Steyr
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The story of Steyr in Britain is a tale of unfulfilled potential – and a highly
distinctive artic that collects plaudits to this day. The short version is that in the late 1980s Austrian truckmaker Steyr wanted to grow in Europe, so set up a UK subsidiary – Steyr Trucks Great Britain – run by ex-Scania manager Cliff Groves. Alongside two middleweight rigids, it also sold Steyr’s unique wedge-shaped cab tractor, either with a standard roof or top sleeper (by far the best-looking version) with a 280hp 9-litre or 310hp 12-litre engine and a ZF 16-speed or Eaton Twin Splitter. Sadly, the infant UK subsidiary had hardly been in business for a year before MAN swallowed up its Austrian parent company – and the British baby was chucked out with the bathwater. The Steyr badge lingered on in Austria for a while before finally disappearing altogether.
Brian Weatherley (former editor, Commercial Motor)