Scania celebrates 40 years of V8 power with the 'Magnificent Seven' at Truckfest Peterborough

Accordingly seven vehicles, including an example of each Scania truck series to have featured the V8 – from a 1972 LBS140 to two current-day R-series models – will be assembled on the Scania stand (A14) adjacent to the Showground's main arena.  Included within the display are restored and customised models as well as working trucks.

The 'Magnificent Seven' V8-powered trucks on show are all owned by winners of a competition organised jointly by Scania (Great Britain) Limited and drivers' magazine, Truck & Driver, which offered V8 owners and drivers the opportunity to be part of the Scania display at Truckfest Peterborough. 

"We had a fantastic response to the competition and our judges were faced with the daunting task of deciding which of the very many worthy entrants would finally make the journey to Peterborough," says Chris Love, General Manager – Brand and Communications for Scania (Great Britain) Limited.  "After lengthy deliberations they arrived at their final decision, which saw them elect one representative from each model range to have featured the Scania V8 to date.

"I'm delighted to say that amongst these is one particularly special truck; the Master Centurion, which was produced to head-up the commemorative limited-edition Centurion range produced for Scania's centenary way back in 1991.  The Master Centurion was fitted with just about every conceivable extra – it even had an on-board fax machine, which was state-of-the-art at the time! – and was auctioned at the end of the year with all profits donated to Children-in-Need.  Now completely restored, this vehicle is sure to be a real crowd puller when it takes its place together with the six other V8s in our display."

The full line-up of V8s on the Scania stand is as follows:

• 1972 LBS140 owned and restored to mint condition by Charles Russell, Gloucester

• 1981 LB141 owned and restored by H. E. Payne Transport, Wyboston, Beds.  This outstanding truck appears in the livery of Swedish operator ASG

• 1987 R142M working truck owned and operated by Shropshire-based P. A. E. Transport Limited

• 1992 R143M Master Centurion.  Fully restored by Alistair Sloan of Dromore, Co. Down, Northern Ireland

• 2002 R164L Topline Classic model, owned, customised and operated by William Herron, the current UK Young European Truck Driver, who also hails from Dromore, Co. Down.

• 2008 R 620 Topline working example owned and operated by A. J. Anderson of Dalmellington, near Ayr 

• 2009 R 620 Topline working example owned and operated by Robert Burns Limited of Broxburn, near Edinburgh