PROTOTYPES

|n several internal Ford publications I found that it took Ford's Research and Engineering Centre in Dunton (UK) about 4 years to develop the new extra heavy duty Ford truck, so the ELBA project (the project name for the Transcontinental) must have started somewere in 1971. In those days it was common that it could take up to 6 years to develop a complete new truck from scratch. But because Ford decided to use known and proved components wherever possible, the development of the Elba project took only 4 years. In total a number of 29 prototypes were made, 12 were in use for Ford's own transport department and the other 17 were lent to fleetowners such as Silver Road Way. In early brochures you will see rigids from the Cologne based haulier West Friesland Spedition who was one of the fleetowners that tested the Transcontinental.The first prototypes appeared on the road in 1973.  By the end of 1974 the total mileage done was already 1.2 miljen. In Mai 1974 the design was "frozen" and the Amsterdam plant was choosen for the production. The first picture is not a real prototype but a trick picture of a Berliet TR 280 were only the FORD letters were added!! Some other pictures show early pre-production Transcontinentals which initially had a different shape grille and wings which luckily didn't make it to production. Click on the thumbs to enlarge these pictures.