Volvo FLC
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Before Volvo threw its lot in with Renault and used the highly effective Midlum platform for its lightweight range, the Swedes had many attempts to gain traction in the 7.5-tonne sector – all to no avail. The worst I came across was the FLC, which used a decent enough Perkins Phaser four-pot engine, but was matched to a heavy, ageing chassis and cab that combined to give some of the worst fuel economy figures for a 7.5-tonner that I can remember. Indeed, on the Truck magazine roadtest (I was tester there at the time), the truck ran out of diesel and the subsequent write-up ensured that I fell off the Volvo Christmas card list for a good many years! Thankfully, the company now sticks to what it does best – heavy trucks – and buys in the lightweight motor. Andy Salter (MD of Road Transport Media)