annes Lancashire UK
The Scarabs we had in the military had 2 liter side valve gas engines, fitted in either 3 or 6 ton versions. I have seen and heard the Perkins diesel but never worked on one.
There's a preserved example at the National Railway Museum in York, but last time I saw it, it was painted in the old BR colours of blood and pus. Thanks for the super presentation.
Like Alan Bradbury, I too remember seeing these around Leicester working for British Railways delivering parcels. Nostalgia overload! About forty years ago I was in a scrap yard near Grantham, and there was a Scammell Scarab, more or less complete and in better nick than the unrestored one in this video. Not only that but there was also a spare cab and I do remember, it was fibre glass. I thought about asking if it was for sale but at the time I didn't have much money so I didn't bother... I've often wished I'd asked, and wonder if somebody else bought and restored it.
what a blast from the past used to go to work with my father who drove one for a few years doing multi drop deliveries around bristol ,heck of a steering lock . the biggest problem i remember was you had to make doubly sure the trailer wheels had dropped correctly as they would often drop on there knees . there is another one in bristol but non runner at bitton on the a 420at the old railway station there . thanks for the memories
That was great ! What a story behind it, well done for saving the Scammell. Remind viewers it doesn't cost anything to subscribe , just hit the subscribe button .
Recall these scarabs at my local rail station back in the 1960s. Later met a man who near stalled the engine and found himself driving in reverse - that Perkins 2-stroke diesel doesn't care which direction it runs in!
I passed my Class 1 in 1978 and the first job I got driving an artic was with a firm that had a fleet of Ford D series tractor units all fitted with Scammell couplings. The trailers were quite short. I forget what weight they were, it was low, but you did need a class 1 to drive them. Back then there were four classes of HGV (eight if you include automatics) and I am pretty sure your vehicle would have been a Class 4.
I was a VM in the REME at a base workshop and alongside the mighty Scammell Recovery tractors we had one of these for internal work. Glorious little thing and fun to drive. Easy to work on. A great restoration of a very versatile work horse.
in the early to mid 50s at st marys street Southampton there used to be a P.O. depot where these trucks used to pickup mail bags ,that came into view from the road ,on a single overhead rail to be loaded on the trailers,.. I was about 6 yrs old then and loved to watch it,..
Beautiful. I drove one, once at Fratton. Just one thing. Tyres with chevron tread patterns, the braking is improved if they are fitted with the apex of the Chevrolet pointing upwards. It’d be jolly handy if you use its trailer as a rather superior sort of camper/caravan. You can drop it in the layby or campsite, and nip to the supermarket in the tractor. I have a Rival 34 sailing yacht. If I ever need to transport her by road, I’ll call you. R.
These were a brilliant concept, especially the quick coupling and superb turning circle. I can't help thinking the design is due for a re-laiunch using electric motors as a town delivery system.
As a youngster, I was fascinated by these little workhorses. As an oldster, I find it equally fascinating to see your beautiful restoration especially as it is the last one. Well done!!
They are amazing little machines! Thanks!
Ditto.
In 1962 when I was 5, I remember these, we lived in Dartford, Kent, they were painted yellow and I think they were operated by British Rail, I found them fascinating, happy days, nice restoration and film.
My dad used to drive one for the railway in Birmingham in the 60’s took me out for the day on his deliveries weird lorry but great, you could turn it round on tanner
The more you learn about them and the numbers built, I find it astonishing that more haven’t survived and in actual use.
Regulatory misunderstanding obviously
I remember seeing these vehicles when I was a kid. They were used by British Rail to deliver parcels on a flat bed trailer. The livery was what was known as 'rhubarb and custard' Very nostalgic.
More commonly known as 'blood and pus', Alan. 😃
Motorhead from the States here. Kind of pride myself on knowing most makes - but this is a totally new one to me. Thanks for the education.
Thank you so very much for including English captioning. I would not have understood half of what you said. Great restoration, love it.
As an 8 year old I used to watch BR shunting trailers with these at Doncaster, out of my bedroom window. When the Circus came, they used the Sarab's & trailers to take all the animals etc to the big top. They amused me for hours at a time. Circa 1958/62. Michael now in Australia. Good Vid..
In the mid 60's I worked at a garage that specialsed in Scammels especially the Scarab, some were fited with a Perkins diesel engine, others (early models had a side valve engine) that had a Scintilla Magneto, often when they cane into the work shop for an overhaul we would replace the engine with Perkins. if they did not have a trailer connected they could be a pig to drive and would easily topple onto it's side if the front wheel was turned too fast. Removal of the engine, gearbox and rear axle was a doddle and we designed a small wheeled carriage that would fit under the engine allowed for the entire power train to be removed in one go if the rear wheels were left on. We also used to two 3 legged axle stands to hold up the cab by placing them under rear under carriage rails.
That’s fantastic! I’ll keep that in mind if I ever need to work on mine again, there’s lots of parts to it took quite some time for me to work out how it went together, it was half taken to bits when I got it
When I was young they were all over Edinburgh. We took them for granted. Wish I had one now with 2 or 3 trailers.
I am from Germany, this truck is absolutely beautiful.
Seeing that old Scammel lorry brought back a memory from my schooldays. Our school caretaker Mr Doyle had an unusual face , he looked normal from the front but from the side I can only describe it as flat, almost concave. We were both keen cyclists and I got to know him quite well and one day he told me what happened to his face. He was cycling on the Redheugh Bridge over the river Tyne when his front wheel dropped into the tramlines ,which ran the length of the bridge, he was catapulted over the handlebars and fell on his back on the road right in front of a Scammel coming in the opposite direction. The driver slammed on his breaks but the single front wheel came to rest on top of Mr Doyle,s face. The driver realised that the man was alive but was suffocating under the wheel so very quickly he reversed the cab back over Mr Doyle's forehead. All of the bones in his face were broken but in the those days there was no plastic surgery so he was left with a damaged face .
Absolute crock of shite. How did he look normal from the front if his face was smashed in.
@@BigButtocks967 C'mon mate. If it is bollocks; it's brilliant bollocks!
Got any pics? As they say it paints a 1000 words. Lol
What a beaut!! So much character and a wonderful restoration.
I remember these things when I was a kid in London in the late 50’s early 60’s. Iconic design and brings back happy memories. Thanks for posting.
Oh my God, absolutely beautiful. I used to marvel at these at The Bricklayers Arms depot on the Old Kent Road when I was a very young boy, now nearly 70 am still very fond of the Scarab. Well done for restoring it, it looked very sad being dumped in that yard. Much respect to you sir.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoy seeing it, that’s the whole reason I restore classic vehicles so people get to enjoy them for many more years to come
I remember Royal Mail using these in the early 70s
A brilliant design and a wonderful restoration as well.
Can remember the British Rail ones running around London with box trailers in the mid 60s... fantastic vehicles..👍👍👍
Thank you for letting us see your wonderful Scarab. I'm old enough to remember these terrific little lorries, in British Railway's livery, delivering to my Auntie's village shop.
Thank God there was somebody like yourself that’s restored this workhorse .
I remember seeing these in GWR brown and cream at railway stations shifting goods in the 60s down here in the West Country and in breweries and down at the Weymouth docks .
Well done for such a fine restoration - it’s a joy to see it now in such a good condition.
Love to see this down at Beaulieu auto jumble this year ( I’m guessing you’d have to trailer it down but I think it would attract many admirers and be one of the stars of the show
It would be amazing to take it to Beaulieu but I’d imagine the cost getting it there would not be cheap 😅
@@LewiBuchProductions I’m assuming that you are way up in Scotland - there are two auto jumbles that Beaulieu has - one early summer then in late summer covering several fields , an auction plus those willing to bring their classic vehicle along - pre Covid it was very international so hopefully this year it will be back to normal- also enjoyed the forensic and meticulous description of how the trailer attached to the Scarab - absolutely fascinating and as you said so simple.
And that tight turning circle which you demonstrated so well , was its forte on railway platforms without much width ,being able to turn on a sixpence and negotiating tight corners pulling loaded trailers with parcels and utilised frequently on Royal Mail trains
I remember seeing loads of these being used at a British Rail depot in Pages Walk, Bermondsey, South East London.
I remember Scammell Scarabs delivering and collecting goods at my father's business in the 1960s. They were used by British Road ServiceLtd (BRS) as well as British Rail and the GPO.
What a lovely little lorry,nice restoration well done ,they made a 6 ton version on 3 wheels god help us all when men were men
In the 60's I'd see loads of these working in the railway near me, flat beds box type and side curtains I always wanted to jump in one and drive it around the yard but my nerves got the better of me lol. Awesome little truck and restoration.
Same here, Worcester Shrub Hill railway station, 1960. Lots of these, lots of posties/rail staff. Jobs galore. All you see at stations nowadays are the other passengers.
@@johntimken9842 I was only a small boy at the time but lived right by a goods yard and sidings and you would see the trucks post office dropping off mail to go on the trains, even spotted a few GPO ones as you may remember that was the General Post office in the day which today we know as open reach.
I lived in East London and remember the brown and cream railway ones traveling around, I'm amazed the idea hasn't been renewed for present times.
I have vague memories of seeing them when I was a boy. They seem like a useful truck for working in tight areas and that coupling must have been very useful in those days. Not sure I'd trust it as much as modern day fifth wheels I use! Nice job and I'm looking forward to seeing the trailer restored and hooked up together!
The max weight for Scammell auto couplings was 14 tons, so they never had to cope with 44 tonne MVM
Hello from the Netherlands. What a beaut she is.
When I was a kid I used to see Scammell Scarabs working in the Tooths 'Kent' Brewery in Sydney. That was the mid 1970s. The local glass bottle company used to use them too.
I think lots of companies used them as they were such a versatile vehicle until the brake laws changed that ended there run. As these vehicles only had rear wheel braking and vehicles required all wheel braking
I like the dalek ears. Nice restoration. I remeber those in my local station when i was a kid.
I remember these things in the early 70s loading and unloading the mail at London rail termini. Very flexible, could get into all the tight spaces in the platforms in a way a 4 wheeled van couldn't.
I saw them around Marylebone goods yard in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They looked great in their original "plumb & custard" livery, but not so good in InterCity bright yellow.
Great video ! In the middle sixties I was a fitter (mechanic) for the London Co-op dairy in Sth Ealing, London & we had a fleet of these for moving the trailers loaded with milk crates around the yard, I didn't work on these though as we had a fitter specially trained on them, I just serviced the road artics & of course the electric milk floats. Great memories !
Great subject for restoration Lewi, as a kid the Scarab was everywhere in my little town employed by institutions & companies moving all manner of goods, I used to watch them maneuvering at the local railway station a lot as much of the transport was done by British Rail at night time, about 20 trailers lined up at the station to transfer goods from local businesses to rail goods vans, as back in the day to run a transport company you had to have a 'C' license displayed in the window and permission was a requirement from The National Union of Railway workers to have such a license! Today that would be called unfair competition!
They really were such versatile vehicles they could be used about anywhere! 🙂
Nice little truck! That would be fun to drive around town. And make the trailer into a camper, to take to shows,and have some where to sleep!
We used these at rail express parcels liverpool 70s
I see this vehicle being reimagined and put back in production, just like the Morris the J-Type van but running only in electric mode
Gorgeous little thing 👍
@Lewi Buch Productions. Excellent work on your restoration of this unusual commercial classic! You may find this of interest. The transport company that my father worked for had a Scammell like yours as a "shunter" in their yard. Most of their Bedford TK and (maybe) some of the newer KM tractor fleet had the Scammell coupling (Plus they had some flat six cylinder Commer tractors with the Scammell coupling as well). However, sometimes they would have a non fleet/"foreign" trailer dropped off with a fifth - wheel coupling, which the Scammell could not hitch up to and move. So (and I hope I've remembered this correctly) they had a Scammell coupling with the folding wheels and bogies (bottom half) modified with a fifth - wheel coupling plate (top half). And I think my Dad said they had a frame made (at coupling height for the Scammell) to store the freestanding unit when not in use. The driver of the Scammell yard shunter just had to remember to lower/raise the front legs on fifth - wheel trailers where required! Keep up your good work sir! You and yours stay safe and well.
Yes brilliant job on the restoration well done, they bring back memories for me. My dad worked all of his working life from 14years old on British Railways later to become National Carriers. He drove those Scammell Scarabs regularly, I remember him taking me for a ride in one in the mid fifties. They said that you can turn them around on a sixpence as you have shown and proved in the video.
It's one of those vehicles you remember when growing up but never understood just how they worked, the trailer linkage always puzzled me, so thanks a lot for not just saving it but taking us a look around.
Thanks and your welcome! Always happy to show my Collection for people to be able to enjoy! I really can’t wait to get the complete outfit out to shows this year!
What a cool looking truck.
Very cool to watch one of these driving around. I doubt there's any near me in Chicagoland. I'll have to live vicariously through TH-cam.
These trucks were a common sight on the streets of Birmingham in the 50's used by British raii.
I saw a TH-cam video about these last night. I'd never seen one before. The first thing that came to my mind was that we need them again and electric versions for cities and towns.
Nice little scammell Great video well done for saving it I remember watching the salvage squad restoring a earlier example that was used by Cadbury s dairy that's available on TH-cam too should anyone want to see it ♥️
Entirely beautiful!
Thank-you!
Brilliant restoration. I remember loads of these, they were all over when I was a kid. Loved that ride in the cab, it brought back memories of bone shaker car rides as well. Excellent video. Tony
It’s really amazing how rare they are now! I was amazed when I found out this is the last post office example left
I just saw the history of the Scammel Scarab, and then this popped up.
I just love how perfect it was for it's time and place, in any other country it wouldn't have worked, or in any other time.
There should be a modern electric version of this made.
I could hardly believe my luck when I stumbled across your channel. As a child I lived in a street with a station at one end and can remember. The British Railways Scammell "Mechanical Horses" passing our house.
Welcome to the channel! Glad your enjoying the video of the scarab, they are fantastic little machines and so versatile, really feel lucky to of saved and be a part of this one’s story!
I remember these in use at the Fratton shunting yards in Portsmouth when I was a nipper! Buzzing around like bees they were :-). Perfect for what they needed to do.
Got a KIA EV6 on order now. Like a bloody SPACE SHIP compared to the rattle traps of the 'Sixties. Simpler times. . . . .
I do really wish I could of seen all these amazing vehicles in there day! Modern motors to me are very dull compared to the vehicles of the past filled with character
@@LewiBuchProductions Time was you could look at the silhouette of a car and be able to identify it. Look at the lighting arrangement and ID it (think the iconic Pye shaped rear light clusters on the for Cortina). Now they all look pretty much the same 😞
What got me was when I saw a NEW BMW and thought that it was a Ford Escort from behind! Ford got there model out first, and the Beemeer looked like a copy!
Me? I am a firm believer in taking an old classic and converting it to an EV. It means you are saving a car from the scrap yard, can use it as a 'daily driver' without the worry of a motor that WILL fail sooner or later, (probably expensively), leaving you stranded, and can drive with zero (tailpipe) emissions. You can even buy a brand-new MG with bespoke interior, made from the original pressings, but with an electric motor. Costs a bit though 🙂
rbwevcars.com/rbw-e-to-ev-type/
@@coniow Time was when I could stand (on the pavement, I should add!) with my back to the oncoming traffic, and tell my mother what vehicle was approaching by recognising its sound! That's a mini. That's an Anglia. That's a Cortina, that's a Land Rover........
As a kid, one of these came down our lane on a frosty cold morning rather like in the video. At the end of the lane was a small fordable stream. Unfortunately it wasn't very fordable to a Scarab that had already lost traction on the descent to it and the whole rig gently slid into the unfordable part.....Unfortunately I was on my way to school and couldn't wait for the undoubtedly interesting recovery, beyond checking the driver was OK. He wasn't happy. But OK......It was a BRS Parcel vehicle, if I recall correctly.
That’s a great story 😅 I’ve heard similar ones about my scarab, how they used to slip down a cobbled street that was on a hill in winter days, and how one accidentally missed the edge of a railway platform and landed onto the tracks before the Mail train got in 😅
Very interesting Lewi , keep up the good work
Lots more please - thank you for preserving a piece of British engineering history that back in the late 50s onwards
I’ll be filming a follow up on the scarab in the near future 🙂 I’m just happy to of saved it for everyone to be able to enjoy for many years to come
I'm old enough to remember them at the local GPO sorting yard. It's like a SUV, Robin.
That’s true 😂 never thought of it like that!
We had these plus the newer ones at Watson st off Sandgate Manchester NCL parcels yellow colour they were great thanks. John Rooney st.annes Lancashire UK
That’s ace! The newer one was the townsman, I did have a chance at one not long after I got the scarab but passed on it, kinda wish I didn’t now!
Hurrah for the algorithm that brought this video to my attention :)
I've always wanted to drive one of these since I first saw a picture of one as a kid!
They are great fun to drive!
Fascinating vehicle. Great video. Beautiful countryside. Thanks for sharing.
That bulbous front nose must have been made using precisely the same metal-working skills that formed the bodywork on contemporary Rolls Royces.
*Enjoyed that a lot, what a great little truck, nice job in rescuing it and seeing it through to being restored :-)*
Wonderful! Childhood days remembered. Isetta owner..
Glad you enjoyed it! Isetta’s are amazing! It’s Reliant’s I specialise in but I always loved the trojans, isetta’s and Messerschmitt’s
She sounds and looks Great, well done!
I remember these buzzing around the back of Waterloo Station , always liked them .I met a guy at a local show with one ( with trailer ) .
great video, brings back memories driving these at wakefield post office in the early seventies, vacuum assisted brakes that rarely worked.
That's a beautiful little truck mate, I love it.
Always enjoy seeing the Scammell Lewi. Good story how you recovered and restored it. A sweet sounding small Perkins. Thanks 😊
The Scarabs we had in the military had 2 liter side valve gas engines, fitted in either 3 or 6 ton versions. I have seen and heard the Perkins diesel but never worked on one.
What a machine, thanks for sharing.
That brings back memories, thanks
There's a preserved example at the National Railway Museum in York, but last time I saw it, it was painted in the old BR colours of blood and pus. Thanks for the super presentation.
Like Alan Bradbury, I too remember seeing these around Leicester working for British Railways delivering parcels. Nostalgia overload! About forty years ago I was in a scrap yard near Grantham, and there was a Scammell Scarab, more or less complete and in better nick than the unrestored one in this video. Not only that but there was also a spare cab and I do remember, it was fibre glass. I thought about asking if it was for sale but at the time I didn't have much money so I didn't bother... I've often wished I'd asked, and wonder if somebody else bought and restored it.
Heehee, I remember seeing these on the road in British railways colours back in the day. Not many though as I'm only 67.
I remember being fascinated by their manoeuvrabilty they
could turn on a tanner a very versatile little work horse
Cheers Tippo. UK.GB.
what a blast from the past used to go to work with my father who drove one for a few years doing multi drop deliveries around bristol ,heck of a steering lock .
the biggest problem i remember was you had to make doubly sure the trailer wheels had dropped correctly as they would often drop on there knees .
there is another one in bristol but non runner at bitton on the a 420at the old railway station there . thanks for the memories
These are a treasure!
That was great ! What a story behind it, well done for saving the Scammell. Remind viewers it doesn't cost anything to subscribe , just hit the subscribe button .
Recall these scarabs at my local rail station back in the 1960s. Later met a man who near stalled the engine and found himself driving in reverse - that Perkins 2-stroke diesel doesn't care which direction it runs in!
All I can think of is Jeremy Clarkson rolling over in the reliant robin😂😂😂
😂 that car was set up so everytime he turned a corner the robin would roll over,
Nice, Thank you for showing us this.
Great video so nice to see one working again, thank you 😊
I remember these as a kid in and out of Romford station
I used to see them at Newcastle Central Station when I walked past the loading yard going to work .
Perkins always seem to have "that tappet like frequency" you hear when recording on camera, and yet in real life its just not there. It's bizarre.
I adore these little things, thank you for providing information on these in this video (I have been fascinated by them for ages)
I passed my Class 1 in 1978 and the first job I got driving an artic was with a firm that had a fleet of Ford D series tractor units all fitted with Scammell couplings. The trailers were quite short. I forget what weight they were, it was low, but you did need a class 1 to drive them. Back then there were four classes of HGV (eight if you include automatics) and I am pretty sure your vehicle would have been a Class 4.
Correct, I drove them, and Townsman from I was 18 to 21, then upped to Bedford TK, then 32 tonners, just in time to miss the HGV test.
Great video young man and hopefully more to come keep up the good work used the Scarabs as yard shunters brilliant trucks
Brilliant video, thanks!
That's fantastic you are one lucky guy
I was a VM in the REME at a base workshop and alongside the mighty Scammell Recovery tractors we had one of these for internal work.
Glorious little thing and fun to drive. Easy to work on.
A great restoration of a very versatile work horse.
Enjoyed that , thanks , nicely done .
These always fascinated me. Excellent vid. Well done.
I love those old lorries
Lovely …and well done… I won’t to see the trailer and to carry a small load .. nice man..
Such a beautiful truck 👍👍👍
What a fab little thing, and what a lovely job you have made of it - good on you!!
in the early to mid 50s at st marys street Southampton there used to be a P.O. depot where these trucks used to pickup mail bags ,that came into view from the road ,on a single overhead rail to be loaded on the trailers,.. I was about 6 yrs old then and loved to watch it,..
That’s amazing! I really wish I could of seen my scarab back in action in its working life
Great stuff ..well done
Awesome little truck.
Beautiful. I drove one, once at Fratton. Just one thing. Tyres with chevron tread patterns, the braking is improved if they are fitted with the apex of the Chevrolet pointing upwards. It’d be jolly handy if you use its trailer as a rather superior sort of camper/caravan. You can drop it in the layby or campsite, and nip to the supermarket in the tractor. I have a Rival 34 sailing yacht. If I ever need to transport her by road, I’ll call you. R.
Bloomin awesome video, I was fascinated all the way through. Plus, the hitch and party trick was really cool :D
Lovely piece of history you have there 👍🙂
Beautiful one of a kind, sort of like us! Wonderful job man!
Very neat great that it survives great work in keeping it alive .
I remember these running around York as a kid, hope you get a trailer to match it, great fun