The first medium-duty truck rolled off the production line at the Gothenburg factory in October 1926.

The first medium-duty truck rolled off the assembly line in 1928.

1 Series and 2 Series

When the first Volvo truck rolled off the assembly line in 1928, the inflatable tires and fully enclosed cab made the truck refreshing. Volvo made a huge contribution to early trucks.

Volvo was founded in 1926, and production of Volvo cars began in August 1927. In October 1926 the first medium-duty truck rolled off the assembly line at the Gothenburg plant.

The advanced design of Volvo cars has been successfully applied to Volvo trucks. Originally planned to produce 500 four-cylinder trucks, more advanced six-cylinder engines were later used. The 500 trucks sold out quickly.

3 Series and 4 Series

Volvo trucks have been (and actually are) considered expensive from the time they were first created (as have Volvo cars). Customers usually choose a Volvo for its superior quality and durability, regardless of its high price.

By the fall of 1926, Volvo's management decided that it was no longer wise to opt for a small 4-cylinder engine. On the basis of the existing 4-cylinder engine, the research and development work of the in-line 6-cylinder engine began, and a 2-cylinder engine was added to create Volvo's first 6-cylinder engine.

In the spring of 1929, the first cars and trucks equipped with six-cylinder engines were launched. At this point, Volvo has its first truck product with high quality, excellent performance and rugged design.

In general, the first 3 Series 6-cylinder truck is very similar to the 2 Series truck, with almost no changes in technical dimensions and specifications, except that the chassis wheelbase is shortened, making the cargo box length Subject to certain restrictions, the carrying capacity of the first model of the sub-series is limited to about 2 tons, which has little impact on its application in transportation. In subsequent models, the cargo bed length increased slightly but not significantly.

The significance of the first six-cylinder engine truck

The first six-cylinder engine truck seemed a bit old-fashioned compared with the products of its competitors at the time. Its wooden wheels were far from the reliable performance required for heavy-duty hauling purposes, and its two-wheel brakes, which only acted on the rear wheels, were not the safest and most reliable for heavy-duty trucks performing distribution hauls and other tasks.

The two basic models in the first-generation six-cylinder truck series did not undergo many improvements during its three-year production period, during which more than 3,000 units were produced. However, the mass of the vehicle gradually increases, and the corresponding load capacity also increases.

The most important step for Volvo, a small manufacturer at that time, was the introduction of the first 3-axle truck, the LV64LE. The primary reason for the introduction of this type of truck was not to increase load capacity, but to reduce axle load allowances to accommodate the poor road conditions of the early 1930s. But the first three-axle truck was not used more as a pure truck, but as a chassis for rural road transportation buses. In these places, the axle load often far exceeded its allowable value, and the regulatory authorities There is greater interest in the role of controlling axle loads.

The 3 Series and 4 Series trucks were the last truck models that Volvo gave up on eliminating. Trucks produced after that are usually compared with competitors' products before being eliminated and updated.

Volvo's business transformation

Volvo started the unprofitable car sales business in 1927. In the following 1928, it started selling trucks, which immediately became highly profitable. It soon became clear to Volvo's management - Assan Gabrielesson and Gustaf Larson - that large cars were more profitable than small cars. Small cars often face stiff competition from U.S. producers of economy cars and small trucks, and have to sell at lower prices.

The early days of Volvo Trucks

The main Swedish truck and bus manufacturers in the 1930s were Tidaholm and Scania abis. They are all very small, with annual sales rarely exceeding 100 units. It is for this reason that Volvo, a large manufacturer that is trying to expand its business and increase profits, begins to produce and sell large cars.

By the end of the 1920s (during the production period of the 3 Series and 4 Series trucks) Volvo naturally began to design and develop large trucks independently.

Early trucks also used a large number of parts from Volvo cars. And newer heavy-duty trucks (Volvo builds every one of them) require stronger and more durable components. For this reason, Volvo began designing specialized truck components, including those for the engine, transmission, rear axle and chassis.

In the early stages of the plan to design and develop a new truck, two engines with different structures were used for evaluation: an in-line 6-cylinder engine and an in-line 8-cylinder engine. In the end, a more traditional 6-cylinder engine structure was selected, coupled with a non-synchronized 4-speed gearbox.

Since these two new truck series cover a fairly wide GVW range, a double-axle or three-axle structure is used to configure the rear axle, and a single-stage reduction gear or a two-stage reduction gear is used to match. .

Volvo trucks were successfully launched

In 1931, the LV6800 and LV70 trucks were launched. They were very popular in the market, especially the lighter LV68 series (there are three models with different chassis and wheelbases). The LV6607 truck failed to achieve such success for two reasons. The first was the limited average annual sales of heavy-duty trucks at that time; , its 75bhp pre-valve petrol model was underpowered for Swedish winter snowplow applications, a business that was an important source of income for many truck owners at the time.

Double-axle trucks were initially preferred for production, but in 1933, production of super-heavy 3-axle trucks began as tank tractors and heavy-duty construction vehicles.

Because of the excessively high 9 fuel consumption, customers hope to reduce fuel costs. Volvo therefore introduced the Hesselman engine. This smart engine that can burn diesel or gasoline was invented by Swedish inventor Jonas Hesselman based on the gasoline engine. The Hesselman engine has the same (low) compression ratio as a gasoline engine, but because it is equipped with an injection pump and high-power spark plug, it can also burn diesel (or other fuels). Hesselman engines became very popular, but were not as efficient as high-compression diesel engines. But if you encounter severe road conditions and an excellent driver, it can be regarded as an excellent and reliable power source.

LV68 and LV70 series trucks are used in many different transportation fields. Since a large number of LV70 trucks (sometimes extended models) were sold, the LV70B special-purpose truck developed was also used as Sweden's standard bus. The LV70 series became Volvo Bus's flagship product.

Edit this paragraph: Volvo Trucks’ very successful models LV-71S and LV-37S

In the early 1930s, Volvo became a (reliable but conservative in style) light and heavy-duty truck. An established manufacturer of medium-duty trucks, it is also considered a manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks (low-volume) incorporating modern designs.

From the beginning to 1932, Volvo light and medium-duty trucks also used two-wheel brakes and wooden-spoke wheels, which were not modern advanced technologies. It was clear that there was a need to create a smaller, more modern version of the truck. The resulting LV71 and LV73 series of trucks proved to be very popular. In a sense, these two series of trucks helped establish Volvo's image as a professional truck manufacturer and were often sold to countries far away from Sweden. (Because at that time, each European country had its own truck manufacturer, competition in the vehicle export business was extremely fierce).

The difference between LV71 and LV73 mainly lies in the chassis to cope with different transportation purposes. (LV72 and LV74 are similar to LV71 and LV73, except that the wheelbase is longer). The more popular series of these two trucks is the LV71/LV72 (cheaper), which are mainly used for road transportation, while the LV73/LV74 have a larger overload margin, so they are more suitable for overloaded field construction transportation.

The mechanical parts of LV71 and LV73 are conventional universal parts, used in side valve engines, 4-speed gearboxes and single-stage reduction rear axles. Good performance but may not be the most powerful (if you need more power, you can choose the LV66 and LV68 trucks equipped with more powerful overhead valve gasoline engines or Hesselman engines).

LV-75

Although in the United States and other places, only trucks with a cab front engine cover are called traditional trucks, the engine is installed in the cab/seat The lower part is also an arrangement plan (in fact, the world's first truck invented in 1896 adopted this structure, with the driver's seat placed above the engine).

In the early 1930s, as the number of trucks on Europe's poor roads continued to increase, maintenance requirements for the highway system led to tighter limits on axle load pressure values. In order to solve the problem of a more even axle load value between axles in a truck arrangement where the engine is placed above the front axle and the cab is placed behind the engine, the F-type truck without a cab front cover was developed.

Volvo became interested in applying this basic structure and launched the LV75 model at the 1933 Amsterdam Motor Show in the Netherlands. The LV75 quickly became popular in the market for specialized transportation applications such as waste storage and transportation, but its most basic use is as a light and medium bus chassis for rural transportation.

The LV75 was designed using a concept that sounds like a 1990s concept design approach. Overall, the chassis uses the same 65bhp side-valve petrol engine as the LV74 truck. However, in order to compensate for the GVW weight shared on the front axle, the designer chose the front axle of a heavy-duty LV68 series truck.

However, the LV75 series trucks had to be produced as a special case of the Volvo F-type truck series until the mid-1950s, but after being used as buses, their appearance quickly changed.

Since 1935, Volvo's bus models have placed the engine inside or below the bus body

LV-76 and LV-79

As the GVWS of trucks continues to increase, Volvo The decision was made to design a truly advanced light truck using advanced components to expand annual truck production and thereby challenge the dominance of (cheap) American light trucks in the Scandinavian market. The LV7608 truck launched subsequently is one of the best light trucks ever produced by Volvo, with excellent durability and performance. And this mass-produced truck has a beautiful appearance (the reason why these trucks have been produced for so long is that they are good at light transportation and can be used in various transportation applications, even for personal use or for farm work, etc. ).

The LV7608 series (the three models have the same wheelbase and only differ in GVW suspension type and tire size) are similar to Volvo cars of the time. For example, the front of the truck is the same as that of the Volvo PV653 and PV658 sedans, except that the fenders are wider for the larger tires.

In terms of mechanical structure, the LV7608 series is simpler and more robust. It is precisely because of this simplified design that the car owner and driver will not have serious malfunctions when driving.

This type of truck is mainly used for light distribution transportation (its general purpose on the market is a multi-purpose vehicle) and as an official vehicle for small community fire brigades.

In 1936, the slightly more powerful LV79 truck was launched, using larger chassis components and dual rear wheels. This kind of truck is not only suitable for distribution transportation, but also suitable for more heavy-duty purposes. For example, buses can even be used as light construction vehicles.

While the LV79 was replaced by the LV11, the LV10 also replaced the LV7608. These two cars have the same characteristics (like their predecessors) as the large Volvo sedans (taxi) they produced at the same time. cover design.

LV-8 and LV-9

In the mid-1930s, the truck's appearance design and basic technical structural design changed in some important parts. The LV8 and LV9 series trucks are two important steps in Volvo's journey towards becoming a mainstream truck manufacturer.

The distribution of vehicle mass between axles is a very delicate issue. The most critical step in improving the axle load distribution of the front and rear axles is to achieve it by moving the position of the engine under the cab. For a number of different reasons, this principle did not gain many supporters until the mid-1950s.

The engine, which is usually placed behind the front axle, has been moved forward and placed directly above the front axle, thereby greatly improving axle load distribution. The result was the LV8 and LV9 series of trucks, two popular series of trucks that became Sweden's standard trucks in the late 1930s.

Compared with previous Volvo trucks (and other truck models), the LV8 and LV9 have a more rationally curved aerodynamic shape (compared with previous truck models, the latter's shape appeared horizontal, vertical, and square. head square brain).

Before LV8/LV9, many Volvo heavy-duty trucks were delivered without a cab. By the mid-1930s, the standard for this type of vehicle was a steel cab (often with a wooden frame and canvas top), with a reasonably aerodynamic shape that significantly improved comfort and ergonomics. At this time, an important improvement was the increasingly common installation of warm air heaters to provide drivers with a more comfortable working environment.

In the past, each individual truck model was significantly different from other truck models. Starting from LV8/LV9, an independent truck family emerged to meet different transportation needs, from light distribution transportation to long-distance transportation or construction transportation. This was achieved by using different engines (including side valve or overhead valve gasoline engines, Hesselman engines and World War II gas engines) coupled with various types of suspension, axles, wheel and tire sizes, making the LV8 /LV9 is capable of a wide variety of tasks.

The LV8/LV9 were mainly welcomed by the market as trucks, but during their longer production period they also functioned as efficient light-medium buses.

LV-18, LV-19 and LV-29

In the mid-1930s, Volvo truck production expanded extremely rapidly. To date, nearly 5,000 trucks have been produced by hand. It is clear that there is huge customer demand for Volvo trucks for all types of transport applications, covering most applications.

One thing was missed in the development of Volvo products: a truly powerful engine, plans for development of high-horsepower engines for large city buses and new high-horsepower trucks, and even snowplows It was now on the schedule to introduce and produce these two models in 1937.

The LV290 series truck (nicknamed for its long nose for obvious reasons) was an impressive vehicle that was successfully produced into the 1950s with little modification. Compared with the early heavy-duty truck products of other Swedish manufacturers, the LV29 series trucks (and the LV18/19 series of the same period) are high-volume and efficient truck models.

The basis for the success of the LV18/19 and LV29 is the use of a rugged, heavy-duty chassis that has some links to its predecessors, the LV66 and LV68, but incorporates improved and advanced technical features. In fact, two designs that are technically similar to the previous model are named LV18 (equipped with a two-stage reduction rear axle, replacing the LV66 series), and are also designated as the powerful LV29 model. However, the LV9-like front hood (short type) that these two cars have is obviously different in appearance from the more powerful LV29 series.

The chassis used in LV18/LV19/LV29 is extremely strong, and the strong axles, wheels and frames are suitable for the heaviest load capacity at that time. Although these three-axle structures were widely used on large GVW trucks, they are still best known today as two-axle trucks for snowplow applications.

Although the "long-nosed" LV29 gasoline engine truck/Hesselman truck has a very long machine cover, it is not the most powerful model in the LV29 series. In 1946, the diesel LV29C/V began production. It was basically the same as the gasoline model, but used a longer hood to cover the high-horsepower diesel engine.

THE “SHARPNOSE”

Until the 1950s, Volvo became the main supplier of heavy-duty trucks. However, from its inception to World War II, Volvo was only a mainstream manufacturer of medium-duty trucks. It is used in some heavy-duty applications only due to its rugged design.

Sweden is home to two of the world's largest truck manufacturers today, but this was not the case in the late 1930s. At that time, the United States, Britain, France and Germany were the major truck manufacturing countries. Because of this, Volvo's truck designs in the mid- and late 1930s were heavily influenced by mainstream designs from other countries. This also included Volvo cars, which were designed by engineers who had trained or worked for American car companies.

The typical Volvo truck models in the late 1930s were the well-known pointy-nosed trucks, mainly light and medium-duty trucks. They replaced the LV7608 series of 1934/1935 and were a sales success, especially in the difficult circumstances of World War II when the total number of vehicles built was limited and only very few domestic customers were allowed to have new trucks and new tires.

The first appearance of these trucks was in 1938 with the introduction of the LV101, a light vehicle that was a counterpart to the light pickup truck (evolved from the Volvo taxi chassis) and the LV79 and LV8 A transitional model between the heavier-duty trucks in the series. Later, the heavier LV102 and LV103 trucks came on the market. These were true trucks, but they were still mainly used for distribution and transportation purposes.

These trucks have a strong and simple structure and are equipped with a 756bhp side-valve engine (gasoline fuel, but a 50bhp gas engine was also used during World War II). The transmission adopts a 3- to 4-speed mechanical non-synchronized transmission, and the chassis components are well designed and simple. The pointy-nose trucks were so popular with customers that their overall design (with design improvements) was carried over into the new generation of Volvo truck designs.

TVA and TVB

The late 1930s was a dark period in Europe, but one thing is very clear: the clouds of a new round of war are getting closer. Under the threat of the increasingly powerful German army, many countries began to develop and strengthen their own defense capabilities to protect themselves from the unexpected dangers of war.

As the leader of a large international company, Volvo's management was naturally aware of the approaching war and decided to design and produce military off-road vehicles to strengthen Sweden's defense in the war. In 1937, Volvo hired an experienced designer to design a heavy-duty, high-mobility vehicle.

Despite the fact that the new off-road vehicle is very different from anything Volvo has ever done before, it was designed within two years.

When the TVA was delivered to potential customers across Europe, it proved to be an exceptionally rugged and durable 6x4 truck, primarily used to tow artillery and anti-aircraft guns. In addition to the 6 wheels, 2 additional wheels (slightly smaller) can be installed between the first and second axles to reduce the pressure on the ground when the huge body sinks into soft ground.

In terms of mechanical structure, the new TVA car is very strong and powerful. It used a dual-axle drive for the first time, and was equipped with thick-layer rubber powerful tires and off-road tread. This vehicle is powered by the same high-power large gasoline engine as the LV29 pointed-nosed truck. Only the fluid reservoir has been improved to improve lubrication, allowing it to climb at large angles.

The biggest difference from the traditional approach is the use of a central frame with a tube structure, on which independent axles are installed. This design provides the vehicle with excellent road adhesion. Although the front axle has no driving force, TVA still has excellent off-road maneuverability. This may be due to restrictions on the weight shared by the front axle.

Because many European countries have their own card production plants, TVA cannot be sold outside Sweden. The slightly improved TVB was equipped into the Swedish Army in 1940 and served in the Swedish Armed Forces for nearly 20 years with good performance.

To this day, some TVA vehicles are still used as crane chassis in some private companies. At that time, these off-road vehicles were sold to them as surplus materials of the Swedish army.

Edit this paragraph: The Dilemma of Volvo Trucks in the 1940s

Of course, the first five years of the 1940s were the Second World War, and the civilian business of Volvo's vehicle products plummeted, but sales to the Swedish military Advanced off-road vehicles have helped get rid of the dilemma of lack of private customers. The experience of developing off-road military vehicles proved to be valuable long-term experience in the design and production of other rugged and durable vehicles.

The turnaround of Volvo Trucks

In the late 1940s, production of older pre-war vehicles increased dramatically.

The 1930s was a period of rapid expansion in the history of Volvo Trucks. From an ordinary start with old-fashioned models, we have now produced modern vehicles equipped with high-performance engines, large loads, and multiple axles. This is Volvo's golden decade.

Volvo's most successful car

THE ROUND NOSE

The Round Nose truck, introduced in late 1939 as a 1940 model, was perhaps the Volvo before the F-Series trucks appeared in the 1970s The most successful truck model. These trucks, which all look the same and come in many models, are used in all aspects of transportation.

At first glance, these trucks may seem indistinguishable, but in fact they are. For example, the fronts of the latest three cars all have significantly different lengths, and the earlier two are equipped with gasoline engines (or HESSELMAN engines or gas engines).

The appearance of the vehicle may seem unique today, but the appearance of the round-nose truck was heavily influenced by the appearance of American, British and German trucks of the time. This is not surprising, since the 1930s was a decade when form design figured prominently in the product design process and design trends spread from country to country. Influences on the design of nearly all truck products can come from every manufacturer.

The prospects for this series of trucks were not promising when they were first produced.

The first model was released at the end of 1939, just as World War II had just begun. That meant sales of civilian truck products quickly became slow. Fortunately, demand from military customers soared, and Volvo became a supplier to the Swedish Armed Forces. During World War II, thousands of standard round-nose trucks were delivered to the military, all of which were simple in design and all-wheel drive.

After World War II, this series of trucks became a great success. The most successful model is undoubtedly the LV125 series, with more than 10,000 units sold. For a time, the number of trucks increased significantly, but this was still far from the era when it became the main mode of transportation (railway transportation still played a leading role at that time).

Despite having the same appearance, the power and strength of these round-nose trucks vary greatly. The basic engine is an ordinary 90hp side-valve engine, while the overhead-valve gasoline engine has a horsepower of up to 105bhp. There are usually optional HESSELMAN engines that use lower-cost fuel. During World War II, a gas engine was also equipped. Although its performance was limited, it could still maintain operation when gasoline was only supplied to the military.

This series of trucks was produced for 15 years from 1939 to 1954, with no mechanical structural changes except for some detailed improvements. *** produced and sold more than 40,000 round-nose trucks, a number considered to be the limit of truck usage (compared to today).

LV11

The pointy-nose truck was quickly accepted for its functionality and design trends. When the heavier pointy-nosed trucks were developed in 1940, it was better to use an existing design than a new one for the lighter advanced trucks, especially as the LV79 used the same design as the LV76 and LV78 trucks. This was replaced by the pointy-nosed truck in 1938 and 1939.

The LV11 series trucks are a transitional product between Volvo's light trucks and rugged heavy-duty trucks. In fact, the chassis of the LV11 is the same as that of the medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the Volvo family. The transmission system components (manufactured in-house by Volvo) use components from older cars that have been proven reliable for a long time. For example, the components of the LV8 series trucks have been in the market for several years. Time verification. The latter was eventually replaced and updated by LV11.

Despite the large vehicle mass of the LV11, pictures from the 1940s often show this type of vehicle used in heavy-duty applications such as construction and transportation, where the frame, suspension, sedan, etc. Chassis parts were subjected to enormous stresses, especially at a time when overloading was considered normal.

The LV11 became the standard Swedish truck (not much exported, due to the product being strong but expensive compared to cheaper but less durable foreign competitors). It underwent two modifications in 1947 (when the LV105 was successfully launched), and subsequently, the LV105 was replaced by the L20 series trucks. This change is very minor. When it was replaced by the L34 series trucks, the popularity of this generation of trucks and their components meant that the chassis and components of the L20 series trucks were used again, with no changes other than the hood, fenders and advanced-design cab. .

TVC

One of the most fundamental features of World War II was that for the first time in the war, self-propelled cars, trucks and combat vehicles (often with good cross-country mobility) were replaced role previously played by animal-drawn vehicles.

With its abundant resources, Volvo has continued to grow and develop, and in the 15 years since 1939, it has naturally become the main supplier of transportation equipment to the Swedish military. The most advanced vehicles are TVA, TVB and TVC, which have been used as heavy tractors for artillery and anti-aircraft weapons.

TVCA is the first all-wheel drive vehicle produced by Volvo. It was developed on the basis of TVZ/TVB, but made two key changes: front control design and additional front axle drive.

Because TVC needs to have excellent off-road performance, it is natural to limit the overall length of the body and try to evenly distribute the GVW to the three axles. For this reason, a wide cab is set up on top of the engine to provide the driver with good visibility and the interior occupants with satisfactory ride comfort. This unique all-wheel drive truck also has some other advanced features. This large crew cab is very necessary for the purpose of the vehicle, because it not only needs to be used as a tractor for artillery and anti-aircraft guns, but also needs to transport soldiers to combat positions.

The chassis design is exactly the same as TVA/TVB, using a tube structure central frame and independent axles, 6-wheel all-wheel drive and large-size off-road tires.

The engine of TVC is the same as that of its predecessor TVB, which is a 140bhp 7.6-liter gasoline engine. TVC is very popular because of its special functional purposes. Although its front part is heavy, which often causes the steering wheel to sink into the soft ground, the strong traction of the dual-drive rear axle can overcome this shortcoming and ensure its excellent off-road maneuverability. sex.

The TVC has been in long-term service in the Swedish Armed Forces, with basically no changes except for the use of large windows with better visibility for members. The engine was replaced with an extra-high-horsepower 10-liter gasoline engine, which was developed from the diesel engine used in the L39TITAN heavy-duty truck.

LV15 AND LV24

Although Volvo is a developing manufacturer, it is a latecomer to the diesel truck scene. This is not only due to opportunities, but also because of GUSTAF LARSON, one of the founders of Volvo cooperation, who is a follower of JOMAS HESSELMAN, the inventor of the HESSELMAN engine. Unfortunately, this meant that Volvo became the last manufacturer to provide users with diesel engines, even though the performance of the genuine diesel engines at that time far exceeded the HESSELMAN engine.

Despite this, the original plan to develop and produce the first diesel engine was finally launched in 1940, but World War II delayed Volvo's pace of launching diesel engine products.

The first Volvo diesel engine was named VDA (Volvo A Diesel Engine) and used a pre-combustion type construction like most at the time. Initially, VDA planned to use a more efficient direct injection type. Experimental tests were conducted before the production of the direct-injection VDA and it was found that it was difficult to start this model of VDA in cold weather conditions. Therefore, in order to ensure good reliability and long working life, the pre-ignition VDA was finalized and launched in 1946. This model was released in the autumn of 1946 and quickly became the most popular truck in Sweden.

The LV15 series trucks are basically the same as the gasoline-powered round-head trucks first introduced in 1939/1940, but the larger and heavier diesel engine requires a longer engine cover, which makes diesel trucks easy to It is distinguished from round-nosed trucks equipped with gasoline engines and HESSLMAN engines.

Despite having a power output of only 95dhp (100bhp from 1949), the LV15 series trucks (and the L24 series trucks with the same profile) were capable of heavy-duty transport duties, including construction transport and long-distance transport, sometimes even Triple axle and towable trailers.

An important step (engine development direction) was decided in 1950 when the pre-combustion VDA engine was replaced by the direct injection VDC engine to improve fuel economy (initially just an alternative to reduce costs) . This engine is the ancestor of modern high-performance Volvo diesel trucks, buses and marine engines (VDC engines are actually used in everything, even Volvo vehicle products like road shovels!)

LV15/L24 The series of trucks was replaced and updated by the L38/VIKING truck in 1953.

LV29C AND LV29V

By the mid-1940s, the use of diesel engines in heavy-duty trucks had become an obvious trend. And this is new to VOLVO. They have been focusing on the development of Hesselman engines because the development costs of Hesselman engines are lower than diesel engines.

The first diesel heavy-duty truck - born out of necessity

Today, perhaps we must emphasize that until 1945, the cumulative production of VOLVO heavy-duty trucks was still very small. Most of the trucks produced by VOLVO are light and heavy duty.

They made VOLVO so profitable that it had enough financial resources to later launch a car production business. The car business did not become profitable until the early 1950s.

The L29 series trucks are extremely strong and powerful, but are produced in small quantities. Naturally, the powerful first diesel heavy-duty truck launched in 1946 was based on the L29 series. Its advent was initially largely in response to the needs of the Swedish National Road Association. They needed a powerful vehicle for snow plowing and road construction in Sweden's harsh winters. (The post-war period was the climax of the renewal of the Swedish road network)

Simple and efficient

The design of L29C/V (C means civilian, V means road association vehicle, That means it's a truck used by the Municipal Road Association) that is simple and efficient. The existing L29 heavy truck has been improved and strengthened with a longer engine compartment to accommodate the huge and powerful Volvo diesel engine. It started as a pre-combustion type, but in later production of this truck it was replaced by the advanced "VDF" direct injection.

The LV29C/V, a successful compromise, was replaced in 1951 by the modern-looking L39Titan, which was largely based on the components of the L29C/V - at least for the first five years. With no power steering, driving the L29C/V is hard work. In those days, truck drivers did have to be physically fit.