| Volvo Brage/Starke/Raske | |
| Manufacturer: | Volvo |
| Aka: | Volvo L360–375 Volvo L465–475 |
| Production: | 1954–72, approx. 29,500 produced[1] |
| Predecessor: | Volvo Roundnose |
| Successor: | Volvo F85 |
| Class: | Medium size truck |
| Engine: | Volvo inline 6 |
| Weight: | 83501NaN1 – 115001NaN1 (gross weight) |
The Volvo Brage/Starke/Raske was a series of medium size trucks produced by Swedish automaker Volvo between 1954 and 1972.
In 1954 Volvo introduced the medium-sized truck L370 Brage, named after the Norse god Bragi. The truck had a payload of 4.5 tonnes. Brage had an overhead valve petrol engine. In 1955 a budget model called L360 was added. It had a reduced payload of 3.5 tonnes and a side-valve engine.[2] The L360, which was never called Brage, was discontinued in 1957. Early trucks had a non-synchronized four-speed gear box, but this was soon replaced by a synchronized five-speed transmission. Demand for trucks with petrol engines declined with rising fuel prices and the Brage model was discontinued in 1963.
Parallel with the Brage model Volvo offered a diesel version called L375 Starke ("Strong"), with a payload of 4.5 tonnes.[2] In 1955 the budget model L365 was added, with a payload of 3.5 tonnes but it was discontinued the following year. Also Starke soon got its unsynchronized gear box replaced with a more modern five-speed gear box.
In 1961 the truck's name was changed to L465 Starke.
In 1961 the sturdier L475 Raske ("Swift") was introduced, with a payload of 5 tonnes. Besides Starke's diesel engine Raske was offered with a turbo-diesel.[3]
In 1962 Volvo added the forward control L4751 Raske Tiptop with a tilting cab to the program.
Volvo introduced its "System 8" in 1965. The Starke model carried on with the new name N84. The major change for the truck was a more powerful engine.[3]
In Norway, this series of trucks were nicknamed "Bamse"(a diminutive for "bear", also meaning "teddy bear")The original names are mostly unknown. The bigger "Viking" retained its original name.
| Model | Year | Engine | Displacement | Power | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L360 | 1955–57 | Volvo ED | 3670cc | 900NaN0 | Petrol engine | |
| L370 | 1954–63 | Volvo A6: I6 ohv | 4703cc | 1150NaN0 | Petrol engine | |
| L365-475 | 1955–65 | Volvo D47: I6 ohv | 4703cc | 950NaN0 | Diesel engine | |
| L475 | 1961–65 | Volvo TD47: I6 ohv | 4703cc | 1200NaN0 | Turbo-diesel | |
| N84 | 1965–72 | Volvo D50: I6 ohv | 5130cc | 1070NaN0 | Diesel engine |