Volvo trucks: books - history, types and construction

Volvo Lorries

Volvo began in 1926 producing vehicles in Stockholm with a prototype. By 1927, small goods vehicles were being manufactured in Gothenburg, followed by heavier three-ton trucks in 1928.
Known for their sturdy cars, Volvo introduced their lorries to British roads in 1967 when Jim McKelvie, a former road haulier, recognized the need for better trucks and imported the Volvo F86. This model, with its lightweight design, high power-to-weight ratio, and superior driver comfort, quickly became popular in the UK. The F86 paved the way for a wide range of Volvo trucks and bus chassis in the UK market.

Volvo's production has grown significantly, establishing the company as a major global player. Although a relatively recent entrant to the UK, Volvo trucks have gained a strong following.
This illustrated book chronicles their history in Britain, from the early F86 imports in the 1960s to the modern FH16 750 bhp fleet seen on today's roads.

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.

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.