Has anyone else run a US Volvo VNL770 in UK as a fully legal truck?
Not under ‘Exhibition’ Rules, i.e no MOT, not Tacho etc.
UK Registered, MOT’d, ‘O’ Licenced, 100% Legal,
I bought this one from Texas in early 2004, it was just over 3 yrs old, and even with shipping, duties, and conversion to UK rules, it was still cheaper than a same year FH at the time.
When i picked it up from Southampton Docks an American Volvo passed on other side of road, he was pulling a container, looked like a 660, shorter unit, never did meet up with him, anyone know him?
I ran the 770 all over Europe for many years, truck is still in Ireland near Waterford.
Loading cars outside ‘Joey Dunlop Centre’ Co Antrim for Switzerland, early 2005
Its first winter away from Texas, in the wilds of Co Armagh
I saw a feature about US trucks used as recovery trucks in one of the two trucking mags a few months back – they said that the type approval rules were changing, meaning that approvals of US trucks were likely to get more difficult and that this company, which had just got a US truck approved, was not going to convert any more. Shame as they are spacious and certainly turn heads, especially now Volvo and Scania aren’t producing bonneted trucks in Europe anymore.
Punchards had a NH ? 525 ■■■■■■■ with what could of been a eaton super 10 in ,I can’t remember why it never got used ,the bed wasnt as big as seen above but was a good bit deeper than normal .ill ask why tomorrow .
Punchy Dan:
Punchards had a NH ? 525 ■■■■■■■ with what could of been a eaton super 10 in ,I can’t remember why it never got used ,the bed wasnt as big as seen above but was a good bit deeper than normal .ill ask why tomorrow .
NH had a full width cab, same as FH, VNL was about 6ins narrower and sat much lower on chassis. Also length, My old one was 10Mtrs long end to end, and pulled a 13Mtr Transporter
2 VNL’s i know of in UK,
A 780 & a 770
But last i heard they run under ‘Exhibition Unit’ rules
Only allowed to pull the TV screen trailers,
No MOT
No Tacho rules
No UK conversion
US spec.
Not for general ‘O’ Licence use
Geoff or Jeff Byford was the bloke with the red 660, that originally came from Canada, an Irishman brought it over when he left Canada. He forgot to tell the finance people he had left the country and put the lorry on a boat out of Halifax NS, so there was a bit of a to do when he tried to register it in the UK. It sat for a couple of years, then did a bit of promo work for Coca Cola, then Mr Byford bought it and put it to work. It had a D12 and a 13spd Fuller in it, I think it was a 96 model as it ended up on a P plate.
770 Condo Cab,
Table and chairs for 4,
Room to walk around,
Best double bunk ever, luxury for 1,
Nothing compares,
I had full size household fridge freezer, Microwave Oven, Flat Screen 27" TV,
And at an absolute push, could sleep 4,
skipvitesse:
770 Condo Cab,
Table and chairs for 4,
Room to walk around,
Best double bunk ever, luxury for 1,
Nothing compares,
I had full size household fridge freezer, Microwave Oven, Flat Screen 27" TV,
And at an absolute push, could sleep 4,
Here are my VNs, a 670 and a 730, both 2014, I bought the 670 new in 2014 and the 730 last month, it’s the same age as the 670.
The 730 is not as tall as the 670, it has a spoiler on the roof, which is hard to see in the picture, but it has the longer, wider cab and after 20months in the 670 it feels huge, the extra length and bigger wardrobes, fridge and lockers make a massive difference.
Before the Volvos I did 6yrs in a 379 Peterbilt with a 63" stand up sleeper and even though that’s a big bunk it was tiny compared to even the smaller 670, these Volvos are fantastic places to live in all week or longer.
newmercman:
0
Here are my VNs, a 670 and a 730, both 2014, I bought the 670 new in 2014 and the 730 last month, it’s the same age as the 670.
The 730 is not as tall as the 670, it has a spoiler on the roof, which is hard to see in the picture, but it has the longer, wider cab and after 20months in the 670 it feels huge, the extra length and bigger wardrobes, fridge and lockers make a massive difference.
Before the Volvos I did 6yrs in a 379 Peterbilt with a 63" stand up sleeper and even though that’s a big bunk it was tiny compared to even the smaller 670, these Volvos are fantastic places to live in all week or longer.
Yes it’s surprising how cramped you can still feel in a 379 with a 63" standup. When I look inside a VNL they look cavernous, have so much more space than my Pete, obviously down to the wider and higher drivers cab. Always seems to be hunched over and ducking and turning sideways in the Peterbilt.
Those 379s may be a bit smaller and a lot noisier than the Volvos, but they are a pleasure to drive, I absolutely loved mine, I would love to have another one, but they are just too expensive to keep on the road and they are thirsty beasts, but nothing can touch them for sheer presence.
To the original question, my ansewr is no. You can buy a bonneted iveco if you’d like. Think there madw by de rooy. Theres a few french companies running them on food tankers in europe.
Theres also ex american trucks in europe, naturally with shorter trailers.
