Brands - Karrier

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8020P-14

This Commer tipper was operated in their quarry by the Golden Bay Cement Co. at Tarakohe near Takaka. Fitted with a heavy duty quarry type body it is an early Mk.1 R7 model. It can be identified as a Mk.1 by the flat and dangerously slippery when wet cab steps, single rear window and windscreen wipers pivoted from the bottom of the screens. The face shovel loading the Commer is a Marion.

karrier bulkie

An advertisement showing a drawing of a Mk.3 7 ton Karrier petrol fitted with a bulk spreader with an endorsement from a satisfied customer, Mr. F.W. (Fleming) McDowall, carrier of Browns, Southland. After World War II Todd Motors, the N.Z. importers and assemblers of Commer and Karrier trucks decided to badge some Commers as Karriers to create models that were unique to New Zealand. They also did this with some of the car brands they represented-eg Hillman Minx/Super Minx badged as Humber 80 and 90. Todds had the Rootes Group agency-(Humber, Hillman, Singer, Sunbeam cars, Commer and Karrier trucks), Chrysler Corporation agency-(Chrysler, Plymouth, De Soto cars, Fargo and De Soto trucks). Even though Dodge cars and trucks were Chrysler products the Dodge agency was held by the Dominion Motors until the late 1950s/early 1960s when it passed to Todd Motors. Todd Bros. also sold David Brown and Minneapolis Moline tractors. With so many different brands of cars and trucks available to sell they must have decided on the rebranding as a way to allow different dealers to sell otherwise identical popular models. Commer truck models that were badged as Karriers were bonneted Superpoise models-Q series-1946-49, S series-1948-1953, A series-1953-55, T series-1953-54, TB series-1954-55 and B/LB series-from 1956 until the rebadging stopped in the late 1950s. Cab over engine models were R7 Mk.1 and Mk.2 petrol-1948-1952, C7 petrol, CD7 TS3 diesel Mk.3 and Mk.4-1954-c.1958. There were also genuine Karrier Bantam and Gamecock models using versions of the BLSP 7 ton cab sold here as well.

64 Karrier logger being loaded

A Mk.1 Commer R7 logger being push loaded off a bank by an International TD14A bulldozer with Hamilton hydraulic blade. It appears that the truck has taken quite a whack in the front bumper, fortunately it seems to have protected the cab from any damage. This truck is a slightly later Mk.1 R7 as it has the wipers pivoted from the top of the screens-the Mk.1 was built 1948-1951. The Mk.2 R7 model had a few improvements over the earlier trucks-much safer steps with more grips, small quarter windows in the rear corners of the cab, pressurised cooling system. Mk.2 models were built 1952-1954 and were still powered by the well regarded 109 horsepower 290 cubic inches sloper 6 cylinder petrol motor-the TS3 diesel option wouldn't arrive until 1954 with the Mk.3 models.