Wigan Album
Smiths-Happyways
11 CommentsPhoto: Tom Sutch
Item #: 16373
Good pic tom, seems a shame to convert such a good looking coach into a tow truck, suppose they must have had good reason to.
The tow-truck is "W" reg 1980-1, only six years old,
I would estimate the cost of a volvo coach then around £100,OOO a very expensive breakdown truck indeed.
Found this photo online that might be of interest - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZOX1B0UI8h0/SFLdxM_HXgI/AAAAAAAAFG0/u1J-3HHxDpI/s1600-h/ODJ-576W.Blundell.jpg i wonder if its the same recovery?
Hi D-Dubya, thanks for that pic it certainly looks like same machines.
This coach was converted after a rear tyre blew out on the M62 and the rear of the coach eventually caught fire. The coach was towed to the recently acquired garage at Adwick le Street in Yorkshire before returning to Gower Street Garage at Wigan for conversion into a towing vehicle!
the vehicle did catch fire and i was involved with the modification.graham snape,elwyn parry and alan hunt were the body lads involved.
I have driven this vehicle on several occasions it would go like abat out of hell,very easy to forget it was a truck and not a coach as the ones with blue lights were quick to point out.
my father use to work on coach in 70s he drove blackpool fc team he was based at palatine road he us to work with my partners dad frank jones does anyone have any pics from then if possible they were based in blackpool
Did someone mention FIRE?
Jason Hartley you're a boffin. Derek culshaw locket road fire in the spray booth by any chance. Still had this as a relic when we started as apprentices in 1989 Jason Hartley,Andy Lowe,Mick steel,Dave mccardle and myself
Young and stupid back then Chris. Now i'm Old and stupid. good old days. wished id kept all my snap on tools though.