The Classic & Vintage Commercial Show 2025 in Gaydon
One of the largest historic truck events in Europe
Every June since 2001, the Classic & Vintage Commercial Show has been held in Gaydon, England, attracting many participants and visitors. This time, our freelancer Christoph Büch was there and took numerous good photos, the best of which we show here. It's not just British truck history that is revived in Gaydon, as imported vehicles and some British-built Volvos also take part. It becomes painfully clear how many British truck manufacturers there once were, none of which still exist today.
A good friend of mine, truck brochure and photo collector Richard Stanier, had been inviting me to visit his home town of Stoke-on-Trent for some time. He had suggested June to visit the Classic & Vintage Commercial Show, which is organized every year by the British Motor Museum in Gaydon. Our plan was to pursue our shared hobby there and take some good photos of the commercial vehicles taking part.
Richard owns two old trucks himself, a 1978 Guy Big J and a 1986 Seddon Atkinson 401.
On the journey to Gaydon: Richards Seddon Atkinson 401, built in 1986, quenching its thirst
When I arrived in Stoke-on-Trent, the 401 was already waiting outside his house. The vehicle is in excellent, rust-free original condition. It is equipped with a 14-liter Cummins Big Cam, which was also used in the legendary Ford Transcontinental. It was one of the most powerful diesel engines of its time. The version in Richard's Seddon Atkinson produces 320 hp. The engine is coupled to a Fuller Roadranger gearbox.
On Sunday morning, Richard started the tractor unit. There was almost no diesel smoke, but the sound was refreshingly throaty. The drive to Gaydon was a pleasure - without a speed limiter. Richard could have overtaken rows of cars, but held back. An old friend of Richard's, Mel Edwards, accompanied the 401 with his faithful Scania 113.
Arriving in Gaydon: Mel Edwards with his Scania type 113 tractor unit (built between 1988 and 1996)
The exhibition area in front of the British Motor Museum in Gaydon is extremely clean and tidy. There is space for hundreds of vehicles. Although some participants told me that fewer vehicles had come compared to previous years, the grounds were well filled with around 300 veteran trucks.
There is space for around 400 commercial vehicles on the event site at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon. Although there were fewer participants in 2025 than in previous years, there were still more than 300 vintage trucks. The picture shows just a selection of them.
Many lovingly restored vehicles were lined up. Particularly worth seeing is the fantastic English paintwork with traditional lettering, which is applied by hand by real experts. There was hardly any foil lettering or typographically inappropriate lettering. There was a very friendly atmosphere among the participants and visitors. When I arrived with my camera, there was almost always room made for a photo or someone apologized if they had inadvertently come into view. Remarkable! There were always small conversations about the vehicles on display.
Vulcan is one of the lesser-known British commercial vehicle manufacturers. It is therefore all the more pleasing that some of the brand's vehicles have survived, such as this Type 6 PF cab-over from 1947, which was built from 1941 to 1953.
In addition to the vehicles, there were various dealers with spare parts, literature, models and photos. In the rooms of the museum, various model-making clubs presented incredibly well-made models. For me, however, the original vehicles were in the foreground.
The Seddon 15/10 from 1960 is a rarity today. The model was produced from 1958 to 1964. In 1970, Seddon Diesel Vehicles Ltd. took over its competitor Atkinson Vehicles Ltd. to form Seddon Atkinson.In the early 1960s, Scammell introduced a new cab made of fiberglass-reinforced polyester, designed by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. The photo shows the Trunker three-axle tractor unit, whose production period began 1964 and ended in 1973.Production of the Leyland Bison 2 started in 1968 and the Bison 2 with its modified Ergomatic cab remained in the Leyland range until the introduction of the T 45 Roadtrain in 1979.The “Big J” heavy-duty truck series introduced in 1964 was produced until 1979. Three years later, the vehicle manufacturer Guy Motors from Wolverhampton ceased to exist.The F 89 was in the Volvo range from 1970 to 1977. In Great Britain, however, the model designation was F88-290. The F 88, which Volvo had been offering since 1965, was still available at the same time. The biggest visual difference was the size of the radiator grille, which took up almost the entire front width on the F 89 respectively F88-290.On the left in the picture is an ERF series B tractor unit (1974 to 1982), on the right is its successor, the E 14, which was available until 1993. It was then replaced by the EC 14.The AEC Mandator with the Ergomatic cab developed by Leyland was available from 1965 to 1978.A Spanish Dodge, which was offered in Great Britain from 1972 to 1982, was also on display in Gaydon. The beautifully designed cab was originally developed by Barreiros.The Volvo F 88, successor to the L 4951 Tip-Top, came onto the market in 1965. Until 1972, the F 88 had a metal radiator grille, but in 1973 it was given a black plastic grille.This ERF E 14 was built in 1987. The E 14 series was on the market from 1986 to 1993, followed by the EC 14 series.The Thornycroft Sturdy was already available in the 1930s as a 4- and 5-tonner. The series lasted until 1952, but there were different cab variants. The vehicle in the photo is from 1945.The last Swedish Volvo conventional trucks were the N 10 and the N 12 from 1987. Anyone who wanted to buy a Volvo conventional in later years had to turn to Brazil. The NH 12 in the picture was available in South America from 1999 - the long cab of this tractor unit is remarkable.The logistics company PC Howard Ltd from Kings Cliffe, Peterborough, brought two perfectly restored ERF trucks to Gaydon, both from the KV series. The tractor unit with Kleer Vue cab from 1959 and the “Sabrina” model with a short hood. The nickname referred to the distinctive round shape of the hood, which was reminiscent of the busty television personality Sabrina (real name Norma Sykes). These vehicles were built between 1956 and 1966.Volvo F 88 as a tractor unit arriving at the event site in GaydonMAN four-axle trucks were already available for the British and Dutch markets from the mid-1970s - long before they were legal in Germany. The type 30.331 (8x4) was produced from 1986 to 1989. The body shown in the photo was built in England as a heavy-duty towing vehicle.Some participants in the event had set up their range of spare parts, model cars or literature right around their vehicles and made themselves comfortable while they waited for interested parties. This was also the case with the crew of this Ford D. The series was offered by the British truck manufacturer Ford from 1965 to 1981, after which it was replaced by the Cargo series.Not really a real vintage truck yet, but definitely attractive with a British look: IVECO Stralis 3, built from 2012 onwardsHarmonious design: Bedford S series from 1950 to 1959The Volvo flagship FH 16 with 520 hp was introduced in 1993 and replaced the F 16. The black “Lady Phedra” with red bumper is a real eye-catcher.The Morris Commercial LC 3 series was produced from 1949 to 1952. It was powered by a four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 2050 cubic centimetres and overhead valves. The LC 3 was the successor to earlier Morris Commercial models and was replaced by the LC 4 after 1952.The first version of the “New Generation” (NG) from Mercedes came onto the market in 1974. The wind deflectors, which were fitted from 1980, were still missing to the right and left of the grille.Some vehicle collectors enriched the event in Gaydon with several vehicles, including some from the now defunct trucking company R. C. Jeffrey & Sons Ltd. from Pebworth near Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. The Bedford models TK (from 1959) and TM (from 1974) can be seen in the middle of the photo. To the right is a Bedford KM, which was introduced in 1966. It was distinguished from the lighter TK model by twin headlights and a robust bumper.A Ford Thames Trader from 1960 was also on display in Gaydon. The Thames Trader was offered in England from 1957 to 1965, but it was also available in Spain. It was marketed there from 1963 as the Ebro C-400, C-500 and C-550. Ebro had already produced British Ford models such as the Thames Trader ET in the 1950s.These two photos show Foden tractor units from the 4000 series offered from 1988 to 1995: the Type 4300 above and the Type 4400 below. A facelift in 1992 resulted in an appearance in which the front of the vehicle was visually brought closer to that of DAF. In 1980, the US group Paccar acquired the traditional Foden company. After Paccar also took over Leyland in 1998, independent production at Foden was discontinued and replaced by DAF models, which were marketed in the UK under the name Foden. DAF had already been absorbed by Paccar in 1996. In 2006, production at Foden was discontinued - bringing a 150-year company history to an end.Impressive rig on six axles: The Seddon Atkinson 401 was presented at the British International Motor Show in Birmingham in 1980 as the successor to the 400 series and ran off the production line until 1987. It was replaced by the 4-11 series, which was essentially a variant of the 401 series with minor modifications.The Leyland Beaver with the post-war cab was offered from 1947 to 1954. The first version came onto the market without the wing-shaped aluminum trim parts on the headlights and radiator grille. The upward-folding towing device at the front of the vehicle is remarkable.The Scania LBT 140 with headlights in the bumper was produced from 1969 to 1973. This was followed by the variant with headlights above the bumper. From 1975, the Scania lettering no longer consisted of individual letters, but was located on a black plate above the radiator grille.The first version of the Bedford WHG had an angular hood that was strongly reminiscent of the American Chevrolet model. The second version, which can be seen in the photo, appeared in 1931. This truck was built until 1939, initially without, but soon with four transverse chrome strips on the radiator grille.In 1988, the Volvo F16 came onto the market with an engine output of 465 hp from a displacement of 16 liters, which was unusually high for the time. It was the most powerful truck engine in Europe. In 1993, the F 16 was replaced by the FH 16 with 520 hp.Of course, there were also some US truck veterans on display in Gaydon, including this Kenworth T 800, which has been part of the Kenworth range almost unchanged since 1986. However, 2026 will be the announced year of the 40-year-old truck's farewell. Its sloping hood gives the driver a better view than the completely rectangular hoods of other classic US trucks.Leyland Beaver in the 1954 version, built until 1958This ERF EC 14 (successor to the E 14), built from 1993 to 2000, impressed not only with its stylish paintwork with traditional lettering, but also with its particularly robust bumper.Volvo brings Volvo: Jason C. Dean Haulage Ltd. from Salisbury came to Gaydon with two Volvos from the company's 50-year history. A first-generation FH 12 from 1993 transported a second-generation F 88 with a black plastic grille, which was built from 1973 to 1977.The British Dodge 100 Kew was produced from 1949 to 1957. Its nickname “parrot nose” goes back to the hump on the hood. The photo shows a very attractively painted example. It dates from 1953.The Foden S 36 had a short production period from 1967 to 1970. The elegant-looking truck, which was available with two, three and four axles, had a non-tipping cab and was known for its robust construction.The Seddon Atkinson Strato 2 was produced from 1991 to 2006. Unlike its predecessor, the Strato 1, which was equipped with a Pegaso cab that had also been developed for the DAF 95, the Strato 2 had the cab of the IVECO Eurotec with a different front design.This photo shows a Bedford of the M series, which was built from 1948 to 1953 and replaced the WHG type. While the hood was still from the WHG, the cab was much more modern. In 1953, it was replaced by the extremely successful TA series, which resembled the Chevrolet Advance design and was built in around 200,000 units until 1958.Volvo FH 12 6x2 of the first generation from 1993 to 2002The LV series was available from ERF from 1962 to 1974. The cab was initially produced by Boalloy and later by Jennings. It remained in production alongside the newer A-series until the B-series was launched at the end of 1974.These two photos show AEC models with Ergomatic cabs. At the top is a Mercury tractor unit (built from 1965 to 1977), at the bottom a Mammoth Major (8x4), which was available from 1965 to 1978.Until the introduction of the TM, Bedford mainly built short-distance trucks such as the TK and KM models. Bedford developed the TM, which was produced from 1974 to 1986, in order to get involved in the long-distance vehicle sector. It was available with a turbo engine from Bedford, a two-stroke V6 or V8 engine from Detroit Diesel or an L10 engine from Cummins. Production of the TM ended at Bedford in 1986, but was continued by AWD Trucks after the company closed in 1992.This photo shows the Leyland Octopus in its post-war version, which was available from 1947 to 1954. The front section was already fitted with the wing-shaped trim parts on the headlights and radiator grille, which were still missing on the first vehicles.The Mandator tractor unit with Mk V cab was in the AEC range from 1958 to 1965.DAF trucks were offered in the United Kingdom for a time under the brand name Leyland DAF. This came about after the British government privatized the Austin Rover Group in 1987 and Leyland Trucks was merged with DAF. Following insolvency, Paccar took over the company in 1998, after which the vehicles only appeared with the DAF logo. The photo shows the Type 75, which was built by DAF from 1992 and replaced by the 75 CF in 1998.The D-series was produced by Ford in Great Britain from 1965. The Ford D replaced the Thames Trader and remained in production until it was replaced by the Ford Cargo in 1981. The photo shows a D 1614 tipper.The Seddon Atkinson Strato 1 with the modified cab of the Pegaso Troner was built from 1988 to 1991. This was followed by the Strato 2 with the Eurotec cab after IVECO took over the company. Production of Seddon Atkinson ended in 2006.Many beautifully restored vehicles could be admired in Gaydon, including this Vulcan 6 PF, which came as a beer truck. The model was built from 1941 to 1953. The type designation refers to the tonnage, the Perkins P6 diesel engine and Forward Control, in contrast to earlier models with a hood. The cabover was also available with a Vulcan petrol engine and the type designation 6 VF.The legendary Volvo F 88 from 1965, here as a tractor unit with a 20-foot container as a load.The ERF EC 14 as a tractor unit, equipped with the 14-liter “Big Cam” Cummins diesel. Production of the EC 14 began in 1993 and continued at ERF even after the takeover by Western Star in 1996. Production of the EC 14 only came to an end when MAN took over the company in 2000.A beautiful trio from the Ford brand, without any fuss: a D-series car transporter with two Escort models.The F 86, which Volvo built from 1965 to 1972, marked the beginning of the Swedish truck manufacturer's triumphal march in Great Britain. The superbly restored tractor unit shown in the photo is a great example.The Atkinson Mark 1 (Black Knight) was produced from 1958 to 1968. With this model, Atkinson broke new ground and abandoned the traditional body construction of wood and aluminum. Instead, they turned to glass fiber-reinforced polyester. The new body was presented at the Earls Court Show in 1958, where it could be seen on the four-axle trucks on the stand.Volvo's F7 appeared in 1978 and its cab was based on that of the Club of Four. Together with Renault, however, a larger version had been designed that could also be used for long-distance transportation. The other two members of the Club of Four, DAF and Magirus, did not join this project. At Volvo, the F7 remained in the program until 1985 and was then replaced by the FL series.The British Dodge 300 was built from 1957 to 1964. It was then replaced by the Type 500 designed by Ghia. After the discontinuation of the Type 300, the Dodge plant in Kew was closed and production moved to Dunstable.The last photo in this article shows a particularly impressive example of British commercial vehicle construction: the Foden S 21, built from 1958 to 1969, which was nicknamed “Mickey Mouse” due to its playful shapes. Its design was indeed very appealing. The picture at the beginning of this article also shows a Foden S 21, but the example shown in this photo with its four axles and impressive load was certainly a particular highlight at Gaydon 2025.
I wasn't bored for a second, but was very pleased to meet some English truck fans in person whom I had previously only known via Facebook. Everyone was incredibly attentive and friendly!
Richard Stanier and Mel Edwards left the event at around 5pm. The departure of the participants was captured by numerous photographers. I also took the opportunity to photograph some of the vehicles, which were no longer lined up next to each other. I had already done the same earlier when the participants arrived at the site.
We took the Scania and the Seddon Atkinson to Mel Edwards' garage. Mel showed us an excellently restored AEC and his current project, a MAN F 2000.
Mel Edwards is doing a great job, but it does take time. The restoration of his AEC alone took two years. He also has a full-time job.
Richard and I then drove back to Stoke-on-Trent and parked the Seddon Atkinson, which had been a lot of fun again on the return journey. We were traveling without a trailer, but Richard told me that the Cummins delivers decent power even when loaded.
A wonderful day finally came to an end with a cup of tea. I am left with memories and beautiful photos, which I am happy to show here. Thank you, Richard, for this great experience!
Text and photos: Christoph Büch Captions: Steve St.Schmidt (with a little help from Richard Stanier)
(Please write us an e-mail if you spot any errors in this article, thank you).
