Dutch Heavy Hauler

[R773]

To all who may be interested this is a 1973 FTF ex army tank transporter (has fifth wheel) made in the Netherlands (Holland) but a lot of American content. FTF (Floor Truck Fabriek) were the Mack distributors for most of europe from the 1950s assembling them from kits,some had local cabs but most had standard Mack cabs.

In the mid 60s there was a problem when Mack attempted to give the job to someone else which resulted in a legal battle subsequently won by FTF, in the time during the dispute FTF designed ther own truck which was produced from 1966, they did however carry on with the production and sales of Mack trucks well into the 70s and used mack components in some of their own trucks.

The truck in the picture has Mack axles (front as well as 80,000 rears) Allison 5960 manual shift 6 speed with torque convertor and Detroit 12V71N engine rated at 475 hp. The cab was from Motor Panels in Great Britain.

FTF stopped production of trucks in 1995 having only produced 657 trucks in thirty years but a lot of them were custom built to customers specific requirements for heavy work, most of them were Detroit powered but some had Cummins.

My truck is rated at 110 metric tons gross but the same truck when fitted with a 4 speed auxiliary was rated at 250 tons,you can see the truck (and hear the screamin dozen) on Youtube, just type in FTF Magnaload GDSF (great dorset steam fair) it was pulling well over a hundred tons at the time uphill!

[j hancock]

Welcome!

Your tank transporter looks great.

Here is a picture of your B before it crossed the pond. I live in Swanzey and took a few pictures with the new Granite tanker.

Jim

 

[R773]

Hi Jim,thank you for the picture, Mrs Fox at the town hall said there were truck nuts in the town but you are the first to make contact. I hope things are okay in Swanzey and you were not impacted too much by "Sandy".

I realise a few people in town were upset to lose the truck but you can reassure everbody that it is being looked after and enjoying its adventures this side of the "Pond" I have had to do some work on the truck but have no plans to change its identity.

If you are interested I have plenty pictures of the truck to share if you send me an e.mail address (there is a link to my company website in the member info where you can access my address)

You have an interesting collection,are they all restored?

Regards Geoff Makinson.

[j hancock]

Hi Geoff,

Sandy wasn't too bad for us. Lost power for 48 hours and had some downed trees to deal with but no where near the destruction that has happened in NJ and NY.

Probably some are still missing the truck in the town but most are happy it is together and being looked after.

Post some pictures of the truck in the fire truck section on the forum so everyone can check them out. Maybe a couple of picture going up against a Bedford or Leyland!

Jim

[Vladislav]

I saw many FTF on a show in the Neterlands but hadn't any idea about so tight relation them and Mack.

See your firetruck also although didn't look it well.

It was my first time at the Mack day so I had hectic movements around so many trucks. There were really many of the last year. In relation to 2012.

Just after coming home I remembered I saw beautiful artwork with a fire carrige on somewhere...

Vlad