Scammell Scarab – Nostalgia Central

British truck manufacturer Scammell produced this three-wheeled tractor unit between 1948 and 1967, replacing the Scammell “mechanical horse” with its square wooden cab and steel chassis, which remained largely unchanged until the late 1940s.

The car was very popular with British Railways – which used the Scarab to deliver city parcels, which were historically horse-drawn – and other companies that delivered within built-up areas and needed a highly maneuverable vehicle (the Scarab had a 75-degree turning circle).

The Department of Defense also used Scarabs and trailers mostly for internal transportation at large military bases.

It was produced in a three-ton version (with a 1,125 cc petrol engine) and a six-ton ​​version (with a 2,090 cc petrol engine).

The Scarab ceased production in 1967 when it was replaced by the short-lived Scammell Townsman, which featured a fiberglass cab.