Q&A with classic truck owner John Norman

What is your name?

John Norman

What is your job title and company name?

I’m retired now but I was previously a driver with my own haulage company.

What industry did you work in?

I’m based in Herefordshire so it was mostly agricultural haulage – grain, corn, animal feed, sugar beet etc.

How long have you been a driver for?

I started driving in 1955 when I was 17 and I retired around 10 years ago. I have just turned 79 and I still drive my truck to shows and events.

Can you tell me about your truck? Make and model? Age?

It’s a 1982 Mercedes-Benz 1625 and I bought it around three years ago. It was previously owned by auto logistics group Richard Lawson and it completed well in excess of 1,000,000 miles delivering new Mercedes-Benz cars and vans across the UK. When I bought the truck, it came with a plaque documenting the history.

Are there any special features on your truck?

It is the same make and model as one of the trucks I owned in the past. When I saw it was for sale I bought it as you don’t see many of the historic trucks around now. I had it repainted to replicate the one I previously owned.

Who painted the truck for you?

It was painted by Alan Coxill in Knighton.

What was the inspiration for the livery?

It’s the same livery I had on my old truck and also the livery my father had before me.

Have you always been into trucks?

Yes. My father bought his first truck when I was five years old so they have always been in the family. He started out as a coal merchant and then the business developed into more general haulage. I currently have three classic trucks of various makes and models.

Who or what got you interested in trucks?

My father got me into trucks, my brother was also a driver. My father had a number of Mercedes-Benz trucks over the years.

Do you have any plans to show your truck this year? If so where and when?

I went on the East of England Road Run to Great Yarmouth in June.

I’m attending the Much Marcle Steam Rally on 22-23 July.

http://muchmarclesteamrally.com/

I’m also taking the truck to the Welland Steam & Country Rally on the weekend of 28-30 July.

https://www.wellandsteamrally.co.uk/

What do you like most about attending truck shows and rallies?

I enjoy meeting new people and answering their questions about the truck.

What is your favourite feature of your truck?

I like that it is the same model I previously owned.

How do people react when they see your truck?

They are always really interested which is great.

Thank you to John Norman and Paul East for their help with this article and the supporting images.