Suedehead:
.Wasnt the Transcon cab a variation of the Berliet, who were taken over by Renault ?
Ford bought the cabs for the Transcon from Renault and mounted them a touch higher. The idea was to purchase the best of everything, ■■■■■■■ engines, Fuller gearbox’s and Rockwell axles, I think in 1974 Renault won an award for the cab on their TR280 & 305.
RT
bigr250:
Suedehead:
.Wasnt the Transcon cab a variation of the Berliet, who were taken over by Renault ?Ford bought the cabs for the Transcon from Renault and mounted them a touch higher. The idea was to purchase the best of everything, ■■■■■■■ engines, Fuller gearbox’s and Rockwell axles, I think in 1974 Renault won an award for the cab on their TR280 & 305.
RT
Still maintain it was a badged as a Berliet in those days mate.
Berliet designed and used first.
Does anybody remember a couple of Transcons that used to run out of cherbourg to spain/portugal in the late 90’s.
They were quite often running together usually pulling blue tilts amd not hanging about.
One was black with a yellow stripe and one was red and they both had high roof and rear cab extensions. Both had supersingles on the front axles and tag rear lifts. They always looked like they were held together with a wing and a prayer but I never saw them broken down.
I spoke to one of the drivers in victors one day but can’t remember much about him apart from him saying he could get over 80mph out of the motor. At the time I was probably a bit of a snob in my brand new shiny volvo XL 460 but I wish I’d had more of a chat now.
I think the red one met it’s end on the northbound N4 at the LH hairpin in the valley just north of bailen.
Cheers
Neilf
boyzee:
The first one i saw was silverroadways M reg i think it was a prototype,it had a different grill to the production ones.I think it was used on a regular run from london to the west country for tate an lyle.I had a demo one from gates of woodford an at the time i liked them an thought they were a good lorry apart from the lack of brakes,they were cold to sleep in with all that window area but lots of room an three seats in the early ones.I think mr ken will remember the silverroadways lorry.
i know of the first one sold in kent, sold by stormonts (hildenbrough) sold to Dan Ham.
maiden trip to the m/e broke down at the Hareem hotel
fault no oil in the axle, wasnt checked at the pdi.
Ford had no spare back axles had to wait weeks : 
your right suedehead. when the transcon came out . berliet wre still available in two models … the tr280 and the tr305 ware the six cylinder jobs an the v8 was the tr350. the tr 350 was on front cover of truck magasine 1980 with naked doris hanging off the front!
Suedehead:
Still maintain it was a badged as a Berliet in those days mate.
Coppied from ‘Wikipedia’
"As a result of French industrial policy, in 1975 state-owned Renault also acquired the truck and bus producer Berliet from Michelin. In 1978, Berliet and Saviem were merged to form Renault Véhicules Industriels. Again, the old brand names were retained for two more years while the model lineups gradually were incorporated, until in 1980 they were replaced by the name Renault.!
Also from the Wikipedia,
“The Ford Transcontinental was a heavy goods vehicle tractor and rigid unit manufactured between 1975 and 1983 by Ford of Britain”
RT
When I worked for Cabmont / British Int. They used to run about a dozen Transcon’s here are a few photo’s
This was the last one they brought one of three Italian Spec from a cancelled order
Just out of the paint shop
A few years later no broken bones just a few bruises
Another of the last three
This as you can see was French Reg
They also ran Berliets before the Transcon’s and Renaults after
And this was the one I drove
My Transcon taken in the 80’s before I refurbished it. It covered the M/E and most of Europe, when I sold it (Xmas 84) it still had the original front linings one new clutch and the gearbox and diff had never been touched. Fantastic truck that a bit more development would have made unbeatable. (IMHO)
The fridge used to belong to Alan Atkinson(Sentinel Freight) any one know if he is still about?
Gavin
mr ken:
Yes i do mart also hays transport had one as well on the clay tanks to cornwall
all them early ones had that funny grill m reg they were
Hi there, I believe the Transcon pictured in my post is the actual vehicle that was on the clay tanks to St Austell, Cornwall that you mention. It started life in Hays colours.
Kevin Wright
I kow that this is a bit of a long shot but does anyone have any photos of the Transcon run by Paines’s Brewery of St Neots Cambs. It was an early one, P registered, so may be there are some publicity photos of it etc.
Cheers
Mark
Does anyone have any pics of the Versapak transcon, that used to be driven by Dave Smith out of Dartford i think reg was A***kkk, used to ship out on the Oula Line every Sunday back in 84 for Germany.
Hullo,
I wonder what ever happened to my Transcon, I imported it from Belgium, it was a powerful motor in those days, it had a 350 big cam ■■■■■■■ in it and it was running 12.00 x 20 tyres, bloody heavy to change I remember. the English registration number was GJN 243Y. The last time I saw it was in Dover, Athol was running it on Davis Turners work. I don`t suppose anybody has a picture of it ?
Cheers, Archie.
I would have liked to have seen mine again. UBU 773S still in blue and white Rockware Glass livery. it served me well but I needed a 6 wheeler at the time.
There was a red Transcon that had been badly smashed up on a stripped trailer at Josef Bolks garage in Waidhaus. It never moved for ages. Who was the owner of that one?
Not sure if its too late but thought this pic might keep the thread running a bit longer
Here’s a picture of a Brit International Transcon at Vianna do Castello in Portugal, I took it when I was there changing trailers. Around 1986.
GS
Gavin McArdle:
. Fantastic truck that a bit more development would have made unbeatable. (IMHO)Gavin
Until someone lucky enough to be driving a Bedford TM 4400 with an 8V92 Detroit in it came by.
Chris Webb:
Carna:
Here are a couple you will likeCarna,any idea where the photo of the Manx Meat Transconti was taken and do you know if it was a contractor in Manx Meat livery?It does have an IOM reg.
Thanks,
Chris.
Hi Chris.
In the early to mid '90s I used to sell to Manx Co-op up by the Test Station and this Transcontinental belonged to them.
John S.
wessexman:
Chris Webb:
Carna:
Here are a couple you will likeCarna,any idea where the photo of the Manx Meat Transconti was taken and do you know if it was a contractor in Manx Meat livery?It does have an IOM reg.
Thanks,
Chris.Hi Chris.
In the early to mid '90s I used to sell to Manx Co-op up by the Test Station and this Transcontinental belonged to them.
John S.
Thanks for that John.That place would be Tromode,Isle of Man Fatstock place? No Transcontis over here now,unless in a field somewhere 
That’s the place Chris. I used to do a lot of business with them. I am trying to think of the foreman fitters name.
John S.