Car production at Volvo began in 1926 in Stockholm with a prototype. By
1927 small goods vehicles based on the car designs were in production at
Gothenburg, and heavier three-tonners were being produced by 1928.
Already known for their robust cars, Volvo lorries first came to British
roads in 1967 after Jim McKelvie, a former road haulier, saw the need
for better trucks than UK manufacturers were producing at the time, and
imported the Volvo F86 model as a 30/32 ton artic unit. The lorry was
light, had a high power-to-weight ratio and provided incomparable
comfort for the driver. It took the UK market by storm. This early
import was the forerunner of later Volvo trucks across the entire range,
with various models of bus chassis also being introduced to the UK
markets. Volvo production has gone forward in leaps and bounds, today
being a major player on the world stage. Though a relative newcomer to
the UK scene, Volvos have gained a very large following. Lavishly
illustrated with rare and unpublished photographs, Volvo Lorries traces
their history in Britain from the early F86 imports of the 1960s to the
FH16 750 bhp fleet flagships seen on the roads today.