Here`s the test match from Truck back in 1975.
Sent to me from DEANB, hope you all enjoy it.
Although I am a big Volvo fan these days I did pass my class 1 test in an old Ford Transcon back in the 80’s
I do have a soft spot for them and back then they were BIG… and before their time I think.
had both transcon more room and pull like a train both had poxy brakes
but you cant beat a hummin ■■■■■■■ when there on tune but you can beat a egg
I’ve driven both and would have to vote for the Transcon.
But, isn’t it a bit unfair comparing 2 trucks that are effectively a generation apart? Surely the F12 would have been a better copmparison, although I accept that the F12 hadn’t been released when this test was done.
I don’t remember the brakes being any worse than anything else at the time, though much depended on the state of the trailer brakes. With the Transcon it was very easy to being going much faster than you thought, which made the brakes feel worse than they actually were.
I had the pleasure to own both the F88 and the transcon, the F88 was a drivers dream and I loved every minute of it and when ever I got out of it I could not wait to get back in it and still feel the same today,I would go back driving an F88 anytime. The Transcon was big and nice and roomy comparired to the F88 I had the 350 big cam and it was very powerful i got pulled one night on the M25 not realising I was doing 80mph loaded and thats was the trouble with it it was very high geared and was not happy in top under 60mph. It was cold to sleep in and the cab rolled like a pig when loaded and everytime i tipped the cab up I expected it to fall on its face and needed huggy pull ups, I had two Transcons and operated both extensivly abroad and only ever had electric problem with both a very good truck and way ahead of its time with one big penalty, it was heavy and most times with 20 ton on its back you were over weight,it was not to bad when it went to 38 tons, but by then they were getting old and I went back to my beloved Volvo’s
mrken:
had both transcon more room and pull like a train both had poxy brakes
but you cant beat a hummin ■■■■■■■ when there on tune but you can beat a egg
You can beat an egg but you cant beat a ■■■■.
From what I remember the brakes on either were never what you could call startling, until you needed to stop suddenly that is 
But the fault was that the Volvo had smaller, lighter drums & brake linings when compared to the British lorry parc, and the big Ford used rather disappointing wedge brakes actuators rather than the S Cam system. Wedge brakes were continued into the Iveco range and unless they were well maintained, they were hopeless too.
G day all drove both and being a rather large lump found the volvo a bit small for me lovely motor to drive but for anything else 2nd class to the old transcon
in saying that the transcon had lots of faults.The heater was crap throttle cable froze in the winter could scare the daylights out of you first time it happened
they rolled like an old fishing boat and the brakes scarey but i had a couple that i owned and i drove some for firms the last time in 1998 and would gladly have it back today.Volvo is here today ford is not says it all really.
I had the pleasure of driving 88s and 89s, and a few different engined transcons, all better for the driver than the other british fleet offerings at the time and would prefer the Volvo’s every time.
I seem to remember the problem with the brakes on the Transcon was that the footvalve was cable operated and was down in the chassis ■■?, if the cable was tight the brakes were either all on, or all off
Sniffy:
I seem to remember the problem with the brakes on the Transcon was that the footvalve was cable operated and was down in the chassis ■■?, if the cable was tight the brakes were either all on, or all off
A long old cable it was too, from behind the grille to behind the battery box!!! Not a good idea.
Ross.
bigr250:
Sniffy:
I seem to remember the problem with the brakes on the Transcon was that the footvalve was cable operated and was down in the chassis ■■?, if the cable was tight the brakes were either all on, or all offA long old cable it was too, from behind the grille to behind the battery box!!! Not a good idea.
Ross.
But it also had a 2 short old tachograph cables with a join in the middle 
(allegedly)
My old man had both… He got a brand new 290 “N” reg & drove it for 3 years then got a “S” reg transcon~ the 278bhp engine. I would say even though he liked the 88 the ■■■■■■ was his favourite truck 
I remember that RHD transcon of yours Phil. Once it was done it looked stunning.
You may recall, during the intervening paintshop/workshop session(s) with yours, dad bought the LHD 320 to replce his Sed Atki & went straight to work.
There is a picture of the two of you with it on the Anglo Greek thread, taken at Matthew Clarks’.
phantom:
I had the pleasure to own both the F88 and the transcon, the F88 was a drivers dream and I loved every minute of it and when ever I got out of it I could not wait to get back in it and still feel the same today,I would go back driving an F88 anytime. The Transcon was big and nice and roomy comparired to the F88 I had the 350 big cam and it was very powerful i got pulled one night on the M25 not realising I was doing 80mph loaded and thats was the trouble with it it was very high geared and was not happy in top under 60mph. It was cold to sleep in and the cab rolled like a pig when loaded and everytime i tipped the cab up I expected it to fall on its face and needed huggy pull ups, I had two Transcons and operated both extensivly abroad and only ever had electric problem with both a very good truck and way ahead of its time with one big penalty, it was heavy and most times with 20 ton on its back you were over weight,it was not to bad when it went to 38 tons, but by then they were getting old and I went back to my beloved Volvo’s
Pretty much my experience as well. Owned both, ( Also an F89 which would be a better comparison ) liked both, but in the end, the Volvo would have won.