I think this is a very good example of a Transcon:
Hi Robert, The best transcon I ever saw was in the early 80s run by a chap named Martyn, truck was Maltese registered it was orange in colour and immaculate, eminox stacks, rooftop aircon and also fitted with jake brake and telma retarder for which I was told he was paid extra per trip because of the savings on trailer brake linings. he pulled for EXpress Trailers out of Valletta Malta usually to Birmingham UK.
The unit was his pride and joy, I only ever saw this unit in Malta and Regio de Calabria, but what a beauty. Do you know of it or have any photo’s of it? Many thanks, Tony.
Tony R:
Hi Robert, The best transcon I ever saw was in the early 80s run by a chap named Martyn, truck was Maltese registered it was orange in colour and immaculate, eminox stacks, rooftop aircon and also fitted with jake brake and telma retarder for which I was told he was paid extra per trip because of the savings on trailer brake linings. he pulled for EXpress Trailers out of Valletta Malta usually to Birmingham UK.
The unit was his pride and joy, I only ever saw this unit in Malta and Regio de Calabria, but what a beauty. Do you know of it or have any photo’s of it? Many thanks, Tony.
Hello Tony. Could it have been this one?
Or possibly any these other Maltese Transocons…
Or even this Dutch / Malta service one:
Robert
Robert, The one I am refering to was plain, no sign writing at all, plus had aircon mounted on roof !st picture right color though… and the OD was Maltese aswell…Tony.
robert1952:
Tony R:
Hi Robert, The best transcon I ever saw was in the early 80s run by a chap named Martyn, truck was Maltese registered it was orange in colour and immaculate, eminox stacks, rooftop aircon and also fitted with jake brake and telma retarder for which I was told he was paid extra per trip because of the savings on trailer brake linings. he pulled for EXpress Trailers out of Valletta Malta usually to Birmingham UK.
The unit was his pride and joy, I only ever saw this unit in Malta and Regio de Calabria, but what a beauty. Do you know of it or have any photo’s of it? Many thanks, Tony.Hello Tony. Could it have been this one?
3
Or possibly any these other Maltese Transocons…
21
Or even this Dutch / Malta service one:
0
Robert
That EXpress Trailers firm, are they still out and about? Think I saw one of those wagons passing by earlier this morning?
Don’t know what to think of those trannies, crabs and specifications though 
Cheers, Patrick
PV83, Yes, according to their web site they are still running and still controlled by the same family since 1945… Tony
In hindsight I shouldn’t have edited the title, late comers will wonder what the odd misplaced crab/lobster picture is doing on here. 
Tony R:
PV83, Yes, according to their web site they are still running and still controlled by the same family since 1945… Tony
Cheers Tony, nowt wrong with me eyes then
Really is a family affair then…
lczjs:
I would say this Transcon is well laden by the appearance.0
Either that, or, I think the tag axle isn’t down ? Bet it steered nicely either way
what2do71:
In hindsight I shouldn’t have edited the title, late comers will wonder what the odd misplaced crab/lobster picture is doing on here.
Your edit was the perfect solution , ‘what2do71’: it made the title respectable so people would dip into it 
; but at the same time it’s retained its sense of humour! 
Robert
what2do71:
In hindsight I shouldn’t have edited the title, late comers will wonder what the odd misplaced crab/lobster picture is doing on here.
The posts with the crustaceans still have the original title, so do not worry- everything is in order. If you are going to rename the thread again, call it something like “Crabs and grammatical errors.”
Interesting thread this.
As most of you probably know, Ford’s Transcontinental did not have many FORD parts in it, certainly not the cab.
The cab was a in fact a straight purchase from Berliet who launched this cabin as early as 1970 with their TR/GR 260 (straight-6 naturally aspirated) and TR/GR 300 (naturally aspirated V8). This last engine was the one with high propensity to explode, which our dear friend SAVIEM mentioned in one of his any posts. Problem later fixed with the 320 evolution of the same block.
Anyhow, Berliet’s cab codename was KB2400 (after its 2,4 meters width), and later became KB2480 with the wider engine hump to accommodate the bulkier evolutions of the in-house V8.
Here is a picture of a Berliet TRH350 V8, which apparently is the only one ever imported into Swiss. The same cabin as FORD’s, only mounted a little lower for it did not have to accomodate the huge ■■■■■■■ lump.
Then in 1977 Berliet introduced “le centaure” which was Berliet’s top-of-the-range product, in direct competition with Volvo’s newly-launched Globetrotter. It had the same cab structure but some 45cm higher thanks to this specific fibreglass ceiling which added a good 45cm headspace.
Berliet delegated this cab transformation to bodywork specialist LAMBERET, who handcrafted these transformations. Each unit was unique or the Customer had the choice between a wide variety of options and features. Apparently less than 250 Centaures were produced, all under the Berliet Marque except some 20-odd units which became Renault for they were produced and sold after April 1980 when SAVIEM and BERLIET were force-married under the Renault Véhicules Industriels umbrella.
Here is the last known surviving “le Centaure” unit (belongs to my good mate Julien, an avid Renault collector).
Then followed a 2-year period without this higher cab modification in Renault’s assortment, until 1983 when the R310 (Turboliner) and R370 (Turboleader) appeared with what was an almost identical design, but this time produced in-house @ Renault.
Here is a such R370, beautifully restored by French collector Norbert Freret (incidentally also the owner of the F88 and F16 in the background,his F89 and F1220 must have been parked up a little further down).
So to conclude this all, it is easy to see how certain Ford Transcontinental owners could recuperate a high-ceiling Renault cab and bolt it onto their own motor.
As for Julien’s Renault R360 le Centaure or Norbert Freret’s R370, chances are you might see both vehicles “in the flesh” at next year’s edition of la Locomotion en fête, on June 10th and 11th 2017, just South of Paris.
Good evening Gents. Time for my beauty nap.
Cheers
The only things Ford made on the Transcontinental were the badges and the profits.
newmercman:
The only things Ford made on the Transcontinental were the badges and the profits.
British Truck Manufactures like the Ford Transcontinental
all Designed the Trucks they assembled with parts bought
from OEMs such as Engines, Gearboxes, Axles and other
parts to numerous to mention.
Like the other manufacturers Atkinson, Foden, ERF, Ford etc
never concealed the fact that the components were bought in.
whys that then ?
Wheel Nut:
When people start talking about Dutch Spec and Special Trucks I normally find another table or go for a shower
