Hell Drivers

G'day
I have just been watching an old B&W film from 1957.

Hell Drivers is the title and it features loads of old LAD cabbed Dodge 'Kew' tippers in a story about a cowboy tipper company.
The story is a bit weak and the speeded up sequences are hilarious, but its nostalgic and tells it like it was.
Anyone who is interested in transport in 1950's England would like it.
Theres a couple of old cars and items of Plant too.
I expect it is available somewhere over there on DVD.

Cheers
RS

. Hi Roland , ABC used to have it on their late night movie Roster . . Do you mean to say those scenes were speed up ????? Here was i thinking what madman drivers they were . Ian .

Roland, LAD cabs on the Dodges in Hell Drivers???????????

I don't think so

The Dodges in the film had the same cabs as the old (Ford) Thames Costcutters and early Leyland Comets. No relation at all to the LAD cab, I'm afraid.

Mind you, I don't know all that much about Magirus trucks, either!

RS I think "HELL DRIVERS" is up there as one of the best truck flims around and how dare you say things about your fellow poms. dave

G'Day Oz

OK I was wrong about them being LAD cabs Vic.
I was quite young when these trucks were around

Dave, I dont think I said anything bad about my fellow countrymen ?

A few more details, which are correct.

Dodge 'Kew'.
Assembled at Dodge Factory in Kew. SW London
The trucks in the film were actually owned by 'Drinkwaters' of Willesden.
Perkins P6 or Chrysler 6 sidevalve were the engines and they had an Under Floor tipping Gear, for a short stroke, quick tip.

Hopefully I got my points back ?

Cheers
RS

Just for info..
Excuse quality of pic.



Cheers
RS

Love this film!
Haven't seen it for a while though...
I did see a copy on Super 8 film for sale a few months back...was sorely tempted to stump up for it and track down a Super 8 projector...

Is easily available on DVD via internet sellers. The mad driving was for real as when the trucks were returned to Drinkwaters they had to be scrapped due to twisted chassis. It also featured lots of budding stars such as Stanley Baker.

and Sean Connery, Patrick McGoohan, Alfie Bass, William Hartnell ( Dr Who ), David McCallum (Man from Uncle), Sid James (Carry Ons..),Gordon Jackson , and ....

The reason for the crap pic, is that it is a photo of my TV screen on pause on the DVD recorder

Super 8 on a proj, Retro !

Cheers
RS

G'Day Oz

OK I was wrong about them being LAD cabs Vic.
I was quite young when these trucks were around

Hi Roland

Maybe we could call these LTD cabs, Leyland Thames Dodge. They were certainly limited in terms of equipment and comfort.

You are lucky that you were quite young then; I wasn't! I actually got my artic licence in a truck with one of those cabs (the Ford V8 version) in 1957 and was driving a 4-cylinder diesel Ford version in the UK in 1963, then the Dodge Kew version in NZ in 1966. They weren't among the most luxurious or stylish cabs around although the Leyland Comet version didn't look quite so bad. Anyway, I would give you some of your points back except that you included me in the Oz team. > > > >

I'm a Kiwi and live in NZ.

Cheers, Vic