Nick Dando

Red vehicles are always faster!

Nick

batman

Except my Rover!

Bats.

"Aha Mr Aubergine ... that's where you're wrong!"

Terry

WW Drinkwater were indeed on Hounslow Heath, also at Geenwich, Harefield Middlesex and Stonebridge Park on the North Circular aong with other locations around London, but their busiest ballast pit was Rush Green, Hollybush Lane, Denham, Buckinghamshire Nr Uxbridge.
The remnants are still there but WW Drinkwater sold out to Sabey of West Drayton, Middx in the early 80s and later they in turn sold out to AJ Bull of Mitcham.
The GLA prefix phone number was for Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill, London.
The scene where Mcgoohan went over the cliff was filmed at Denham, I know this because one of my 4 uncle's who worked for Drinkwater at that time, was extracting ballast on a dragline alongside the film crew whilst they were filming it.
I'm not sure where the other view was taken, I'll have to ask him!

Moor Larkin

Some of the footage might have been but somebody here has posted pictures of the truck going over a quarry from a local newspaper in Shoreham, Sussex. I presume the actors did all their bits in Middlesex (hence your Uncle's account) but the truck crashing was done in Sussex. Maybe the quarry at Denham was not dramatic enough.

http://numbersixwasinnocent.blogspot.com/

Automotivehistorian

One suggestion was that the works at what was to become the A4 Colnbrook by-pass was used, which again was not that far from Denham. I have no idea now if this was correct or not.

The old gravel pits at Hounslow Heath, just off Staines Road, was filled with rubbish, and then became the municipal golf course and recreational area.

I don't know if this was a coincidence or not, but A & L Bull Bros Limited were based in Winchester in 1956-7 and had a fleet of tippers used on gravel work, etc. A photo from 1956 that I have looks very much like the "Hawletts" HQ.

tellingbone

Nice feature here about restoration of a Dodge Tipper, Hell Drivers gets a mention as well!

Dodge Kew Trucks Register Dodge 105 Kew series

marker

thanks for that very interesting article

Cheers Marker..... Black and White 405 Line TV Lives on

Darrow

What is it about "Hell Drivers" that one mention of the film whether it is in Classic Vintage and Commercial Magazine, Die Cast Collector Magazine or this site that gets all us old farts reaching for pen or key board? Or is it we read all these to see "Hell Drivers" mentioned?

Automotivehistorian

Bit of all of those? (Writing as Deputy Editor, ROADSCENE magazine). I am hoping to get a features based on the movie in the mag sometime.

Darrow

If you manage to get it done please let me know.

Automotivehistorian

Just got some more pix of Dodge tippers. I have some text about a real life "Hell Driver" of the period, written by his son. It's clear that the film captured the reality of the time. I contacted the latest DVD promo company but they have now gone on to another film, and are no longer interested in promoting the what must be second DVD of the film now.

pitchfork

I am a new member and wish to say Hello to all on this site. I find the information especially about Locations very interesting. You always remember some films as a child. I grew up on the outskirts of a new town in the sixties and remember little four wheel tippers bouncing along the country lanes so always had an interest in Hell Drivers. I used to drive all round the Slough/Langley area and recognised the opening shots of the film as the truck went under the low bridge and over the canal. The B470 to Shredding Green and the Gurkha pub is straighter now, was its original route through Trenchers lane and Holly Bush lane?
The Locals in my village remember a lorry stopping and in conversation with the driver being told that it was going over the "Edge". This was on its way to Truleigh Hill nr Upper Beeding in West Sussex for filming.
I drive all over the south east in my job and in conversation it is surprising how many people remember the film.
Does any member recognise the Building Site scene? There is a 10RB machine which looks a bit out of place.

Automotivehistorian

One suggestion for a location was the contruction site for the Colnbrook by-pass, which became part of the A4 north-west of London Airport. The Jeep is of interest...I have only found one other photo of a garage that used a Jeep in the Fifties. They were being demobbed by 1953 although some went on to 1958 in service before being auctioned off.

Darrow

Yes, I remember reading that the British Army had to hunt around for Jeeps to invade Suez because the Champ or Land Rover would not fit the panniers on the bottom of the transport aircraft by then in use. The story of military kit never changes, does it?

Darrow

Now folks dont get me wrong, I love Hell Drivers and I love Dodge Trucks, I listed Hell Drivers as my favourite Brit film on joining this great forum. BUT! I have never read the original story by John Kruse but did either he or Cy Enderfield the co-writer and director envisage the trucks in the story to be Dodges. Perhaps if when the film company were shopping round for a fleet of trucks and they got a better deal from another haulage company we would all be here talking about a film with battered Bedfords doing the ton round fifties Britain.
I stress again I do love the film just as it is so please dont come to Essex and run me over with a Dodge six cubic yard tipper.

Darrows gone milky.