I have long since held captive in my head an idea, a plan, of a classy but practical COE recovery lorry, to be used in the course of my business and hobbies. I'm not quite sure where the inspiration came from, but it's been a very consistent idea and for whatever reason, bounced around my head strongly for a few days last week there until in order to get it out of my thoughts I decided to convert it from synapse pulses to visual reality. Being devoid of technical ability, I can't potatoshop it, but I can draw, sort of. So off I went to find some pencils, and here it is.
Now it definitely has to be a COE, but I'm totally unfussed what make or style it is, as long as it looks good and has the epitomal "snout". I modelled it on a Chevy 3100 front end but with less chrome slats - it can be totally custom even, although most stock US commercial front ends are interesting enough as-is.
This Jada model lives in front of my computer, with a not-quite-accurate model of my dad's old Caddy on board (which did spend 90% of it's time broken, that much is accurate).
I want my lorry to be completely practical, as well as show-worthy, so several elements are on my mind to accomplish that. Firstly, it needs to be on a FWD chassis, so that I can drop the rear bed. Secondly, linked to that, it will likely be a diesel, for torque and economy reasons. I know an old V8 could be used on LPG, but I'd use this for 75% of the recovery work we do and it would need to be ultimately reliable, coupled with there are already good diesel FWD options, and most Yank V8 plants are RWD with bulky rear axles.
This is all to achieve a drop-bed at the rear, where the loading bed sits between the rear wheels and arches, not over. This is to make loading simple, and as near to the ground as possible. This will do away with the need for ramps, if there is a little six inch beavertail rise, and fourthly the suspension, at least on the rear, will be air-powered, so it can be dropped to the floor. This makes it very practical for loading the lowest of cars, but also a great showing off feature. Having it FWD means I can run a very flat axle at the back under the low bed.
Yes, I could get away with an over-wheel bed. it would be cheaper to make, easier, achievable with RWD - but having the bed between the wheels and very low is just infinitely cooler IMO.
A COE truck chassis weighs a ton. And is RWD and high up. I could modify one extensively... or I could drop a COE cab over a FWD van chassis like a Fiat Ducato or Mercedes Sprinter. Van chassis would keep it within a 3.5T rating for use on a car licence like those Transit recoverys - possibly. Or could get a larger chassis plated down. Or just do the Cat C...
Also open to using a European COE Cab body, if there are any snouted ones? Maybe a bit of custom Austin J4?
Anyway that's my ideas, but I'm open to any great suggestions or design suggestions anyone might have. This is a long way off, I'm not going to start building this by Christmas or anything, but I'm always more settled once I know what I'm doing with a plan (hence sketching the thing to begin with) and talking it over with likeminded, creative individuals like all your good selves seemed like a good idea.
Here's what the internet has to say on the matter:
Now it definitely has to be a COE, but I'm totally unfussed what make or style it is, as long as it looks good and has the epitomal "snout". I modelled it on a Chevy 3100 front end but with less chrome slats - it can be totally custom even, although most stock US commercial front ends are interesting enough as-is.
This Jada model lives in front of my computer, with a not-quite-accurate model of my dad's old Caddy on board (which did spend 90% of it's time broken, that much is accurate).
I want my lorry to be completely practical, as well as show-worthy, so several elements are on my mind to accomplish that. Firstly, it needs to be on a FWD chassis, so that I can drop the rear bed. Secondly, linked to that, it will likely be a diesel, for torque and economy reasons. I know an old V8 could be used on LPG, but I'd use this for 75% of the recovery work we do and it would need to be ultimately reliable, coupled with there are already good diesel FWD options, and most Yank V8 plants are RWD with bulky rear axles.
This is all to achieve a drop-bed at the rear, where the loading bed sits between the rear wheels and arches, not over. This is to make loading simple, and as near to the ground as possible. This will do away with the need for ramps, if there is a little six inch beavertail rise, and fourthly the suspension, at least on the rear, will be air-powered, so it can be dropped to the floor. This makes it very practical for loading the lowest of cars, but also a great showing off feature. Having it FWD means I can run a very flat axle at the back under the low bed.
Yes, I could get away with an over-wheel bed. it would be cheaper to make, easier, achievable with RWD - but having the bed between the wheels and very low is just infinitely cooler IMO.
A COE truck chassis weighs a ton. And is RWD and high up. I could modify one extensively... or I could drop a COE cab over a FWD van chassis like a Fiat Ducato or Mercedes Sprinter. Van chassis would keep it within a 3.5T rating for use on a car licence like those Transit recoverys - possibly. Or could get a larger chassis plated down. Or just do the Cat C...
Also open to using a European COE Cab body, if there are any snouted ones? Maybe a bit of custom Austin J4?
Anyway that's my ideas, but I'm open to any great suggestions or design suggestions anyone might have. This is a long way off, I'm not going to start building this by Christmas or anything, but I'm always more settled once I know what I'm doing with a plan (hence sketching the thing to begin with) and talking it over with likeminded, creative individuals like all your good selves seemed like a good idea.
Here's what the internet has to say on the matter:
Ax GTi Turbo