THE O'DONOVAN STORY

I get the chance to speak to Michael and Ryan O'Donovan as they show us the wonderful collection of classic trucks just like the founder, Joe O'Donovan used back in the 1960's and 70's.
A truly remarkable story and a fantastic collection of vehicles.
00:00 Thames Trader
04:34 Albion
05:52 Scammell
07:34 AEC
10:30 Guy Big J8
13:40 Ford D Series
16:16 Leyland Clydesdale
16:50 Scammells
22:04 Leyland
23:32 Scania
27:26 CAT 951
29:50 Scammell/Scania

[@tomconnolly7420]

Nice to see a man so proud of his father and keeping the heritage alive , good West Cork stock.

[@shane4013]

Great to see mr o Donovan was right Daniel he had tippers when you were in nappies nice to see a fellow Irish man leading the way keep up the good work mr o Donovan 🇮🇪👍🤣

[@spannerdog123]

What a fantastic collection, full credit to the O Donovan’s to the effort they have made to keeping these lorries alive, each with its own story and meaning.

[@basherman1028]

Stunning content. We run AEC' s in the 70s and 80's. Throughly enjoyed. Thank you.

[@addwilliamson2112]

Love watching Michael on Ashville with his banter with Daniel. Great video guys - tremendous knowledge and enthusiasm from you all. Michael is very passionate about his family heritage and preserving the great work of his late father. Good work on the video Will 😀

[@chaoszombie9995]

I have a TON of respect for Mr. o’donavon for keeping these classics alive!

[@tn65s]

Thanks to the O'Donovan's for the open house. It was a great show with wonderful history. From a mucker from across the big pond, Augusta Maine USA.

[@LordMuck]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@chox2001]

The Irish community were the hardest workers and they definitely looked after their equipment. It’s good to see somebody looking after the old trucks. Back in those days roads were well maintained by Irish workers. Great guys and a great video.

[@j.h.customsireland]

seeing this makes me....... really proud to be irish because my grandparents left ireland to work in england and both my grandads drove construction machinery my dads dad drove jcb 3's to the 3cx site master and a ford cargo slide and tilt my mums dad drove a international dozer before moving back to co.cavan and donegal when all was done and now my dad is over and back to england driving a lorry from ireland i think about now and it's choking me up seeing all the picture of lorrys more so the 951 cause it brought back storys before i lost the last of my grandparents my grandad..............thank you......... im just lost for words cause your comment summed up both my grandads

[@antonycarr8279]

I remember Hand loading a D series, with my late father. He was a Irish man, We work hard, So we can play hard. Back in the day, I came out grafting from school, He was looking down from the handlebars of a Jack hammer, Screaming throw her well back, Me trying to shovel as fast as I could… with a reply, Jesus you will make a great man someday 😢

[@garywhitaker5540]

That is one hell of a collection of old work horses . One of the best compilations of wagons i have seen .

[@saferandquieteroads]

Great to watch, especially as I'm from Tottenham

[@rmil4531]

My absolute delight to see this. My old grandad started in 1936 with lorries after having horse and carts. My dad was driving one at 15. He only had a small company but the livery was important. I really enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@murraymackay2612]

That was a lovely video his late father would be well proud Of his son and grandson

[@explorelondon3695]

The old man Mr O'Donovan would be proud of his son for carrying his legacy on, just as the son is proud of the dad. Bless him🙏🙏

[@RoryTrackrod]

Aaah, the Thames Trader, my first ride, a tipper just like this one, but a no glass, flattened roof, open air, pull start version, back in 1970 when I was 22. To get this job, I bumped up my age to 23 and then the firm bumped it up again for the insurance company to 25 and everone was happy. My drive to work was a Jag Mk2, bought for 25 quid and in a about the same condition. The Trader was the company dog, given to new boys and confined to the yard at Portslade Gas Works, It didn't take me long to reduce this heap to scrap and I was let loose on the road with an AEC Mercury, (fibre cab). That first day with the Trader, is imprinted on my memory and I managed to get through it, without anybody noticing I'd never driven a lorry before. ..

[@RoryTrackrod]

P.S The name of the company was, Direct Haulage,Bermondsey. ..

[@jascollinscork]

Being a Cork man….. O Donovan haulage is well known in the county and country AND internationally!!! I remember years ago we used to go through their local town and pass off their yard….. before the bypass that is😁 Therefore these boys have trucking in their veins!!! So Never knew about this video on them so love it 💪🏻💪🏻🔴⚪️👏🏻👏🏻😍😍

[@annedon776]

Not only is Mr. O’Donavan’s knowledge of truck mechanics outstanding but he also ran a great business ! Great video.🚚

[@davyboy888]

As an ex-pat Irishman in the UK, this brings a tear to my eye. So nice to see Michael so proud of his dad and his Irish heritage.

[@kenmurray4232]

A beautiful fleet of trucks. Tip of the hat to the O'Donovan family for restoring the trucks as a tribute to Dad & his hard work. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnrice2198]

Great guy. Meet him and his friends in hotel after classic truck show at gayden a few weeks ago Say hello from scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤣🚚🚚🚚 John and paul rice

[@mickb6285]

Nice to see old British trucks still surviving and being cared for by a family firm with a real love for keeping them running. Respect.

[@151CHAVIN]

What a great insight to a very historical company! A beautiful selection of old wagons that would of sadly been lost and in the scrap yard if it wasn't for people like Mr O'Donovan. And the banter he has with Daniel at Ashville is comedy gold 👌👏

[@DJC995]

Hi Kurt Very nice Video Thanks to Mr O'Donovan for letting us look at there fantastic fleet of trucks and the history behind it Thanks again

[@paul4124]

Wow! What a trip down memory lane. Fantastic to see all these old trucks in such great shape, well done Michael for doing what you do. Being an old trucker, lv’e had the pleasure of driving most of what we saw here, my two favourites were the AEC, which l drove for GKN Steel Stock out of Colnbrook. And the Scammell, which l drove for Hall Aggregates out of their Chertsey quarry. Two great trucks. Such a joy to watch and listen. All the best………Paul.

[@theralphster8492]

All there restorations are fantastic, a credit to the father, so glad there are people who keep our commercial history alive.

[@shadowbanned69]

Absolutely beautiful fleet. That was a nice lil history lesson and much appreciated to the O'Donovan family for their contribution to English way of life. Too bad kids today rarely appreciate what's been done to make their lives a lil more convenient. Cheers

[@robertsmith9810]

I think if you drive a truck in London today you would be regarded as one down from a terrorist by some illiterate youngsters lol

[@kenmoore589]

Great video, well done the O'Donovan family.

[@ronniehaworth4669]

MEMORYS ARE MADE OF THIS THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

[@ronniehaworth4669]

keep on with more classics wonderfull

[@adriankennelly1338]

God be with days when you could work hard and succeed at what you loved doing. Imagine trying to start up today. Great video many of the Irish lads did well in england

[@BuzzMurray61]

Another excelent video me old mucker

[@alansaunders5742]

Great to see all your old lorrys, thanks for sharing I remember driving in South London once I was following a demolition low loader the company name was Syd Bishop and it was signwritten "watch it come down" cut a long story short he clipped a lamp post, you could say I watched it come down! I Worked for Cuprinol 1978 - 86 we had 2x Big J4 2x Big J6 and 2x Big J8 one J8 had a 180 Gardner and a 6 speed box, the other J8 had a 220 Rolls Royce eagle diesel coupled with a 10 speed Fuller box, the J4's had AEC motors with 6 speed box and 2 speed axle, the J6's AEC engine with 6 speed box, later on we had 6 wheeler Leyland Super Buffalo's, Bisons with TL 11 engines with Fuller boxes, we then moved on to Scammell S26's with Rolls Royce 265 Eagle diesel engines my first sleeper cab.

[@davidtrice8307]

I found this video by accident wow I really enjoyed seeing the history of his fleet of trucks over years shout out to Ashville 😮

[@manayconstruction5861]

If truck history was an olympic sport, you would all win gold.....i would put money on it. Brilliant video👍👍👍👍.

[@MrSuper144]

Great video takes me back to the lorries my dad drove for the ncb. My favourite was the scamell crusader which pulled a low loader. I can remember even when i started driving in the 90s all the different gear boxes that were on the go. All you do now is press a button. Respect to Michael O`Donovan for having such an amazing collection.

[@alfadoofus]

What a well cultured man that Michael O'Donovan . He made a point to restore those old rigs of his dad's hey day amazing .

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I'm glad YT recommend this one to me. Neat trucks & neat family history.

[@michaelhorn5633]

cracking video mucker, served my apprenticeship at a coachbuilders in the early 80's , building tippers/flatbeds, box vans and lutons, plenty of ford d series, bedford tk's tl's ,and volvo f86's , real jack of all trades old school apprenticeship, we never used any drawings ,boss just gave us height, length and width, roller shutter or back doors etc etc , we had to mentally visual the end product, , then mentally work backwards to a starting point, great times

[@user-vj7nw3pe4i]

Brilliant video Mucker ,hard work does pay God Bless the O Donovans

[@gunton21]

What a great story and company some great lorries there, well done LM. 👏👌

[@michaelvosgrove363]

What a collection of trucks what a credit of all your familys hard work..you have some knowledge of your trucks all the different engines and gearboxes and everything about them..your dad will be very proud of his boys..well done again..

[@neoplain]

Michael is a GENTLEMAN. I worked fir him for 10 years i think i started with him 1987 or 1988 when he was in was it Green Lanes Harringay we moved to Ferry Lane then moved to Tottenham 17 His Mother was a lovely kind lady with a big heart as was Jakie ..... happy times i had there ...... Lets hope Michael lives for many years to come .... Did Not Know He Had Restored So Many Vehicles .... I remember driving Scamells And P reg Deuitz . Happy days

[@richardpersse4342]

That was a great video lovely to see and hear about the progression of the O'Donovan fleet the memories of those trucks on the road with real drivers at the wheel its great to recall as l learned to drive on a Guy Invincible. Thanks to everyone. From 🇮🇪

[@LordMuck]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@stephenrichardson6105]

Absolute cracking video that. One proud family keeping the past alive. If I lived round the corner I’d offer to help with the Scammell’s just for the love of it. ( ex Hgv fitter) Keep up the good work

[@henrytomlinson3634]

That was a fantastic video, and what a lovely genuine and loving family. All the best from Henry Central UK

[@ronpearce5777]

One of the best vids yet. At nearly seventy I remember nearly all of those wagons building our towns and cities. Great you will get a go at the 951 too. Dozers and scrapers are my porn so looking forwards to seeing the cat burst into life. Well done, great viewing.

[@antonycarr8279]

Brilliant collection, nice to see them all. “It’s in the blood” 👌.

[@himself2]

Brilliant video,remember ODonavans trucks all over london in the 80s,think they parked them behind the crown in Cricklewood

[@datldo]

great video, what Joe O Donovan left in Ireland and what he achieved is a story I would love to hear.

[@DTS1838]

What a fantastic video,great to see such a collection of trucks restored by the O’Donovan family and how they prospered from humble beginnings and hard work.

[@phoenixrising8383]

very jealous, getting to look at all that lovely machinery in the flesh ..Mr o,Donovan a true gentleman from what I have seen on ashville and your channel great vlog lads thank you .

[@rfburns5444]

Great video Muck,I could listen to those O'Donovan boys talk all day about their plant!!

[@disaffectedmale]

I've had many a chat with Mick. I used to be the driver for Diamond Build, literally around the corner from their Tottenham yard. I probably tipped there 3 times a week for a couple of years before I moved away to the West Country. If you're reading this, glad to see you looking so well mate!

[@odonovanwastedisposal3068]

I'll pass your comment onto MOD

[@disaffectedmale]

@@odonovanwastedisposal3068 That's awesome. Thank you. That's me in the pic

[@TheGingerGenius78]

That was a really good video, Thank you and thanks to the O’Donovan family for their time and efforts and was really interesting to see the different tricks and to hear the history and the story’s from the beginnings of the company ! Great way to spend half an hour and much better than the goggle box ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@octopus680]

A Fantastic Video and very enjoyable too, Michael is a great bloke and i used to own that fully restored Scammell tipper, He has a great collection now with many tasty classics in his fleet and they all have character these old lorries and im a little like Michael and ' live and breathe them '

[@daniellynch341]

Awesome vid. Great to see the Cork colours in the fleet. What a story!!

[@garethmcmahon9769]

Excellent story Lord Muck, great to see an Irish connection for me personally.

[@perrerapuertorosario5550]

Great video , real men with proper trucks an amazing piece of history

[@markwalsh8411]

Great to see these old trucks preserved and to learn a little history of both the O’ Donovan’s and the lorry’s themselves

[@Improveng1]

Nice one your Lordship. Great to learn of the O'Donavan story through their trucks and machines, really interesting.

[@paulg9483]

Outstanding video mucker, what a beautiful collection of vehicles that were the backbone of Britain, full credit to all those involved in the restoration and up keep of the magnificent beasts.👍👍

[@sallywest5634]

This was such a good watch. My Dad was a lorry driver and drove many of these in his time. He and I enjoy all of your videos but this one was particularly interesting. Thanks so much.

[@kevancroftkc]

Great video and a great company.

[@martinwebb1681]

What a lovely fleet of classic lorries, the guy 8 wheel tipper looks like it started life with Blue Circle Cement. I remember seeing O'Donovan's tippers at work in London as a kid in the early to mid 1970s, Scammell and Albion tippers. So many companies in London had Scammell tippers back then, a few from memory were Squibb and Davies, Syd Bishop, Cantillon, Clifford Devlin, Lowery, W.Long, Embassy Demolition, Brocks Haulage, TMC, Havering, Ladkarn haulage, Mc Ardle, Hoveringham Gravels, St-Albans, Greenham, ARC and a whole lot more.

[@fredharrowven1040]

Good evening me lord, You have made my day it brought back many memories there was about 5 trucks I have driven in that bunch thank you. You take care of yourself and stay safe and well.🛻🛻🛻👍⭐️

[@dustymiller7758]

Brilliant footage, what an amazing collection of vehicles. Well done to the family for preserving them.

[@brianlarkin9160]

Hi from Ireland, nice to see this brought a tear to me eye, well nearly, we're not all bad🥃

[@jasongalley8281]

Brilliant!! I’m not one for lorry’s and trucks but found myself glued to watching this. The dedication those boys have for those lorry’s is just fantastic. Like they say, it’s in the blood. Just brilliant, can’t wait for the will it start with the cat!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@philglover2973]

Awesome video thanks for your time and consideration mucker and thanks to Mr o Donovan 👍🚛👍🚛👍🚛🚜

[@TheTW11]

I love this, the history. This country needs more hard working men like the O'Donovans. Graft gets reward. Same with Daniel at Ashville.

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

What a great collection of old British trucks

[@DaveGreeneramblingcarpenter]

Brilliant to see all those trucks being preserved,, and takes me back to being a very young passenger around the west of Ireland in various ergomatic cabbed AEC's,, brilliant trucks

[@timstradling7764]

A trip down memory lane - drove versions of most of these in the 70’s as artics - happy days !!

[@charliemorrison1994]

Brilliant collection of history there well done to them for preserving it and thanks for sharing it with us 👍🏻

[@neilporter3286]

What a wonderful collection of trucks, and an interesting discussion about the history. Many thanks for sharing the experience. 👍

[@ELITEDEMON991]

Fantastic history and a real credit to you all….. lost this day in age sadly!! Lovely the way you’ve remembered your dad with the 143 ❤

[@markhall9048]

That was totally mint 👍 O'Donovan as always been a top class act out on the sites and now there keeping the heritage I remember so well alive ✌ definitely need the Chinese six up and running she will be a bute and the 951C will it start 👍 no probs 👌 great post loved it 🍻

[@paulkilburn6102]

Fascinating! Great respect. Love your banter with Daniel

[@mikeduin8311]

Crikey some fleet of lovely trucks there!! Great to see the company and truck history and the pride they have for it💪 And that Cat dozer, offcourse it'll start, its got a birdsnest the Lord Muck omen of luck🤣 Cheers, Mike

[@brentsmith5647]

Brilliant video thank you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@phillipmcalinney4256]

What an amazing collection to see, thank you for filming it Mucker. A fantastic passion the family have for these trucks!

[@gorsmy]

i remember pulling piston liners on routeman trucks in blue circle in Cookstown cement plant back in the early eighties when I was serving my time

[@jamesalexander4203]

Amazing to hear the history. I worked at Brogborough, Stewartby, Calvert, Newton Longville for Shanks many years ago. Learnt so much from the likes of Mick O’Neill, Mcgovern and others.

[@cecilwilson5442]

Used to watch lorries like these working when I was young,, brilliant gear change's and trucking bit harder then all various manufacturers,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland great video 👍☘️ that's hard work bought those lorries,, and family pride keeping them going BP used to run the Chinese scammell trucks doing tankers

[@Sinnerboy88]

Great upload. Thanks. I love to see stuff like this. I was showing this to my Father. He had many tippers over the years. I think he started around 1970 with a TK Bedford. Then he had AECs, and Leyland Bison and Leyland Riever, both 6 wheelers. I remember both of the Leylands. The Bison sat up for years and eventually was scrapped as the cab was rotten. The Reiver was fine though, someone bought it to restore. I was sad to see it go, but my Father doesn't really have any sentimentality when it comes to vehicles! His attidue is "Well, I sold it for more than I bought if for and I got 20 years of work out of it!" I suppose he has a point. He then got Volvo F7s six wheelers. I drove one of them myself in the 00s. I still have both of the F7s, they're not restored or anything, they've been laying up for a few years, but both are still good straight solid tippers and were both drove to where they are sat parked up in my yard. One of them, the one I drove, is very good. It was owned by a Quarry company and the cab was all undersealed and I think grease pumped into it to keep it protected, because I think they had issue with cabs rotting before so when they bought the F7 new they made sure it wouldn't happen it. The newest tippers we had were a Foden 3325 and a little FL6 four wheeler, I drove both of them also. I often think of putting a tipper on the road, I probably will again at some stage. Does anyone know are F7 tippers worth anything today? A lot of people have been asking about them. I often looked online in the commercial classifieds but I rarely if ever seen any for sale. I'd imagine they're quite hard to come by these days. Maybe of interest to companies who had F7s back in the old days.

[@pyroplim6967]

That old film hell drivers came to mind as soon as i saw the old 4 wheelers..Awsome vid mucker.

[@ronniecumming7685]

What a great vid. Fantastic collection and Michael and Ryan for doing that and looking after and renovating the vehicles, what a commitment. Would like to see more of "DJOD" in future vids.

[@davesworkshop2714]

Stunning collection! D series brings back memories, neighbour had a metal grill mk1. That and my grandfather's FGs would have been the first trucks I travelled in.

[@mickeymcmahon6978]

Great video again lad and great to read the comments and not to find bitterness between the two countries anymore 👌👌👌👌

[@harveybray1804]

What a lovely story a credit to the o donavans and that michael a real nice fella if only we could turn the clock back all the best mate

[@kevinharker1840]

Good video Mr Muck, brought back memories of my dad's fleet of traders and D1000s.

[@richardneale246]

Scammell Routeman and Trunker with the "Cheese Grater" cabs. What a lovely collection. Thanks. Ergomatics were Motor Panels cabs, rusted very well sadly. Remember seeing the Leyland gas turbine trucks at the Earls Court Commercial Motor show. Several prototypes went to petrol companies as tanker artics. The English Ford 'D' series was so much like the American Ford 'C' series.

[@michaelscott7128]

Lovely collection of Lorries, an absolute credit to his Dad. Nice to see the flag on the side of Ryan's truck 👌

[@ClarenceFudWeasel]

I don't know what's more exciting, the Albion with an Ergonomic cab or the Routeman. I'm overwhelmed.

[@LordMuck]

Spoilt for choice

[@trevorpearson1832]

Absolutely brilliant! Thanks for showing us. 👍

[@stephenross1581]

What a cracking informative video, for a man who knows nothing about wagons I was glued to the screen, great work, keep them coming 👌👌👌

[@malcolmgreenhill4955]

Terrific video, bought lovely memories of when my dad drove a lorry . Seeing the trader's was great, first lorry I ever drove around the yard on Saturday mornings as a 13 year old. My favourite one that my dad had was his Guy Big J4 . Thanks for the memories. Regards Mal

[@MonsterTVchannel]

This is just great lads! Really interesting. Thank for posting. God bless.

[@sherbie.4408]

Great show, many thanks for sharing with us the O'Donovan's history and heritage fleet.

[@TheSparkysdog]

Great video mucker, fantastic collection a real stroll down memory lane 👌👏

[@sandwichbar8226]

Absolutely incredible heritage collection. Thanks for sharing! 👌

[@shingerz]

That was fantastic to watch good stuff 👍