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On 7/10/2023 at 9:32 PM, 7Mary3 said:

Back to the 650/750, I really think now Ford should stick to the configurations they have, I doubt a tandem axle or Cummins option would get them any meaningful increase in sales.  However, something that might be able to help sales of these trucks would be adding the Allison 2500 and 3000 series transmissions to the option list.  Ford would be able to offer a lot more P.T.O. configurations with Allison transmissions.  The 6.7L Powerstroke is fine and very comparable overall to the Cummins ISB, and Ford would likely have a hard time getting engines from Cummins anyway.

 

Did air brakes for the 7.3L gas engine make it to the option list yet?  I see very few new 650's and 750's with the 7.3L.   

Actually I'd like to see a tandem since Freightliner went out of their way to get CT to buy them because Ford doesn't make them.......yet!  Teach Freightliner a hard lesson!

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I read Tesla is ready to ramp up production of that butt ugly Cybertruck pickup. But then I read it might take 5 years to finally receive it! Tesla went through the back door and is setting up a dealership -- or I should say -- a retail operation at Mohegan Sun Casino here in CT, bypassing legislators who wouldn't enact legislation allowing non-franchised establishments from selling direct to the public.

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4 hours ago, Joe771476 said:

Actually I'd like to see a tandem since Freightliner went out of their way to get CT to buy them because Ford doesn't make them.......yet!  Teach Freightliner a hard lesson!

Joe..putting a tandem on a current 750 with no other changes would be like asking a fat gal to run a marathon.  As I've said many times I think there is a market for a low priced tandem but not with current engine trans- in particular the trans.

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On 7/10/2023 at 9:32 PM, 7Mary3 said:

Back to the 650/750, I really think now Ford should stick to the configurations they have, I doubt a tandem axle or Cummins option would get them any meaningful increase in sales.  However, something that might be able to help sales of these trucks would be adding the Allison 2500 and 3000 series transmissions to the option list.  Ford would be able to offer a lot more P.T.O. configurations with Allison transmissions.  The 6.7L Powerstroke is fine and very comparable overall to the Cummins ISB, and Ford would likely have a hard time getting engines from Cummins anyway.

 

Did air brakes for the 7.3L gas engine make it to the option list yet?  I see very few new 650's and 750's with the 7.3L.   

Actually I'd like to see a tandem since Freightliner went out of their way to get CT to buy them because Ford doesn't make them.......yet!  Teach Freightliner a hard lesson!

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Does wording below suggest a new hybrid variant of F-150, or can it be interpreted to possibly also mean a new hybrid variant of another vehicle altogether?  Seems a little ambiguous.

 

“During the automaker’s Q2 earnings call last night, Farley confirmed that the 2024 Ford F-150 will indeed make its debut at the upcoming 2023 Detroit Auto Show – which takes place this September – along with “a new hybrid variant,” according to the Blue Oval CEO.”
 

 

https://fordauthority.com/2023/07/2024-ford-f-150-set-to-debut-at-2023-detroit-auto-show/

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3 hours ago, ausrutherford said:

More pictures of the new facelifted Transit and Transit EV in China with a large screen for a new interior. I hope the rest of the world gets it. 


About a week ago Ford Authority had article on Europe getting the Transit upgrade.  
 

https://fordauthority.com/2023/07/2024-ford-transit-lineup-in-europe-gets-tons-of-tech-updates/

 

A UK website that covers vans gave a lot more detail, including that FWD Transit will have suspension upgrades that increase GVWR to 9,350 pounds, will have upgraded brakes that are easier to replace, and a new 8-speed Auto.  Pictures show what looks to me like new 6-lug wheels which if on RWD or FWD would be a revision as far as I know.  AWD Transit are only with 6-lug wheels, others have 5-lug.  I’m not certain though.

 

https://www.parkers.co.uk/vans-pickups/news/2023/ford-transit-2024-updates/

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19 hours ago, ausrutherford said:

More pictures of the new facelifted Transit and Transit EV in China with a large screen for a new interior. I hope the rest of the world gets it. 

 

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https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/202307/1286894.html#pvareaid=2028166


Probably not, based on observations of other models.  China seems to be getting the major upgrades to interiors, and everyone else gets watered down versions.  It doesn’t make sense. 

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20 hours ago, ausrutherford said:

More pictures of the new facelifted Transit and Transit EV in China with a large screen for a new interior. I hope the rest of the world gets it. 

 

image.thumb.png.9a6bd926b93bb3e0adbb3c22f8a95fc7.png

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https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/202307/1286894.html#pvareaid=2028166

I feel extremely conflicted about that design. It looks bolder and more truck like. But I'm not sure it flows well with the rest of the body. 

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On 7/29/2023 at 2:18 PM, tbone said:


Probably not, based on observations of other models.  China seems to be getting the major upgrades to interiors, and everyone else gets watered down versions.  It doesn’t make sense. 

 

Its the expectations of the Chinese market vs the EU and US where these cars are viewed as tools with no frills. 

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On 7/28/2023 at 6:19 PM, ausrutherford said:

More pictures of the new facelifted Transit and Transit EV in China with a large screen for a new interior. I hope the rest of the world gets it. 

 

image.thumb.png.9a6bd926b93bb3e0adbb3c22f8a95fc7.png

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image.thumb.png.e5aacd5108dad1d8520b8b4468c04b6a.png

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https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/202307/1286894.html#pvareaid=2028166

 

Is this based on our version?  the body looks like an older version.

 

I know China tends to sometimes use older models and refresh them.

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That's it for Yellow-Roadway, they are closing their doors today.  Sadly the merger between the two LTL carriers just postponed the inevitable.  Remember all those Roadway Ford C series and Yellow GMC Brigadier tractors pulling single axle van trailers?  Such a common sight up into the 90's. 

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On 7/28/2023 at 3:19 PM, ausrutherford said:

More pictures of the new facelifted Transit and Transit EV in China with a large screen for a new interior. I hope the rest of the world gets it. 

 

 

 

 

 

image.thumb.png.719a7a51f53d2c050d52d7e889799e90.png

 

https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/202307/1286894.html#pvareaid=2028166

 

As I noted in the new product thread, this interior is carried over from the current Chinese market Transit Custom (which is sold as "Transit" but is changing its name to Tourneo to make way for this new Transit).

 

3 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

Is this based on our version?  the body looks like an older version.

 

I know China tends to sometimes use older models and refresh them.

 

It's facelift version of the current MK4 Transit FWD.

 

The Mk3 Transit Pro is still for sale in China in RWD format.

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5 hours ago, 7Mary3 said:

That's it for Yellow-Roadway, they are closing their doors today.  Sadly the merger between the two LTL carriers just postponed the inevitable.  Remember all those Roadway Ford C series and Yellow GMC Brigadier tractors pulling single axle van trailers?  Such a common sight up into the 90's. 

7M.  for sure on the Big R C models and the Yellow Brigadiers.  There is-or at least was when I was there like 10 years ago- a Big R C straight job in the Ford Museum-may have been the last one built.

As for the Yellow closure, sad for sure.  I'm sure the Teamster view is "we've sacrificed enough" but I have to think they cut off their nose to spite their face.  I suppose they think Old Dominion, Saia etc will hire them but guys with seniority will be giving up a lot.  Plus I'm sure there will be a lot of small non union outfits scrambling for a piece of the pie.

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23 hours ago, 7Mary3 said:

That's it for Yellow-Roadway, they are closing their doors today.  Sadly the merger between the two LTL carriers just postponed the inevitable.  Remember all those Roadway Ford C series and Yellow GMC Brigadier tractors pulling single axle van trailers?  Such a common sight up into the 90's. 

For years I worked next to a Roadway terminal. Ford "C"s everywhere, even some with tandems. Even before that I remember Roadway Mack Bs with the trailers emblazoned with "ROADWAY" in 5 foot high letters running on the OH and PA Turnpikes.

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17 hours ago, GearheadGrrrl said:

I've read that Roadway's Ford C model cabovers had the lowest maintenance costs of any truck they ran.

 

I wouldn't doubt that.

 

I had a GMC engineer tell me years ago that at the time A GMC Brigadier with an L10 Cummins an 9 speed Fuller transmission had the lowest operating cost-per-mile of any class 8 tractor in the U.S., and this was consistently proven by one of the nation's largest fleets.  Which probably explains why Yellow had so many of them.... 

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Even with Ford gas engines, the C models handled overloading well- Used to see Consolidated Freightways C models pulling sets of doubles loaded to the limit with wheat into a flour mill in Minneapolis. In Colorado where the weight limit is even higher at 105,500 pounds and triples are legal, the LTL companies would send a city driver with a C series and a set of triples to peddle freight around a big industrial park near Denver. Wasn't a long trip, but the C series was up to the job! 

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This all reminds  me of a commercial Ford ran in all the fleet mags "back in the day".  It was a trailer plastered with the logos of all the big carriers and  the by line was something like.."We are seen in good company" . If I  had to  bet, ABF was in that and they are probably the only one left.

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Well I just watched a segment of Modern Marvels aptly titled "Trucks."  Well it was soon clear to me that it was going to be a Volvo/Mack ad, which it did in fact end up as.  Sorry Bob!  So I eventually got over my nausea and continued watching. So a spokesman for Volvo says, "Henry Ford would be rolling over in his grave if he saw what's coming down our lines."  After I digested that remark , several minutes later the narrator says while discussing the beginning of the truck age, "But one company didn't join in the new emerging truck market. (Insert photo of the Rouge plant). Henry Ford concentrated on his Model T.  So the up and coming truck makers took the Model T chassis and made trucks out of them."  Yeah the whole episode wasn't very flattering for Ford!  

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