Volvo commercial vehicles: books - history and technology
A book on Volvo commercial vehicles? Here are illustrated books on the history, models and technology of Volvo commercial vehicles.
Volvo Lorries
Car production at Volvo began in 1926 in Stockholm with a prototype. By 1927 small goods vehicles based on the car designs were in production at Gothenburg, and heavier three-tonners were being produced by 1928.
Already known for their robust cars, Volvo lorries first came to British roads in 1967 after Jim McKelvie, a former road haulier, saw the need for better trucks than UK manufacturers were producing at the time, and imported the Volvo F86 model as a 30/32 ton artic unit.
The lorry was light, had a high power-to-weight ratio and provided incomparable comfort for the driver. It took the UK market by storm. This early import was the forerunner of later Volvo trucks across the entire range, with various models of bus chassis also being introduced to the UK markets.
Volvo production has gone forward in leaps and bounds, today being a major player on the world stage. Though a relative newcomer to the UK scene, Volvos have gained a very large following.
Lavishly illustrated with rare and unpublished photographs, Volvo Lorries traces their history in Britain from the early F86 imports of the 1960s to the FH16 750 bhp fleet flagships seen on the roads today.
| Author: | Bill Reid |
|---|
| Specs: | 96 pages, 23.5 x 16.5 x 1.1 cm / 9.25 x 6.5 x 0.43 in, paperback |
|---|
| Illustrations: | 180 b&w and colour photographs |
|---|
| Publisher: | Amberley Publishing (GB, 2017) |
|---|
Volvo F88 and F89 at Work (2nd Edition)
Between 1965 and 1977 the Swedish manufacturer Volvo produced a staggering 40,000 F88 trucks. Along with Scania, Volvo came to dominate the European truck market.
Before this revolution trucks were often noisy, uncomfortable and liable to break down. Volvo transformed engines, gearboxes, frames, brakes, drives and shafts, bringing all these components under their own control. This unique position gave them an enviable edge over rivals for quality control and supply.
Development work, too, could proceed without interruption. Wherever trucking work was needed on substantial loads or for long-haul work the F88 was bound to be a serious contender.
Patrick Dyer presents the predecessors to the F88, a photographic record of the truck at work in all manner of situations and then deals with the successor F89. This second edition includes all the original photographs as well as 53 new ones - including some rarities - mainly from the Volvo archives.
| Author: | Patrick W. Dyer |
|---|
| Specs: | 144 pages, 22 x 27 x 1.7 cm / 8.7 x 10.6 x 0.67 in, hardback |
|---|
| Illustrations: | 204 b&w and colour photographs |
|---|
| Publisher: | Old Pond Publishing Ltd (GB, 2012) |
|---|
Volvo F10 & F12 at Work - 1977-83
"Volvo F10 & F12 1977-83 at Work" follows the development of the highly successful F10 and F12 trucks, beginning with the N-series and ending with the legendary Globetrotters. The book is full of evocative photographs supplied by enthusiasts and drawn from the Volvo archive.
Patrick Dyer's first book on Volvo, dealing with the F88 and F89, took the reader up to the F88 290 - a truck intended as a stop gap during the development of the F10 and F12.
In 1977, the F10 and F12 with their dramatic new cabs were revealed to the world at the Frankfurt show. However, Volvo was never a company to rest on its laurels and in 1979 it delighted drivers and confounded the competition by introducing an entirely new concept to the market - the raised roof sleeper. The Globetrotter was born.
The fine selection of over 200 photographs shows UK operators as well as continental ones. This collection of images, accompanied by informative text, will evoke a host of memories from people in the trucking world.
| Author: | Patrick W. Dyer |
|---|
| Specs: | 144 pages, 21.5 x 27 x 2 cm / 8.5 x 10.6 x 0.79 in, hardback |
|---|
| Illustrations: | about 210 b&w and colour photographs |
|---|
| Publisher: | Old Pond Publishing Ltd (GB, 2013) |
|---|
<
Top
>
The TMB Bookshop offers not only general books about Volvo . Click here to discover all books about Volvo (including technical books like workshop manuals, restauration manuals, driver's handbooks, parts catalogues, etc.).
