British Recovery Vehicles

A recovery vehicle, or breakdown wagon, is the type of truck you hope you will never have the need for. Unfortunately, they are an integral part of everyday life and are to be seen in various forms attending breakdowns and road traffic accidents. From the beginnings of mechanised transport there has always been the need for towing disabled motor vehicles, and the earliest recovery was carried out by real horse power. In time, most urban and rural garages would have an old car converted as a towing vehicle, parked in a corner awaiting the call for help. As motor vehicles became larger, so did the recovery vehicles, right up to heavy lorry and bus conversions that could handle the transport of the time. Specialist recovery companies were set up for towing and transport of disabled vehicles, while local garages maintained an ability to deal with customer breakdowns and accidents. Some of these vehicles are the most spectacular sights in road transport.