Fire Engines Photos

Maybe as a Karrier Gamecock owner i'm just a little picky. But this is not a Commer Karrier. It's a Karrier Gamecock. It's often we see them incorrectly named. I'm sure the majority of us know that Commers and Karriers were companies both owned by the Rootes Group, and essentially an exercise in badge engineering!

Added by Mike G. on 02 May 2012.

As I understood it in those days, Karrier was the Rootes Gruoup's "municipal" brand - with a slightly modified grille - aimed principally at selling vehicles like bin lorries and gully and cesspit tankers to councils.

They were pitched to fire brigades only a few years after Commer had already started selling their chassis to them, after someone decided that councils were doing the buying. But by then the Commer name was well established with lots of fire brigades, and I think the numbers of units sold with Karrier badges was comparatively small...

Added by Rob Johnson on 02 October 2018.

The Karrier Gamecock variant was extremely compact - similar proportions to an F8. They were extremely popular in smaller more rural Brigades and did in fact sell vey well, not only in the UK but also oversea. Many were built under licence in New Zealand for example. The weren't really a rival to the Commer models, they were actually a far more compact option.

Added by Michael G on 12 October 2018.

Not a unique example of a design originally engineered for garbage trucks being used for fire appliances. Others include some of the Renaults used by BSPP for FPT compact water tenders, the quite popular Mack M series and of course the Mercedes Econic.

Added by Rob Johnson on 12 October 2018.

As far as I know Gamecocks with this cab type were never sold with Commer badging ( in UK )

Added by Craigw on 13 October 2018.

I totally agree Craig W which is why these are not Commer Karriers. There are Commers and Karriers but not Commer Karriers. This particular design was very popular, and goes to show regardless of its origins, the Karrier Gamecock was not just built for rubbish (garbage)

Added by Michael G on 19 October 2018.

They also had a factory crew cab, which I do not think was ever offered on the Commer versions. Although tight, it was functional, and was used on Northumberalnd's hose tenders, which are to be seen on this site, although I seem to remember they were repurposed as emergency tenders at some point in time.

The cab - originally intended to accommodate bin men - also appeared on at least one Karrier export TL, where its low height and short length were an advantage.

Added by Rob Johnson on 19 October 2018.

Is this Karrier Gamecock registration no. KIU96? and if so it had a Carmichael of Worcester Body. Anyone known its chassis number?

Added by Adrian Carmichael on 17 May 2022.

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