Leyland and Atkinson Trucks

Leyland Motors was once the 5th largest producer of trucks and buses in the world.

Truck List

1900's

Type Y 3/4/5 ton versions with 24hp Crossley engine.
Then Type X 3 ton, 35hp 4 cylinder. Type U 5 ton, 50hp. W type based on the X, 5 tons with better economy than Type U.
Type S 2 ton, 24hp and 2.5ton, 30hp.
In 1909 an 85hp truck was built for use as a fire engine.

1920's; 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.

Leyland History

Video of Gordon Brown visit to the plant Oct 2009, scroll down the page.

Photo's

More about Leyland trucks. On their own website, history etc.

Leyland Society - nice site

The Leyland Society held its 7th Gathering of Leylands at the Leyland Trucks Assembly Plant on Sunday 10th July 2005, photo's here.

World Trucks Number 14 - Leyland by Pat Kennett 1983, ISBN 0-85059-488-X. Interesting book, decent amount of information in a fairly thin hard back, approx 100 pages.

Atkinsons

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.

More about Atkinsons.