Glencorrib is home to oldest working Volvo truck

Glencorrib is home to oldest working Volvo Truck


Michael Commins

AFTER an extensive nationwide search, the oldest working Volvo Truck has been found. The Swedish brand’s longest serving commercial vehicle in Ireland was located about 20 miles from the headquarters of Fleet Transport magazine, Claremorris which inaugurated the search initially.
Pat Martyn’s 1974 Volvo F88 6 x 2 tractor unit works out of Glencorrib. When contacted by Jarlath Sweeney from the Claremorris based magazine, Pat was delivering a load of hay bales to North Mayo. He bought it two years ago from a vintage friend in Cork but before then it was in operation in Northern Ireland until 2007.
Originally, it was a 4 x 2 Sleeper Cab when first put to work on the roads in Great Britain, and across the Continent with an extra push/steering axle added later in its life and to ensure good articulation the Sleeper Cab was modified to a shortened Day Cab. To conform with the age of the unit, Pat pulls a 33 ft single axle ex-Military flat bed trailer.
“On hearing that he owns the oldest working Volvo truck, Pat was surprised and delighted,” says Jarlath.
People can see Pat Martyn’s 1974 Volvo F88 on display at the Fleet Transport EXPO 12 at the Citywest Convention Centre, Dublin next week, on Monday and Tuesday, November 5 and 6.”