Scammell Scarab Greetings Card by Transport Artist Malcolm Root

One of the most iconic of British vehicles, the distinctive Scarab was a successor to the Scammell Mechanical Horse, designed by Oliver North, which had proven so successful with the Railways and light hauliers, especially in and around built up areas.

First introduced in 1948, the vehicle was taken on by the Railways initially and then sold to a number of hauliers and the armed forces for use at airfields and other military installations. Modified a number of times during its twenty year production run, the Scarab remains a popular vehicle with vintage vehicle collectors and around 60 are thought to be in private hands.

Railway and Motor Artist Malcolm Root shows a Scarab going about its business for British Railways, with whom the vehicle will always be best known.