British Classic Lives on in Sweden

At a Swedish auction this week a British built JCB 7 hydraulic excavator sold for 32,000 SEK (Swedish Krona) around £2449.00 GBP.

The JCB 7 was launched in 1965, following three years of research and design and was the Staffordshire based manufacturers first 360^o hydraulic excavator. The machine was largely based on the American built Warner and Swasey ‘Hopto’ model.

Competing in the 12/13 tonne class, power came from a six-cylinder Ford 590E diesel engine which offered a power output rating of 96hp @2,250 rpm.

Although now very old, this machine is very interesting as it appears to have been given the Scandinavian treatment, especially in the cab where it appears to have been retro fitted with servo joystick controls by its former owner.

There is a hardcore vintage machinery scene in Sweden, and I would imagine this unit will turn up at one of the many working day events that they hold there in due course, but first there is probably a lot of work to be done on the various leaks that were listed in the inventory of the machine, I especially chuckled at the description, “due to small leaks of hydraulic oil, some oil disappears from the hydraulic tank”.

Notice how claustrophobic the cab space was in machines back in those days, we are certainly spoilt these days with the modern spacious air conditioned luxury cabins. 

It will be interesting to find out where she ends up, maybe our Swedish friend who highlighted this to me, Robert Carlsson can do some digging for us.

Here we see the machine going through the motions courtesy of auction house Blinto. 

And here is a short video of a fully restored JCB 7 owned by Scottish company D. & I. Bain.