ted angus Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Just visible on the cab roof was a srtut to support the cab roof when it was folded forward, re the gritter we had one at Scampton 1967/8 TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Grundy Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 A group of us owned this Hippo in the mid 1980's. It is shown at RAF Burtonwood about to be stored in a hanger. We had it registered but it had to have a Q plate. Does anyone know what happened to Q255GDB ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowtracdave Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Not a lot of help but it is currently listed as unlicenced on the DVLA website . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Does anyone know what happened to Q255GDB ? It's not a lot of help but here's what the DVLA says: The vehicle details for Q255 GDB are: Date of Liability 01 09 1988 Date of First Registration 03 08 1985 Year of Manufacture Not Available Cylinder Capacity (cc) Not Available CO2 Emissions Not Available Fuel Type Heavy Oil Export Marker Not Applicable Vehicle Status Unlicensed Vehicle Colour GREEN Vehicle Type Approval Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle 6 Months Rate Not Available 12 Months Rate Not Available Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rippo Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Hello Bob, I think its still around, i remember a couple of hippo's on Q plates. At first i thought it was tommy snape's super hippo, but looking at this picture he's Q625 GDB not to far out. http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.planefacts.co.uk/military/l_to_w/thumbnails/hippo1_jpg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.planefacts.co.uk/military/l_to_w/index.htm&usg=__47gaNFg21H52mmROcfq0SID9Z64=&h=70&w=100&sz=2&hl=en&start=48&um=1&tbnid=ghfv2JClnEpgIM:&tbnh=57&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dleyland%2Bhippo%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1R2GPEA_en%26sa%3DN%26start%3D36%26um%3D1 There was another chap with a hippo from wigan/warrington called john, he did a lot of shows at one time but i haven't seen him since normandy 1994, i think he may well have your old one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Grundy Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 'John' in Warrington, about 8 miles from me, was probably John Groves from memory.............. I seem to remember that it was licenced at the time as a crane and then had the small road tax duty of £16. It was purchased from David Crouch and driven home on trade plates at 33mph. Thanks for all the info Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rippo Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Thats the fella, he had the crane off a scamell pioneer, in the back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Grundy Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 May be confusion here, it was our Hippo that was licenced as a crane. It had a chain block hanging on a RSJ which in turn was hanging from the canopy frame. not rearly a crane at all ! Possibly John Groves Hippo was also a crane, his Hippo was much better than ours. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numan Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Another preserved Hippo this use to belong to my dad collection over 10 years brings back what fun we had touring europe with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numan Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 (edited) I used to drive this for a guy. Looks like the same Hippo. Edited April 7, 2010 by elvis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Ramsden Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 A couple of showman's Hippos, early 70s, Dewsbury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big ray Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Large heavy and slow just about does it for driving a Hippo!!!!! Speed is about 30-35 mph but remember that the speed limit for a vehicle of that size in its day was only 20mph anyway. The gearbox (once you have got use to it)is a delight and is very easy to make clutchless changes on. They are powered by a 7.4litre diesel engine that runs like a sewing machine. As for the driving position, well the driver was the last thing they thought about!!!! The seat is a wooden box with a cushion on it, the back rest is a piece of metal with a cushion on it. The steering (except at low speed) is not bad, but that may be something to do with the size of the steering wheel!!!. The handbrake is a ratchet park brake ( as fitted to most heavy vehicles of the age) and if it doesnt nip your fingers when applying it or releasing it then you will catch your trouser leg on it when you get out of the cab. No health and safety in those days!!!All I can say is that a drive of as Hippo should be on everybodies to do list!!! I drove them in Germany mid-1950s, I always thought that they were a great piece of british engineering, well built and good to drive, a real mans machine. Your above description is pretty accurate, the engine ticked-over like a sewing machine. I dont ever remember the handbrake being any kind of a problem, thought that it was actually pretty good, I do know that if the handbrake cable should snap it was a bit of a basket to replace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big ray Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Me in Germany circa 1956 with Leyland Hippo, loaded with scrap materials from our workshops (Tank). I was delivering them to a disposals depot, the load, not the truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big ray Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 A winter scene Germany circa 1957...... lorry park, including Leyland Hippo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big ray Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 The trucks on super singles were a little faster than the trucks on twin rear wheels, but I always thought that the twin wheels looked better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raschippo1 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 (edited) Just an FYI, I have put my 1944 Hippo 11B on the for sale thread. I also have a complete small set of the little wheels and tyres. a selecton of pictures taken in Normandy in 2009 and 2004. Mattadors and Diamond T's are large, but the Hippo dwarfs them all. Edited November 12, 2011 by raschippo1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Recently got sent the following link to this one which was still being used up to at least 2002: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billruston Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Any wartime hippos for sale? And not for stupid prices! Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynx42 Rick Cove Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Normandy 2009 just before the convoy hit the beach on 6th.6th. I did not know who the owner is but I see from post no.31 this thread that it belonged to raschippo1. It sure would look good in my garage. Regards Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug290 Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 I can see a lot of differing bridge classification numbers on the various pictures ranging from 10, 13, 18 through to 20. Can anyone tell me the correct classification number please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 the bridge classification for the hippo is 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug290 Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivedrabsteptoe Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 My friend has a Commercial Hippo service manual, Leyland Comet service manual and a service manual for the Leyland 350 450 and 600 engines. Plus a Hippo and spares likely as not for sale in the Derby area. Ring Tim 07936 048802 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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