A recovery vehicle, or breakdown wagon, is the type of truck you hope
you will never need. Unfortunately, they are an integral part of
everyday life and are to be seen in various forms attending breakdowns
and road traffic accidents. From the beginnings of mechanised transport
there has always been the need for towing disabled motor vehicles, and
the earliest recovery was carried out by real horse power. In time, most
urban and rural garages would have an old car converted as a towing
vehicle, parked in a corner awaiting the call for help. As motor
vehicles became larger, so did the recovery vehicles, right up to heavy
lorry and bus conversions that could handle the transport of the time.
Specialist recovery companies were set up for towing and transport of
disabled vehicles, while local garages maintained an ability to deal
with customer breakdowns and accidents. Recovery trucks have evolved
into large multi-wheeled vehicles with up to five axles, equipped with
custom-built equipment, including cranes and heavy-duty winches. Some of
these vehicles are the most spectacular sights in road transport.
Showing a wide variety of vehicles, Bill Reid celebrates Britain's road
recovery vehicles in a selection of rare and previously unpublished
images.
