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The signature pale blue colours of Normans have made way for a special and striking one-off gold livery to mark the Waikato company’s 50th anniversary this year.

Named “Gold Fever”, the 2022 Scania R 660 8x4 Sleeper and its five-axle Domett curtainside trailer went on the road in March as a golden anniversary celebration for the company founded in 1972 by Charlie and Marie Norman.

Normans started with a 1966 vintage Commer 117hp 2-stroke logger working between Coromandel and the Tauranga port. Over five decades the company has been involved in livestock transport, the dairy industry and general freight.

It now operates a fleet of 40 trucks with facilities at Morrinsville and Te Rapa which deliver general freight, container, storage and specialised transport services to its clients.

Normans remains in family ownership and General Manager Adam Norman says the gold Scania is a one-off. But the new graphics which debut on the R 660 are being introduced as new trucks join the fleet.

“The pale blue goes all the way back to the Commer in 1972. The rest of our fleet will remain pale blue, at least till we turn 60,” says Adam.

The Scania received its gold paint at Brokers United in Rotorua while a long-time family connection is responsible for the eye-catching livery and detailing.

“The decals and the hand painted pinstriping were done by my uncle Ken Baird, who has done all of the company’s signwriting for 47 of the 50 years,” says Adam.

Normans didn’t outsource the branding concept.

“Ken, his son Brad and myself worked together on the new branding,” says Adam.

There’s a message and a subtle name change behind the refreshed branding.

Adam says the company has evolved to be more than just a transport company and the new Normans brand has been designed to reflect these changes and growth in the business.

“To help communicate we have removed ‘Transport’ from our name and are now referred to as Normans.

“The updated and simplified logo shape now features a slanted ‘N’. This represents how our business is moving forward and the efficiency our team brings every day.

“Our circular ‘infinity’ logo with the new clean colour gradients now better reflect how Normans are continuously on the move and are always improving our service to our customers.

“All of our new trucks will get this branding combined with the familiar pale blue colours. We’ve just put a new Kenworth K200 on the road with the new branding and there are two more Scania’s and a DAF coming later this year.”

The Scania has a few optional extras to match its special branding.

“Because it’s a one-off we ticked a few boxes on this truck with extra lighting and the spotlights on top of the cab that we wouldn’t normally do.

“The five-axle curtainsider is a pretty standard build from Domett with a little bit of personalising at the back with the 50th logo in the stainless.”

The “Gold Fever” name was chosen by driver Vince, who has been part of the Normans team for eight years.

“All of our drivers can choose names for their new trucks. It’s a tradition we have had since I can remember,” says Adam.

Running on a 50MAX permit, “Gold Fever” primarily does general freight work around the “Golden Triangle” between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.