How did the Volvo B58 get its name?

[Eyersey468]

Does anyone know how the Volvo B58 got its name? Was there a significance to 58?

 

[PG]

Does anyone know how the Volvo B58 got its name? Was there a significance to 58?

The only information I can glean from Doug Jack's 1997 book, The Volvo Bus, is that the first purpose-built Volvo bus was launched in 1934.

The code 'B1' was the start of a system under which bus and coach chassis were all given model numbers commencing with the prefix 'B'.​

So it seems that, at least initially, model numbers were purely on a sequential basis according to their newness in the range. At some point in 1978 this changed to the now much more familiar model number system.

In June 1978, Volvo Bus Corporation launched a new city bus, the B10R. The designation meant 'Bus 10 litres (actually 9.6 litres) Rear (engine)'.​

 

[73001]

The only information I can glean from Doug Jack's 1997 book, The Volvo Bus, is that the first purpose-built Volvo bus was launched in 1934.

So it seems that, at least initially, model numbers were purely on a sequential basis according to their newness in the range. At some point in 1978 this changed to the now much more familiar model number system.

Based on that then, could it be 58(0) cubic inches which is 9.5 litres approx?

 

[Eyersey468]

The only information I can glean from Doug Jack's 1997 book, The Volvo Bus, is that the first purpose-built Volvo bus was launched in 1934.

So it seems that, at least initially, model numbers were purely on a sequential basis according to their newness in the range. At some point in 1978 this changed to the now much more familiar model number system.

Thank you

 

[GusB]

Based on that then, could it be 58(0) cubic inches which is 9.5 litres approx?

It's just a numerical sequence. At the time there was the B57, which had a front-mounted engine, the B58, the rear-engined B59 and not forgetting the B55 (Ailsa).

Buses of the World by Derek Moses actually lists the codes as B5700, B5800 and so on, which has some resemblance to the 4-digit numbers Volvo uses for integral vehicles now (9700 etc.).

The same book also has a B609, which seems to break the system!

 

[Oldgaloot]

Simon "The Saint" Templar drove a Volvo P1800S which fits in rather nicely with the 4-digit code for the buses which he didn't drive.

 

[ChrisPJ]

Is it related to the wheelbase length eg 5800 mm ?

 

[GusB]

Is it related to the wheelbase length eg 5800 mm ?

No. The wheelbase was specified separately. Going to buslistsontheweb.co.uk and using "Park" and "Volvo" as search terms (I used Park's as an example because it has been a huge Volvo customer over the years), you'll see B58-56 or B58-61 used as chassis codes. The numbers after the dash denote the wheelbase: 5.6m and 6.1m (11 and 12m overall length respectively). As has been explained earlier in the thread, Volvo simply used a numerical sequence for its bus (and truck) models.

I'm not sure exactly when Volvo dumped that naming convention, but I'd guess that it was when the B10R* (replacing the B59) was first introduced. The B10M came along shortly afterwards.

When I was Googling, I did actually come across an old thread from this forum which some may find interesting:

Bus type code

New to this part of the forum but what do the various bus/coach type codes mean, ie B7RLE, B10, etc... if any one has a link that'll be cool

www.railforums.co.uk

The thread has long since been closed and while not entirely on-topic, I feel the need to clarify something said in this post:

B10M - Bus, 10 litre engine, Mid engine
B9M has been said, 9 litre engine

B12M is indeed 'bus', 12litre, mid engine.
B12B is 'bus', 12litre, engine at the back.

B10T/B12T were standard length triaxle versions of the B10M/B12M.

Completly off topic, but yes, Volvo coaches have seen a fair bit of change. The B12 was much loved as it has a nice wide torque band, and gave a nice smooth ride. It's replacement(s) - the B9R (too little torque, gets scared at the sight of hills) and B13R (heavier on the fuel), have been less loved.
It will be interesting to see how the B11R and B8R compare.

The B9M didn't have a 9 litre engine; it had had the same THD100 engine that was used in the B10M, albeit the de-rated version. In this case, the "9" actually referred to the overall vehicle length in metres.

In other words, while there may be some logic to vehicle names, the system does break from time to time. It's annoying for enthusiasts who like order (myself included) but there's zero point in getting upset about it!

* As far as I know, there was only a single B59 demonstrator in the UK and the B10R was never offered here. Rear-engined Volvos only really became a thing in the UK when the B10B was introduced in the early 90s.

 

[Towers]

Possible daft question incoming, but here goes! Whilst the naming conventions are well understood, and explained variously above, has there ever been any explanation as to why Volvo used english terms? Presumably a B10M was still a B10M in Sweden, where I can only guess that the equivalent for “Middle” very possibly doesn’t start with M? And so on?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Possible daft question incoming, but here goes! Whilst the naming conventions are well understood, and explained variously above, has there ever been any explanation as to why Volvo used english terms? Presumably a B10M was still a B10M in Sweden, where I can only guess that the equivalent for “Middle” very possibly doesn’t start with M? And so on?

Well, Google Translate says that Swedish for middle is "mitten"

However, the fact is that Volvo has always exported vehicles, if not to the UK, then to other European countries. The most common shared language...?

 

[Towers]

Well, Google Translate says that Swedish for middle is "mitten"

However, the fact is that Volvo has always exported vehicles, if not to the UK, then to other European countries. The most common shared language...?

That seems a reasonable explanation!

 

[Tom Gallacher]

Well, Google Translate says that Swedish for middle is "mitten"

However, the fact is that Volvo has always exported vehicles, if not to the UK, then to other European countries. The most common shared language...?

Just to add to the conversation the B10M chassis' that were designed for bodying as double deckers (the Citybus) were known as D10M's.

 

[jammy36]

Just to add to the conversation the B10M chassis' that were designed for bodying as double deckers (the Citybus) were known as D10M's.

Oh no... don't open that can of worms!!

 

[Tom Gallacher]

Oh no... don't open that can of worms!!

Oops

 

[DunsBus]

Oops

It was the Volvo Citybus when built at Irvine, but when production moved to Boras in 1987, the Citybus name was officially dropped and it became the Volvo D10M (though I'm aware that Strathclyde's AH7-101 batch were badged as Citybuses).

The Citybus also had a perimeter frame; the D10M didn't, and these were fitted by the bodybuilders on arrival in Britain.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Perhaps getting o/t but wasn't the B10M built by Leyland for awhile at Workington aswell?

 

[jammy36]

It was the Volvo Citybus when built at Irvine, but when production moved to Boras in 1987, the Citybus name was officially dropped and it became the Volvo D10M (though I'm aware that Strathclyde's AH7-101 batch were badged as Citybuses).

The Citybus also had a perimeter frame; the D10M didn't, and these were fitted by the bodybuilders on arrival in Britain.

Yes, but aren't these all B10M-55? Was the D10M model name ever used officially by Volvo?

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

And wasn't there a short-lived C10M fully integral coach?

 

[GusB]

Just to add to the conversation the B10M chassis' that were designed for bodying as double deckers (the Citybus) were known as D10M's.

D10M wasn't an official chassis code as far as I'm aware. It might have been a marketing thing in the same way that the B9M was actually a B10M-46...

It was the Volvo Citybus when built at Irvine, but when production moved to Boras in 1987, the Citybus name was officially dropped and it became the Volvo D10M (though I'm aware that Strathclyde's AH7-101 batch were badged as Citybuses).

The Citybus also had a perimeter frame; the D10M didn't, and these were fitted by the bodybuilders on arrival in Britain.

"Citybus" was just a badge - nothing more.

Perhaps getting o/t but wasn't the B10M built by Leyland for awhile at Workington as well?

Yes. Workington built the B10M for a time.

Yes, but aren't these all B10M-55? Was the D10M model name ever used officially by Volvo?

They were all B10Ms.

And wasn't there a short-lived C10M fully integral coach?

Indeed there was. Built in Switzerland by Ramseier and Jenzer. It had a 7 metre wheelbase and there were only a few delivered to UK operators, Park's being the biggest customer.

 

[ChrisPJ]

I thought the Citybus was B10MD.