(^8) July 2019 Truck & Driver
I
t’s a quiet Saturday
afternoon in Mansfield, a
hard week’s work now
complete. Colin Redfern
gazes bleary-eyed at his Daf
XF Anniversary Edition. Finally
able to relax after a post-2am
polishing session, he’s making
the most of rare spring sunshine
and admiring the efforts.
“It was in some state when it
came in last night,” he smiles.
The gleaming XF shows no
indication it’s been hauling at full
weight on bulk tipper duties all
week, so it’s testament to the
hard work Colin and his friends
and colleagues put in to get it
back to this standard.
The truck is operated by ABH
of Mansfield. Established by Mark
Armstrong as an owner-driver in
1989 with a Daf eight-wheeler,
Driver Colin Redfern with girlfriend – and boss Mark’s daughter – Alex
the company now runs more
than a dozen trucks servicing the
construction industry, a mix of
tippers, moving floors, flats and
block cranes. The fleet is 100%
Daf, with many of the trucks
serviced fully in-house.
Pirates popular
In 2017 an XF was taken on and
treated to a full Pirates of the
Caribbean airbrushed livery and
pearlescent blue paint, a marked
departure from the clean white of
the rest of the fleet. It received so
much attention, and became so
popular, that a follow-up truck was
almost inevitable. And here it is!
Colin’s had his Class 1 since
he was 18, having come from a
truck-owning family. He has fond
memories of running down to
Spain in a W-reg Daf 95XF.
“I didn’t really like the look of the film but I didn’t
have anything else to do so I went along – and
you know what? I actually really enjoyed it”
At a glance
Make & model: 2018-registered Daf XF 90th
Anniversary Edition
Engine: Paccar MX13 13-litre six-cylinder, Euro 6c
Power: 530hp @ 1625rpm, 2600Nm @ 1000rpm
Extras: 90th spec includes full leather/Cognac
trim, fridge, microwave, airhorns, Alcoa wheels.
Custom suzie frame, airbrushed by Alan
Smallwood. Leather mats, Alcantara curtains.
Kelsa top bar, visor bar, perimeter kit
“I went to Romania too, with
army supplies. We’d be escorted
by police through the country, get
to the delivery point, fly home
and then fly back out to bring the
lorries back when they were
ready again.” Cool job.
He’ll have been with ABH for
two years this September and is
combining driving duties with
EDITOR’S CHOICE
nandana
(Nandana)
#1