I was fascinated by Andy Salter's news analysis in this week's Commercial Motor (well worth a read) which re-ignites the great debate as to the future of the famous ERF brand and, more importantly, what's the difference between an ERF and an MAN.

Not long ago, after Paccar announced it was going to "retire" the Foden brand (don't you just love euphemisms?) yours truly asked whether the two brands of MAN and ERF would continue to co-exist in the UK with  their own separate identity. MAN-ERF's then marketing boss David Burke was adamant  they would--and there were no plans to "do a Paccar" on ERF. Only now that Burke has departed from Swindon (and I wish him well in whatever he ends up doing) I just wonder whether that view is written in stone for ever and ever amen. And having read Andy's piece, I'm even less convinced there's a cast-iron case for retaining ERF as a stand-alone brand.

Let me explain: Up until recently the one thing that did differentiate the two marques was a Cummins ISMe engine---once so beloved by Edwin Richard Foden fans. But what with the US diesel maker shilly-shallying about over a Euro-4 version of ISMe MAN has quite rightly gone ahead and started fitting its little D20 diesel inside the ERF ECT instead. And judging by the market stats (and fuel results from our roadtests with D20) it's all but blown the ISMe out of the water within the MAN-ERF product line-up, not just on fuel economy and above all else on price.

Incidentally, I couldn't help smiling when I read headline in the latest edition of "Transport Engineer" which read..."Cummins comes out fighting on Euro-4 engines." Oh Goody I thought...only the story turns out to be mostly bus engines....hmmmmmmm..........

So as the Cummins ISMe in the ERF looks set to take the long train back to Palookaville (along with Foden, Guy, Scammell et al) not least because it won't be available at Euro-4, where does that leave the ECT? Answer: With an MAN cab, cracking little MAN engine (and when D26 arrives it will be even better), an MAN chassis, an MAN interior (albeit with some individual trim tweaks---and all built in Munich. In short, apart from the badge on the front, let's face it IS an MAN. All of which reminds me of the famous line: "If it looks like a Duck, floats like a Duck, and quacks like a duck...then it probably IS a duck."

Would it be bad news to lose ERF as a brand? Perhaps for those former ERF (now MAN-ERF) dealers who've provided excellent service throughout the years to local customers who've been undeniably loyal to the brand. But for a typical operator?Don't get me wrong, I'm in no hurry to see another heritage brand enter the twilight zone. And it would be fair to say that Her Majesty's Truck Press has tradtionally held a soft-spot for all British trucks. Only nowadays a "British" badge counts for very little nowadays. If it did Leyland, Bedford and Foden would still be market leaders......

What really matters is having a modern, efficient, well-built truck that earns good money for its owner and has strong back-up from its manufacturer. In short the reason for a long-term business partnership. Anything else I would suggest, including the badge on the front, is little more than marketing. So why not call the ERF what it is? An MAN. It's a pretty good place to start!

Meanwhile, CM has just roadtested the ERF ECT eight-legger and it's delivered excellent results......with an MAN D20 engine. Work THAT one out.