The Post War Years

In 1946 post war production got underway with the introduction of a single-deck 'Arab' and the reintroduction of the pre-war version of the 'Arab' double decker. On the commercial side, the company re-launched the 'Vixen' as a 4 tonner, incorporating a number of improvements based on work carried out during the war. Also in 1946 Guy introduced the new 2 to 3 ton 'Wolf'. The 'Wolf' had normal control, and could carry a 20 seater body. The 'Vixen' had forward control, and could carry a 30 seater body. The models had a new radiator grille with a central vertical strip.

In 1947 Guy trolley buses reappeared, as did the 'Otter' in 1948 as a 5 to 6 tonner. The 'Vixen', 'Wolf', and 'Otter' were all available with left-hand drive, in response to the ever-growing export market. During the same year Guy acquired Sunbeam Commercial Vehicles Limited from Brockhouse, which had owned Sunbeam for 2 years. From then-on All Guy trolleybuses carried the Sunbeam name.


A 'Wolf' 2 to 3 tonner.


A 'Vixen' 4 tonner.


Another 'Vixen' 4 tonner.


An 'Otter' tractor used in Kenya.


A 'Vixen' 4 tonner.


A 'Vixen' travelling shop.


A 'Vixen' 4 tonner.


A 'Vixen' travelling milk bar.


A 'Vixen' 4 tonner used in Denmark.


A 'Vixen' 4 tonner refrigerator van.


Another 'Vixen' 4 tonner.

   
Read about the 'Vixen' 4 tonner, and the 'Vixen'
tower wagon
   


A 'Wolf' 2 to 3 tonner.


A 'Wolf' diesel 2 to 3 tonner.


An 'Otter' tanker used in Holland.


A 'Vixen' and trailer used in Holland.


An advert from 1949.

 


An advert from 1951.


An advert from 1956.

In 1950 the post-war diesel-powered 'Otter' appeared, mainly because the economy of diesel was now fully appreciated.

Two years later the Perkins P4 diesel engine was used in the 'Wolf' and 'Vixen' chassis, and a new handsome and roomy all-steel cab was designed for the 'Otter', with the advantage of easy disassembly for repair, and reassembly overseas.

The 'Otter' Mk II appeared in 1953 with an all-steel cab. Guy also built a few 'Big Otter' diesel trucks with a maximum payload of 7½ tons, powered by a 5½ litre Meadows engine.

There were trucks, tippers, and tractor units produced, and a short wheelbase version of the 'Otter' was developed for British Road Services, after receiving an order for 400.

Also in 1953 all trolleybus production moved to Park Lane where an extension was built to the factory.

 

Read about the 'Otter' 7 ton chassis, and the 8 to 10 ton tractor unit
Another chassis produced in the 1950s was the middleweight 'Warrior', a reliable, and economical vehicle.
   
Read about the 8 and 10 ton  'Warrior' chassis
   


An 'Otter' 8 to 10 ton tractor unit supplied to British Road Services.


A 'Big Otter' 7½ tonner.

Read about the 'Goliath' 4 and 6 wheelers.
A new range of heavy duty 'Goliath' models was introduced in 1954. The vehicles had a capacity of 14 to 24 tons, and were available as an 8-wheeler, a 6-wheeler, and a 4-wheeler. They were powered by 5 and 6-clinder Gardner diesel units, or the 6 cylinder 130b.h.p. Meadows 6DC630. They soon became known as the 'Invincible' series because the Goliath name was used by German truck manufacturer Goliath-Werke GmbH. The 'Invincible' range was reasonably successful, and a tractor unit was introduced in 1956. At the time the company had a full order book, and the future looked bright.


An 'Invincible' 6-wheeler.


An 'Invincible' 8-wheel tanker.


An 'Invincible' 4-wheeler.


An 'Invincible' 6-wheel tanker. Courtesy of Brian Shaw.


Another 'Invincible' 6-wheel tanker. Courtesy of Brian Shaw.


An 'Invincible' 6-wheel lorry. Courtesy of Brian Shaw.

An advert from 'British Automobiles overseas', September, 1950.

Courtesy of Brendan Kinsella. 

An advert from 'British Automobiles overseas', March-April, 1950.

Courtesy of Brendan Kinsella. 

 

In 1955 Guy began to produce fibreglass cabs, which were 6 inches wider, and far lighter, so that vehicles fitted with them could carry a heavier payload. In the same year Guy Motors made what would eventually turn out to be a fatal mistake, the opening of subsidiaries in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. The company’s vehicles sold in large numbers in South Africa, a country which was greatly liked by Sydney Guy after he spent some time there recovering from pneumonia. Until then South African sales had been efficiently handled by a number of agents appointed by the company, but that all changed when Guy Motors sold directly to local vehicle operators.

The Mk III 'Otter', an updated version of the Mk II was launched in 1957. New features included a fibreglass grille over a block-type radiator, and a 5 speed David Brown gearbox.


An 'Otter' Mk III cab. Courtesy of Brian Shaw.

It was the end of an era. Sydney Guy, the astute businessman and engineer, who founded the company, retired in 1957 at the age of 72. It was due to his enthusiasm, drive, and hard work, that Guy Motors survived the hard times, and went on to become one of the country's leading manufacturers of commercial vehicles.

Due to the world-wide demand for vehicles in the late 1950s, around 60% of production went abroad. This was made possible in no small part, thanks to the efforts of Sydney Guy’s brother, Ewart, the company’s sales director.

At this time the company decided to rationalise the model range. There had been too many models, using too wide a range of components. As a result the successful 'Invincible II', and the 'Warrior II' were introduced at the 1958 Commercial Motor Show.


A letter from Sydney Guy, to a Guy owner in Australia, just before he retired. Courtesy of Brendan Kinsella.


The 'Otter' Mk III chassis. Courtesy of Brian Shaw.


Three 'Otter' Mk IIIs used by local paint and ink manufacturer, Mander Brothers. Courtesy of Brian Shaw.


An 'Otter' 6 ton refuse carrier used in Nigeria.


An 'Otter' tipper used in Norway.


A 'Wolf' 2 to 3 tonner used in South Africa.


An 'Otter' 8 to 10 ton tractor unit and trailer.


An 'Otter' 6 tonner.


A 'Wolf' diesel 2 to 3 tonner.


George Wood's Guy 'Invincible' from 1956. As seen at the Black Country Vehicle Rally in 2002, at the Black Country Living Museum.

   
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