Norde Lorries - query answered

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Tue 19 Apr 2005 00:00
Norde Lorries - query answered - Sofa Spud
I can't remember which thread but someone mentioned an old make of lorry called Norde, and how they'd seen one travelling at high speed on the M1 in the early 60's.

I was leafing through a magazine called (I think) Heritage Commercials at the newsagents. On the last page was an article about Norde. They built an articulted outfit in the late 50's that was capable of in excess of 70 mph. This had a cab similar to the ERF KV 'egg' cab. Norde also built a rigid 6-wheeler which used a Bedford TK cab, but mounted higher so it looked odd.

Altogether only a handful of Nordes were built, but Norde/Hendrickson rubber suspension was available for lorries and trailers for many years.

Cheers, Sofa Spud
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 19 Apr 2005 22:02
Norde Lorries - query answered - wemyss
Thanks for that SS. Yes I described the legendary Norde in a previous post and have never heard mention of this motor since the early 60s. A google search has just bought up one mention and it is the website of the Heritage Commercials you saw.
I had told how it was built by Toft and Tomlinson of Darley Dale Derbyshire who were well known diesel specialists.
Only a brief mention on the site which refers to T&T as an in-house company.
Reputedly an American Cummings engine and a French electric shift gearbox although I can't vouch for that. Will have to get this issue to have a read. Looks a good magazine for anyone intersted in vintage HGVs.
tinyurl.com/7cg8l
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 19 Apr 2005 22:40
Norde Lorries - query answered - Sofa Spud
Glad my post found the relevant person. There is quite a rich history of quaint small-scale commercial vehicle builders - I wish I hadn't thrown away all those years' worth of Truck magazine that I'd carefully kept.

Cheers, SS
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 19 Apr 2005 23:01
Norde Lorries - query answered - GolfR_Caravelle_S-Max
From experience, mercedes sprinter vans certainly seem capable of almost 120 mph and 0-60 in around 5 seconds. At least, that's what it feels like when one blats past you.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 20 Apr 2005 12:56
Norde Lorries - query answered - helicopter
I remember going to Truck Racing at Brands several years back and seeing IIRC Steve Parrish in a Mercedes Unit coming down Clearways at well over the ton with ten or so other units in his wake - quite an impressive sight until the whole circuit disappeared in a fog of diesel fumes , steam and the smell of burning rubber as they braked for Paddock ....

I have been overtaken by a Mercedes Sprinter on the M25 who was certainly well in excess of 90 mph - I was doing 80 - 85 and he sailed past me.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 20 Apr 2005 22:37
Norde Lorries - query answered - Sofa Spud
I've mentioned on here before that the Midland Red bus company, which built most of its own vehicles right up until the late 1960's, ran their C5 motorway coaches at 80 mph on the newly opened M1 in 1959. Some of these vehicles, when fitted with turbochargers, were reputed to be able to reach 100mph.

Cheers, SS
Reply | Report as offensive | Link