From 1958 to 1980, all heavy-duty, six-cylinder conventionals of the Swedish truck manufacturer had this all-steel snout. The letters LS in the model designation refer to a conventional truck or tractor with a 6×2 drivetrain, a liftable tag axle came with the package. The L was a 4×2, whereas an LT was a 6×4 chassis. Totally uncomplicated!
Their full life story goes as follows: the new Scania-Vabis L 75-series, powered by a 10.3 liter diesel engine, was introduced in 1958. Five years later, an 11 liter engine was put under the hood and the heavy conventionals were renamed L 76-series.
In the late sixties, Scania-Vabis merged with Saab and from 1969 onwards, all trucks and tractors were marketed as Scania and the L 76 became the L 110 (11 liter, 0-series). The last update -still without any form of rhinoplasty- followed in 1974 with the Scania L 111, the final edition was offered till 1980.
The two-tone, 1965 LS 76 tractor started its career with a day cab, which was later extended to a sleeper cab. Most likely after the current owner bought it, back in 2001. Also, a lower step was added for easier cab entry and exit.
Going by the cab’s overall appearance, especially of the doors with those window frames and the three hinges, my best guess is that it was made by the Dutch Hondebrink company. In the sixties, multiple, independent coachbuilders throughout the country still made truck cabs.
And those cab jobs certainly weren’t limited to conventionals. These are two custom-built, circa 1960 Scania-Vabis LV 75 cabover conversion trucks, fully based on L 75 rolling chassis from Sweden. Scania-Vabis, quo vadis?
(courtesy of Oldtimer trucks overzichten Wim Lagerweij)
Back to our LS 76. This is how it looked prior to its restoration and in the livery of its first owner, the Hezemans heavy-haulage specialist from Eindhoven. Note the low roof, convenient when transporting a big crane or dragline excavator with the boom sticking over the tractor’s cab.
(courtesy of Truckityourself)
The interior of a 1967 Scania-Vabis L 76 with a factory day cab. Upgraded, as the vehicles certainly didn’t roll off the production line with all that black carpeting. But you get the idea.
The tractor’s naturally aspirated D11 engine has a maximum power output of 195 DIN-hp. The more powerful, turbocharged 11 liter inline-six engine was called the DS11. Thanks to a notable Turbo Super badge on the grille, the turbodiesels could be easily identified.
Meanwhile, the Super designation has made an official comeback, referring to Scania’s (read: Traton’s) latest entry in the inline-six, 13 liter class of truck diesels. An official comeback of conventionals isn’t in the pipeline.
Related article, featuring a factory Scania-Vabis 76-series cabover tractor:
Truck Stop Classic: 1964 Scania-Vabis LBS 76 Super – Friendly-Faced Toughness
Nice truck, very nicely restored! Reminiscent of the 300 series Brockway trucks. I’m sorry but every time I hear Scania all I can think of is the crappy little 6 cylinders in the old MB macks. But after seeing some of the posts on CC I have a better knowledge and respect for European truck makers.
Beautiful truck. I do love conventionals back when they had all-steel front ends/hoods/fenders. Of course the one-piece fiberglass tilt hoods were a major improvement functionally, but visually these are so much more pleasing.
I am impressed that the buyer would add that perfectly integrated sleeper cab in 2001. That was quite an undertaking.
Wonderful.
From when did Scania begin to develop V8 engines for its heavy trucks? I don’t know if any other European truck brand, besides Scania, used 8-cylinder engines.
The Scania V8 was based on the Mack V8. Full story here:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/engines/the-legendary-mack-v8-diesel-engine-1962-2003-big-power-with-a-distinctive-sound-and-its-scania-v8-offspring-is-still-going-strong/
The truckmaker introduced their 14 liter V8 in the 1969 Scania LB/LBS/LBT 140 cabover, as seen in the background of the picture below. Also, it was the first Scania with a tilt cab (the 1969 110-series cabover had the same cab). Currently, the V8’s displacement is 16.4 liter, max. power up to 770 hp.
Euro-V8 truck diesels were actually quite common in the seventies and eighties. Heavy Mercedes-Benz and MAN vehicles were even offered with a V10. And Magirus-Deutz had a V12 (albeit air cooled). Other manufacturers that also offered a V8 were Fiat (and later Iveco), Berliet, and Tatra (the latter air cooled).
These days, Scania is the only truckmaker that offers a V8 in Europe.