The new Scania R-series on display at Truckfest Peterborough alongside an array of historic Scania vehicles. The first public showing of the new Scania R-series takes place at this year’s Truckfest Peterborough event (East of England Showground, May 2-3) where three examples will be on display alongside four historic models from Scania’s past.
“As well as giving as many people as possible an early opportunity to see the new trucks our objective is to demonstrate the way in which Scania vehicles have developed and evolved over the years,” says Scania (Great Britain) Limited’s Press Officer, Jackie Burr. “The models on show from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80 are the vehicles that helped establish Scania’s reputation for quality, performance and driver safety and comfort – a tradition which is now set to be continued by the new R-series.”
The three R-series trucks on display will be two 470hp R 470 LA6x2/4MNA twin-steer tractor units, one of which has a Topline cab, and a 580hp R 580 LA6x2/4MNA twin-steer Topline-cabbed model equipped with a state-of-the-art Scania Interactor 600 fleet management, communications and entertainment system.
Visitors to the Scania stand will be invited to view the interior of the new models and offered the opportunity to participate in a competition, the winner of which will travel to Scania’s factory in Sweden to see the new R-series being built.
The historic Scania trucks on display at Truckfest Peterborough will be a Scania-Vabis LB76, an LB110 from 1968, a 1979-vintage LB111 and a 1981 LB81, all of which are tractor units.
The oldest of the quartet, the LB76, is a 4×2 example of the very first Scania model imported into the UK. Owned and restored by Carlisle-based Scania dealer Graham Commercials Limited, this truck has been returned to showroom condition and has won several awards at truck shows in the North West.
The 1979 LB111 and 1981 LB81 also hail from the North West, being owned by Steve Smith of Smith Brothers, Widnes, and have also been largely restored by Graham Commercials.
Owned today by Chris Kelly, Chairman of Scania dealers Keltruck Limited and East Midland Commercials Limited, the LB110 is a real rarity; for although more than 35-years old, this truck only has a genuine 20,000 miles on the clock. “The vehicle belonged to the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) and, as far as we know, they only used it for some brake testing work back in the late 1960s before setting it aside for the next 30-odd years,” explains Chris Kelly.
The Scania stand at Truckfest Peterborough will be adjacent to the entrance of the main arena. For those unable to attend the event, the new Scania R-series will also be displayed at Truckfest South West (July 2-3), Truckfest Scotland (Aug 31-Sep 1) and Truckfest North West (Sep 18-19).
