As ever I'm grateful to Volvo Trucks North America's engaging PR Wallah Jim McNamara for tipping me off on this story. I'm only sorry Jim I missed it for the 4th of July having been on my hols! Anyroadup, what you have here is a magnficently-decorated Volvo VNL670 tractor with airbrush murals commemorating the D-Day landings and recent D-Day anniversary. It's something that Volvo has a proud tradtion of doing and this year the graphics highlighted the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia and was developed by Volvo's New River Valley Plant (also in Virginia) in association with UAW Local 2069's Veterans Committee. And what a splendid reminder of the sacrifices made by allied troops on that fateful day. Wouldn't it be great if we had a UK equivalent? Meanwhile, click through here for a close up of the artwork.
The VNL670 was also recently escorted by several hundred motorcylists (many of them ridden by employees from the Volvo NRV plant) to Washington DC as part of the Memorial Day weekend 'Rolling Thunder' Ride for Freedom rally which honours fallen and missing members of America's military forces... Great stuff Jim an excellent way to remember.
Brian
Thanks for the posting. A couple more related bits of information on this truck: It actually belongs to one of our Canadian dealers, Sheehan's Truck Centre in Burlington, Ontario. If you look closely at the image on the fuel tank fairings, you'll see Canadian flags in front of gravestones and a bagpiper playing, in remembrance of the role Canadian soldiers played during D-Day.
Cheers
Jim
Hi, Brian and Jim.
Burlington Ontario has a huge amount of Ex Pats, I have some friends there, its a great place.
If you visit volvotruckscommunity.com, you will find an article in garage talk, info about vnl 660 (2002). It was imported to the U.K. from the States, and has been converted to right hand drive. It belongs to Mike Newmann Haulage, who is going to use it on STGO with a low loader.
There is a few pic'S of the unit repainted ready to go to Santa Pod a few weeks ago.
The company I work for is 98% Volvo, and took delivery of a F716 tractor said to be the U.S. 1st.
Paul