Alvis Berliet Wrecker

[Mark Ellis]

6 hours ago, B series said:

...

As attleej mentioned in his post,  these vehicle types do have a large and impressive engine.

The number in the Berliet truck names is the engine litreage. The TBU 6x6 being 15 litres, and the GBC 4x4 being 8

[attleej]

I should have also mentioned that it has a large and impressive price tag!

 

John

[Mark Ellis]

4 hours ago, attleej said:

I should have also mentioned that it has a large and impressive price tag!

 

John

I'm trying to find out how much the TBU 15 and GBC 8 cost around 1964. Do you know what they were?

[B series]

I have don't know the purchase price circa 1964. But I would say it appears of cheaper construction than the  FV designs of the 1950's that came out of the WD design office. e.g Leyland Martian 6x6 Recovery.

Looking at the general design layout, (6x6 chassis, large diesel powertrain, winches, recovery equipment) I think the Bill of Material total cost would be similar to a 1950's US M62 Wrecker. I think both vehicles shared a Austin Westin crane assy. But the M62 would be produced at a lower piece price due to the quantity of the 5 Ton base chassis variants manufactured. 

[Mark Ellis]

25 minutes ago, B series said:

I have don't know the purchase price circa 1964. But I would say it appears of cheaper construction than the  FV designs of the 1950's that came out of the WD design office. e.g Leyland Martian 6x6 Recovery.

...

I've translated a couple of articles in the French magazine "Charge Utile". The authors seem to think the Stalwart was a commercial 6x6 modified to swim, when of course the FV600 series were punt hulls.

They make comments about Alvis only selling 1000, and the orders not coming in. What they forget was that the Stalwart was £16,000 in 1963, with the mark 2 being £20,000 a piece in 66.

[Nick Johns]

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Edited April 20 by Nick Johns

[Nick Johns]

15 hours ago, radiomike7 said:

Looks like a live ad for one in the UK.

https://www.militarymart.co.uk/products/french-army-berliet-6x6-recovery-truck

There has been quite a few Berliet TBU Wreckers  privatley imported to the UK since the Alvis one, including this one above

Edited April 20 by Nick Johns

[Mark Ellis]

Managed to get hold of a Berliet GBC dash layout, and knocked this up.
A friend used to work at FVRDE, and still remembers the 4x4 Berliet GBC - complete with the switch on the dash to change from petrol to other fuels 

 

 

 

[Mark Ellis]

On 4/19/2024 at 3:59 PM, B series said:

 

Ruddington 103rd sale was 14 to 16th October 1969. I can add nothing further about the trials or use of the vehicles when is service.

As attleej mentioned in his post,  these vehicle types do have a large and impressive engine.

@B series Would the Berliet GCB 8 KT 4x4 be listed in the sales at all? Would be nice to know when it was moved on.

Thanks

[B series]

I have about 120 Ruddington sales catalogues, from a total of 179, so there could be Berliet's I am not aware of.

The Ruddington 109th sale on 12 Jan 1971, Lot 769 listed as Alvis Berliet, 3 Ton, 4x4, LHD. with ERM 02 SP 31.

Besides the two recovery trucks I all ready mentioned in this thread, the only other Berliet I am aware of was in the Ruddington 163rd sale on 25 March 1980 Lot 1216  listed as Berliet Dropside Tipper, Diesel, LHD, Model GLM12. It had a civilian uk registration.

Hope this helps with you research.

 

 

 

 

[Mark Ellis]

51 minutes ago, B series said:

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The Ruddington 109th sale on 12 Jan 1971, Lot 769 listed as Alvis Berliet, 3 Ton, 4x4, LHD. with ERM 02 SP 31.

...

Hope this helps with you research.

That's fantastic, @B series. 02SP31 will be the one that Mick Green tested back in the 60s. 

He's lost some memory, but remembers strongly taking the Ambulance Land Rover to Australia, testing the Berliet 3 ton, and also the Commer that lost out to the Bedford MK. I'm making up some memory PDF's for him, and those details above really help.

Thank you

 

Thank you