Leyland Motors was once the 5th largest producer of trucks and buses in the world.
Truck List
1900; Type X ,Type Y
1920; Type A ,SQ2
1930; Bison, Bull, Cub, Lynx
1940; Hippo, Beaver, Comet
1950; Octopus
1960
1970; Type 900, Bear, Buffalo, Marathon
Leyland Motors began building steam wagons in 1896. In 1904 the first petrol engined lorry appeared. A full range of lorries was available by the end of the 1930's. During the war production turned to tanks. A very wide road was built on the approach to the works in Leyland called Centurion Way after the tanks. From the early 1950's there was consolidation of manufacturers and Leyland took over Albion Motors, then Scammell, then AEC. Maudsley, Crossley and Thornycroft had already become part of AEC. Leyland eventually merged with British Motor Holdings and British Leyland was formed in 1968. This was the peak and the beginning of the end.
The Leyland Society held its 7th Gathering of Leylands at the Leyland Trucks Assembly Plant on Sunday 10th July 2005, photo's here.
Atkinsons Vehicles was once a small independant truck manufacturer with a prominent logo. It had a factory in Winery Lane in Walton Le Dale just over London Road bridge on the A6 on the southern border of Preston. In 1916 the first Atkinson designed vehicles were launched - a steam wagon. It produced at a small rate until the early 1930's when it changed to diesel. The range comprises;
1910; Steam Wagon
1930; 4,6,8 wheel trucks.
1960; Black Knight, Silver Knight, Gold Knight, Borderer ,Searcher
1970; Venturer, Leader
1980; 200, 400
In 1970 Atkinson was taken over by Seddon and in 1974 Seddon Atkinson was taken over by International Harvester.