Rotinoff “Viscount”

There is no disputing that the Rotinoff road trains were unique.(only two ever produce specially for Vesteys brothers) Their arrival in central Australia in the late 1950’s at the instigation of cattle and beef barons, Vesteys brothers, was hailed as a new era in cattle transportation. They were certainly considered to be the most progressive and impressive units of the day.

At a time when most British marques were fading out of the Australian trucking industry, and the big R190 internationals and B model Macks were taking over the bulk of the transport tasks. The British built Rotinoffs were making a name for them selves in the barren deserts of central Australia and beyond.

 Original specifications as per Rotinoff’s data sheet.

Some facts:

The first model Rotinoff’s were called “Atlantic” came equipped with a six cylinder roll Royce supercharged engine. These were followed by the eight cylinder “Super Atlantic” Most of these were supplied to the Swiss army with a few making there way to haul desert oil wells in the middle east..

Only two “Viscounts” were made and these two trucks came to Australia to haul cattle in the northern territory. The specifications for the “Viscount” was the same as the “Atlantic” with the chassis being lengthened to accommodate  cattle crates

Both trucks are believed to have travelled 2 million miles before retiring.

It is said that only 35 Rotinoff’s were built

So it a very rare truck

Rotinoff Motors Ltd was formed at Colnbrook, near Slough in Buckinghamshire, in 1952 by George Rotinoff, a White Russian immigrant, to build heavy tractors suitable for military lank transport. After suitability trials, the 6x4 Rotinoff Atlantic GR.7 was approved by the Swiss Army. The first example appeared in 1955.
It had a maximum gross train weight rating of 140 tons, was powered by a 12.17 litre/ 743cu in Rolls Royce C6.SFL Series 109 direct-injection supercharged diesel developing 250bhp, and had a David Brown 12-speed (four main, three auxiliary) transmission. Kirkstall axles were fitted. Later models had the 275bhp C6.TFL Rolls Royce turbocharged diesel and 15-speed transmission. A heavier Super Atlantic GR.7 look the C8.TFL 16.2 litre/ 988cu in "straight eight" Rolls Royce turbo diesel giving 335bhp. These were fitted with 15 or 18-speed transmissions and were capable of gross train weights up to 300 tons. As well as the Atlantic and Super Atlantic, Rotinoff built a 7.3m/24ft wheelbase Viscount GR.37/ AU load-carrying drawbar tractor suitable for Australian road train operations. This had the additional option of a Rolls Royce B.81.8P 8-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 220bhp, designated the Viscount 64.GKS. Also listed was a forward-control Viscount 84.BJS rigid eight drawbar tractor. An estimated 35 Rotinoffs were built.

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