Customised promotional model vehicle specialist, Search Impex, has released a 1:50 scale DAF XF 460 Euro 6 (6x2, tag axle) skirted, rigid truck with 2-axle, skirted, box van drawbar trailer to mark the anniversary of Scottish removals specialist Richard Healey Removals.

The model has been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Collectibles as a certificated Limited Edition.

Based in Beith - a small town about 20 miles south west of Glasgow - Richard Healey Removals started in the painting and decorating trade. Back in 1965, Richard Healey, a Glaswegian painter and decorator, spent much of his time working away in London, returning home every couple of weeks. News spread about his regular return trips and people began asking him if he would transport things to and from London. Requests to carry things came frequently and Richard soon calculated that, properly organised, his unofficial delivery service using his trusty Mini-van could actually prove more profitable than painting & decorating – and so a new company was born.

The London runs saw an increase in the demand for delivery work, which in turn led to the purchase of additional vehicles and Richard soon began to focus on household removals. As the Company grew, it created work opportunities not only for the second generation of the Healey family; Richard’s son Richard Jnr and daughter Georgina, but also for present day Operations Manager, Barry Howitt who joined the firm in 1997.

At that time, the Company operated two removal trucks and Richard Jnr and Barry learned the trade at the sharp end - very much as a result of being required to act not only as drivers, but also as salesmen, porters, estimators and customer liaison officers! Georgina, having initially offered to help out for six months in 1999, has since become the firm’s nominated Transport Manager and manages training, business development and quality systems, as well as holding an International CPC alongside her HGV licence.

Nowadays, the Company operates from new, purpose built headquarters in Beith, from where it administers its core removals and storage work, as well as managing a wide range of other value added services, including fully managed corporate relocations, local authority, public sector contracts and tailored storage services. The spotless and well-presented trucks comprise mostly DAF trucks; this marque also being chosen for the Company’s flagship anniversary vehicle, which joined the fleet in July, making a total of 15 commercial vehicles.

The DAF drawbar rig has become something of an Internet sensation - its first ever trip being to Ireland where it appeared on social media every day during the journey. Although sometimes used as a solo rigid vehicle for domestic and commercial work, the drawbar trailer means the rig can carry two vehicles if necessary on long distance jobs, where it turns many a head as it travels throughout the UK & Europe.

Models are available from Search Impex, priced £186 (including UK delivery & VAT).

Photos: The 1:50 scale DAF XF 450 model.