Volvo F89 Celebrates Forty Years Of Passing MOT’s
Mike and Susie Phillips’s left-hand drive Volvo F89 recently passed its 40th consecutive MOT at Volvo dealership MC Truck & Bus in Southampton, making it one of the last of its type to still be in regular operation in the UK and Europe.
At their Southampton dealership, MC Truck & Bus mechanic Trevor Gale has been working on F89’s most of his working life here in the UK and the Middle East and has looked after this particular vehicle from the first day it went on the road over 40 years ago.
“Once again, the F89 passed its MOT with flying colours. Obviously, Trevor has a personal detailed history with this vehicle however we were also able to call upon the expertise of a local retired expert John Waters, who actually delivered this vehicle to its original owner way back in 1978,” said Mike Phillips.
Mike continues, “MC Truck & Bus, together with the previous Volvo dealership Princes Commercials, has looked after the F89 all its working life and I’m really grateful to all their staff for such a helpful and friendly service every time we visit. They certainly know the truck as well as I do!”
Retired haulier Mike, 70, has had the Volvo F89 for over 18 years now and it is used to transport two of his antique boats to classic boat regattas around Europe. Originally driven solely by Mike, today the driving responsibilities for the Volvo F89 are shared between Mike and his wife Susie, who first passed her rigid HGV test many years ago and then followed up by passing the artic test after getting special dispensation to take her test in their own vintage LHD Volvo F89.
Mike and Susie’s Volvo F89, with reg EAA 455S, was first bought by Aerosol Research & development Ltd of Portsmouth in 1977 from the then Volvo dealer, Princess of Southampton, now MC Truck & Bus.
