G. Scammell & Nephew Ltd began life as a coach building and repair company based in Spitafields, London in 1837. They evolved into a lorry manufacturer following the development of their first prototype of a 7.5 ton payload articulated combination lorry which was exhibited at the 1921 Olympia Motor Show.

The subsequent high level of interest and increased sales this generated led the company to make the decision to move to Tolpits Lane in Watford where they formed a new company, Scammell Lorries Ltd on 1 July 1922, nine months after the prototype was first exhibited.

The following 40 years was primarily taken up with the production of 8-wheeled articulated and rigid lorries. 1927 saw the introduction of the off road 6-wheeled pioneer which the British army used for its 30 ton tank transporters during World War II. This period also saw the introduction of the general cargo series designed for maximum payloads; however the war interrupted their development.

Shortly following the Watford opening Scammell recruited Oliver D. North, a young engineer who designed the Mechanical Horse, launched in 1933 and so named because it was designed to hitch up to traditionally horse drawn carts, wagons and drays. This was later renamed the Scarab and was widely used by British rail and the Royal Mail until as late as the 1970s.

The advent of the 50s saw the redesign of the Pioneer for civilian use and its renaming to The Mountaineer. Scammell continued to develop new models with the Highwayman Tractor being launched in 1955, a 4 x 2 tractor unit developed from their very first 6-wheeled vehicle.

It was during 1955 that Scammell became part of British Leyland where they continued to produce specialist haulage vehicles under the title 'Special Vehicle Division'. In 1976 Leyland sold Scammell's Trailer Division to York Trailers which was the beginning of both Leyland's and Scammell's demise.

The last Scammell truck to be produced was the Crusader. Although built by Scammell it was branded as a Leyland vehicle and launched in 1980. It was produced until 1988, the year DAF acquired Leyland and closed down the Scammell plant.

Today there is a healthy interest in these great machines with a number of enthusiasts restoring and showing Vehicles throughout the country, helping to keep the Scammell name alive.