Club of Four

The Club of Four was an alliance of four European truck manufacturers: Saviem, Volvo, DAF, and Magirus-Deutz.

An Iveco with a Club of Four cab

Officially called the Société Européenne de Travaux et de Développement (ETD), the team was based in Paris. Founded to develop a shared range of light trucks, its main success was a shared cab design.^[1] Cabs can be one of the most expensive parts of a truck to design and build; the alliance allowed one cab design to be shared among four different truck manufacturers, allowing economies of scale. In 1978, Saviem was merged with Berliet to create Renault Véhicules Industriels (RVI), but the new company continued as a member of the Club.^[2] Magirus-Deutz became part of Iveco.

The cab was used on a wide range of different trucks. It was even used on Mack trucks in the USA. It remained in production for almost a quarter of a century.^[3] Although initially intended for medium trucks it was also used on light trucks, even the 6-tonne Magirus 90M6FK.

Volvo

At first, Volvo used the cab most; adopting it across the F4 (F406/F407/F408) and F6 (F609/F610/F611/F612/F613/F614) ranges of trucks. The first to be sold in the UK was the F7 range of trucks, which replaced Volvo's old F86. These Club of Four cabs continued until 1985-1986 by which time the Volvo FL was being produced with new Volvo cabs, although the FL6 was similar to the Club of Four.^[4]

Volvo's Club of Four cabs had to be reinforced to meet strict Swedish safety standards, which made their weight less competitive. The Club of Four cab was also used on the CH230, a specially built truck to fit Switerland's restrictive rules on size and weight.

Volvo's membership of the Club of Four was a major influence on its decision to shift truck manufacturing to Gent, in Belgium (because imports from Volvo's Gothenburg factory to the EEC were, at that time, subject to heavy import duties).^[5]

Saviem and RVI

Renault Midliner, late 1990s model

At first, HB-series trucks (up to 26 tonnes) and J-series light trucks were fitted with the Club of Four cab. Later, the cab was also used on the heavier G series, as well as JK65/75/85 trucks and the Renault C and S series. The Club of Four cab was later adapted to Renault Midliner, Maxter, and Manager trucks.^[4]

Magirus

Iveco-Magirus military truck with the Club of Four cab

Magirus used the Club of Four cab on light trucks; this was inherited by Iveco.^[4]

DAF

DAF started using the Club of Four cab in 1975 on the DAF F700 and F900; it was later used on the F500, F1100, F1300, and F1500. DAF merged with Leyland in 1987, and replaced its Club of Four cabs with Leyland cabs.^[4]

Iveco

References