The Flickr Aecltdsouthall Image Generatr

The driver of this AEC Mandator tipper in a Maltese quarry luckily escaped with his life being saved by the steel body. He needed a new pair of pants though! The AEC, which had not-long been re-cabbed hence the Leyland grille, if I remember rightly, was given another replacement cab and put back to work.

Very late December 1978 registered AEC Mercury milk tanker, XOV 773T, of W Freeman & Sons, ticks over gently in the firm's old yard at Dunton Wharf, Curdworth. The Mercury was last taxed until December 1987. This is not the same lorry as the one that turned-up at Gaydon in 2022.

Thankfully, WTJ 120L, has survived to be preserved by Marathon lover Martin Conod from Leominster although, sadly, the original prototype Marathon badge has been replaced by a production Mk.1 Marathon enamel badge for some reason.

British Leyland demonstrator Marathon 6x4 artic, WTJ 120L, was used by Astran International in the film 'Destination Doha'. I believe it was later with Tony Morgan from Swansea, but the left-hooker is seen here when with Specialist Services from Bridgend on heavy haulage work with a step-frame trailer.

I did not see the Mammoth Major again until 2006, and out for the last time working in 2010 as seen here with dropsides added leaving the Grand Harbour with a load of road-making material. In the meantime the AEC has been given an updated livery, with the lining going only partly across the grille which looks rather odd. It was still tucked-away in their garage a few years back, but does anyone know if the AEC has now been repatriated?

Back in March 1993 whilst returning to my hotel at St. Julians after a days lorry hunting, as the light was beginning to fade I managed to capture this image of Zammit Bros. Transport's very nice Mammoth Major on the Mosta By-pass. The AEC was new to Browns Transport from Ash in Kent in March 1973.

Looking somewhat battered, missing its driver's door and judging by the black smoke coming from the AV760 diesel, Xan Transport's AEC Marshal was not long for this world. Seen exiting with a container from the Grand Harbour at Valletta in 1993, this was the last time I saw her. When I returned to Malta two years later she had gone.

One ex. Amoco AEC Mandator that did not pass to Spiers of Melksham, was LUU 865P. She had entered service with Amoco on 1st November 1975 and later passed to Tramec of Avonmouth, as seen here, who refurbished trailers.
The older Mandator on the left is SYB 329F, which had been new to Willmotts Transport from Wells in July 1968. I have seen a photo of her taken in 2012, so it might still be around, hopefully.

1969 AEC Mandator belonging to Joe Farrugia, is one of the less seen AEC Ergos on Malta. New to the Trent River Authority, I saw her out still working in 2019. The orange and cream livery makes a change from usual red and green.

This magnificent AEC Militant Mk.3 recovery of William Rowe from Elford Garage certainly looked the part. These motors could teach Scammell a thing or two in off-road recovery capability as well. Its still on the DVLA, so does anyone know its current whereabouts?

Very smart 1977 AEC Mammoth Major tipper RNU 104R when owned by J & S.R Melland from Pikehall, Derbyshire. It later passed of course to Mr. H and was auctioned-off in February. Lets hope it survives to be restored.

This AEC Mandator tipper, CAF 672, carries the legend Redempteur, or Redeemer in English on its headboard. It was one of the last Mandators off the production line in 1977 and was registered; YAB 673R in June 1977. It was new to Dependable Deliveries, presumably on car transport work. It didn't come-off the road till August 1989, so must have been among the last AECs to be exported to Malta. I haven't seen it for a while now though so it could have been retired.

Another motor from one of my favourite fleets - Spiers of Melksham. 1976 Mandator, OYO 143R, like many of their fleet, had been new to Amoco (U.K) Ltd. Given the Spiers treatment with a Torridge Lines sleeper pod, she is seen here at Melksham with a partly sheeted load with a high stack of timber fence panels made by Hurn Brothers. She was finally withdrawn from service in September 1988.

1970 AEC Mandator artic and tipping trailer of E.C.C Quarries, Mendip Division, Cheddar, photographed when nearly new in the old Hine Bros. yard at Gillingham, Dorset. This outfit with its 'Super Singles' on the trailer, must have been a bit of a handful around the narrow country lanes of north Dorset and south Somerset. E.C.C also had plenty of AEC rigids of course. The name of the driver standing alongside eludes me for the time being.

As mentioned elsewhere, when Walters Transport took-over Rossers of Pontlliw, they refurbished a number of their old Mandators for a steel hauling contract. New to Texaco in March 1975, GUL 120N was one of those motors and is seen here in the yard at Pontlliw with other retired Mandators. She was last on the road in June 1989.

This 1973 Mammoth Major 30 ton tipper of an unknown operator on Gozo, was approaching its 40th birthday when photographed here in 2011. Fitted with the late Leyland front panel, this was the only time that I have crossed its path, so I don't know if it still exists. It would be nice to know.

This exceptionally well looked after 1977 Marathon Mk1, BWL 83R, most have been well liked by her owners Preston Farmers. Her exemplary condition is seen here in a shot from the early nineties on the M6 when she is still in excellent condition. She wasn't finally retired until the end of October 1995.

I like the no-nonsense, workmanlike look of Michael Sparey's 1976 AEC Mammoth Major 3TG 8RT, 30- tonner, LOU 651P, with heavy-duty bumper seen here in Bristol in 1987. The Toyota on the right, which I think is a Cressida, is also a long gone motor from the same era as the lorry. The AEC was retired in 1988.

W. Freeman & Sons of Dunton Wharf, Curdworth (just off Junction 9 of the M42) ran a mixed bag of motors including AEC; Leyland; ERF; Foden & Sed-Atki. As well as being Brewer's Grain Merchants, they were haulage contractors and had a number of tankers on milk haulage. Seen in their yard shortly after retirement are 1977 Mammoth Major RJW 961R, alongside of which is 1976 Marshal six-wheeler MOF 863P. The Mammoth has 'Devon/Cornwall' painted on the bumper and I wonder what the firm's connection with that part of the country was??

Also from 1993, is this well worked and battered split windscreen AEC Mandator hybrid tipper at a quarry at Il-Msqa near Lapsi. This quarry has been closed for quite a while now.