More or less common on the continent with Belgium as a frequent user of this smart and fast light weight Volvo.
From 1956 to 1966 this truck was powered by a (B36AV) V8-Volvo-engine, good for 120hp with its 3.599litre engine
which was also intended (hence also called Philip-engine) for a prototype of Volvo-car. From 1963 to 1967 the petrol
engine was superseded by a Ford 4 cilinder Diesel providing 65 hp and with respective type L425 and L435. In 1972
the range got a Perkins down under providing 80 hp. In 1972 with the introduction of the “8”-series this range was
called F82 and F83 and some years later (with the exterior change by a black plastic grille front) it became F82S and
F83S. Then the market of light weight trucks was not very interesting anymore due to the competition, mind German
Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz as well as Ford amongst some other marques.
The cab for this smart front truck was produced in house at Volvo in Olofström and about 25.000 examples were made.
The L420 had the name (as than more was the case) Snabbe (Swedish for Fast) and the L430 had the name Trygge
(Swedish for Safe) and in Belgium this type of truck was distributed by “Société Belge de Materiel Automobile S.A.” from
Alsemberg-Vorst, close to Brussels.
Herewith some nice pictures
got
Great piece of history, is the Guy in the third picture down talking to someone from Scania 
dave docwra:
Great piece of history, is the Guy in the third picture down talking to someone from Scania
Possibly that was his intention for the so succesful V8-diesel of Scania-Vabis!
This Volvo had the petrol-version which was not so economic in the end, so
replaced later by the Ford-diesel and the Perkins-diesel.
Again some examples of trucks and its documentation which is very rare nowadays as this type of
truck ‘only’ covered 1956-1975 with 25.000 chassis produced.
The B36,unsurprisingly,was bettered by the B30 straight 6,or for that matter arguably even the Vauxhall/Bedford petrol 6.With a few exceptions like the Buick/Rover,small capacity V8’s are a waste of time and development money.
The Rolls B80/81 was probably the definitive 8 cylinder petrol truck engine creating just the right balance of capacity,output and economy.
Carryfast: thank you that you’ve founde the time to jump into this thread…however (point taken)
you are about reaching the edge when it comes to the era that companies/transporters foresaw or
(later saw) that fuel-consumption was more important than speed etc etc…
On the continent…major users of this nice lightweight DID decide to replace the petrol PHILIP into
the (first) Ford- and later Perkins Diesel…we all understand you.
Well, back to the fifties, sixties and early seventies, this chassis was quite succesful in several ways
of transportation…breweries, forwarders, even breakdown…groceries etc
Well, now more focus on the F82 and F83…nice pictures with reference to veteranlastbilar.se
According to the website/forum of veteranlastbilar.se 5.200 chassis L420 and 6.500 chassis
L430 were produced. bear in mind that this truck was very useful for indeed breweries (GVW of
5.60tonnes for L420 and 8.1tonnes for L430 as well as still very speedy) to also have room for a
of three to unload at pubs and restaurants. There were three wheelbases: 2.60m, 3.00m, 3.40m
Even an L430 with a sleeper (pigeon-box) existed, see picture
Carryfast:
…With a few exceptions like the Buick/Rover,small capacity V8’s are a waste of time and development money…
Remarkable assertion, given the evidence: All the German multinationals, plus JLR, use small V8s for their big cars. If fuel was as plentiful as it was after the war, 7.5 tonne trucks would have them, for the weight saving. The fact that they would be snabbe would be a bonus.
I see that an Eaton two speed axle was fitted, or an option, did many ‘foreign’ manufacturers use them I wonder? The V8 petrol looks a nice unit as well, later Volvo used Renault built V6’s in their 760 car models.
Pete.
Again some nice examples from several users as well as some dashboard pictures
Interesting article, the 420 and 430 were also sold in Swiss and this example was bought in 1998 near Sion to a fruit merchant, it’s complete but I never restored it. The windscreen is broken but resists…
The main difference between 420 and 430 is the frame which is lowered on the 420 while the one of 430 it is straight. Also the tyres are bigger on the 430 and you could see the difference between the two from outside because the 420 has only 5 wheelbolts.
ERF-Continental:
According to the website/forum of veteranlastbilar.se 5.200 chassis L420 and 6.500 chassis
L430 were produced. bear in mind that this truck was very useful for indeed breweries (GVW of
5.60tonnes for L420 and 8.1tonnes for L430 as well as still very speedy) to also have room for a
of three to unload at pubs and restaurants. There were three wheelbases: 2.60m, 3.00m, 3.40m
Even an L430 with a sleeper (pigeon-box) existed, see picture
That is a crew cab- you can see the door handle for the rear passengers. This appears to be a sleeper:
As a mobile shop ,a L 430 :
The F84 and F85 continued the trend before a couple of savvy Scotsmen took out a licence to supply Volvo Trucks through Ailsa Trucks to the UK.
This was the F86 which became a little gem in British Haulage
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice contributions on this smart light weight! I am surprised that quite some information and pictures can be
found on the internet. Later today I will input some more technical stuff for the engineers amongst us.
Some of the hereafter inputted picture come from “wheelsage.org” so when copyright is involved…
As announced herewith some technical stuff
Quite a lot on the internet of this rare light weight truck, I wonder if many survived in the oldtimer-scene?
L 420 with a trailer at Parl Rallyt in Sweden.
THANK YOU Michel!!! Really superb and within 25.000 chasis so rare that some have survived!
Impecable et bonne weekend!
