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In the 1950s and 1960s, you were as much likely to see a Scammell Scarab in red & cream British Railways livery as a Lyons Corner House or a police constable on point duty. The Watford concern produced around 30,000 vehicles between 1948 and 1967 but, as Lewis Buchan points out, ‘what some people don’t realise is that a lot of other companies used these amazing lorries too’. And his 1964 model is believed to be the only surviving GPO Scammell Scarab.  

When Commercial Motor tested the latest Scammell in September 1948, they were impressed how ‘the 6-ton model selected for test exhibited lively acceleration’ and the 360-degree turning circle. ‘On full lock, and coupled to a 15-ft. semi-trailer, the entire unit was turned in the width of the road and had 2 ft. to spare when measured on the outer edge of the motive unit’. The brochures claimed, ‘The Scarab Need Never Be Idle’ and that it was ideal ‘From Docks To Warehouse’.

ALB 835 B was ‘based at Aberdeen - it used to transport the mail between Aberdeen Joint Station and the Crown Street Post Office’. After being withdrawn from service in December 1974, the Scammell was ‘bought by Mcleod’s of Whitehouse along with 2 GPO box vans and the two Scammell Townsmans that worked alongside it’. There it remained ‘until 2010 when Alford Valley Railway bought the Scarab and a trailer for restoration’.

Lewis came by his GPO Scammell ‘about ten years ago when I was still at school. I began a joint venture between Alford Academy and Alford Valley Railway to help restore this Scarab and trailer they had acquired. After I left, I lost contact with what was happening with the Scarab but got into restoring Reliants’. Mr. Buchan now owns a quite incredible array of Tamworth-built three-wheelers – more of which later this year.

After completing his Reliant and displaying it at shows the Scammell’s owner ‘got in touch and offered me the Scarab in exchange for helping out at the railway when I could and that I would restore it and take it to as many local shows as possible. That was in 2015’. The refurbishment of ALB was completed in June 2019 ‘although I still have its GPO trailers to restore yet’.

As for the Scammell’s road manners, Lewis regards it as ‘a quite unique vehicle to drive’. The transmission takes some acclimatising, especially ‘getting the hang of double-declutching for changing down gears’. When the Scarab is unloaded, the suspension is ‘quite hard, so it’s always best to try to avoid potholes where possible! But once you get going, it is a great machine to drive’. The top speed may only be circa 25 mph, but as the cab of the Scammell is ‘such a great place to be, you are not in a hurry to get where you’re going’.

In short, it is easy to understand why such a vehicle was as ideal for the Post Office Supplies Department as for the railway parcel delivery service.  ALY has been ‘restored with its original Roundel airbrushed onto the door, so it will never fade or peel off’. Lewis also notes that while the British Railways Scammells were devoid of ‘much luxuries, but GPO treated their drivers, and the Scarabs were fitted with two Smiths heaters in each side of the cab under the dash’. Sheer decadence.

With Thanks To – Lewis Buchan