Heritage Commercials Magazine - capturing the spirit of vintage days

Comment - October 2011

I know this because I was recently told of a new website, www.howmanyleft.co.uk which uses the DVLA records to do exactly what it says – list how many of certain vehicle makes and models are still in existence. In addition it also lists the amount of vehicles currently under a Statutory Off Road Notification (Sorn), which in the case of Scammell adds another 128 to the total. Of course there are undoubtedly others that are neither taxed or ‘sorned’, that are rotting away under a hedge etc and may appear in years to come. This can be seen from the records as some classic vehicles have shown a slight rise in numbers in recent years and as they’re not making them any more these can only come from either imports or restorations.

One sad thing the site dramatically demonstrates is the fall of our manufacturing industry. For example, in 1994 there were 25,194 taxed ERF lorries going about their business. By 2011 this had dropped to 7604 taxed plus 3175 sorned – and ERF hasn’t even been gone that long. The German lorry maker MAN which purchased ERF, however, saw a complete reversal of fortunes in the same period rising from 11,932 in 1994 to over 40,000 taxed plus 3152 sorned today. The one annoying thing about the records as regards commercials is nothing to do with the website but everything to do with the way the DVLA records new vehicles. For example, although you can look up the amount of Lotus Esprit cars left you can’t do the same for AEC Matadors as, in general, model names were never recorded for commercials. This has changed in more recent years but again it’s all down to the clerk who filled in the original form as to whether the model name is there or not. On top of that, mistakes are quite common.

The interesting thing, though, is to see what is now on the ‘endangered’ list. Some vehicles that were once common are now either extinct or very soon will be. The 4x4 version of the Bedford Midi van is one example, as there are now just three left. I picked this at random to show that even some relatively modern vehicles are almost gone. Do the owners know how rare their vans are? Perhaps they wouldn’t care if they did, but it would be a shame if all these vans disappeared.

Stephen Pullen
Editor