Scania delivers first 50th Anniversary V8 prime mover

Danny Matic, owner of the Matic Group in Perth was handed the keys to the very first of the limited-edition 50th Anniversary V8 trucks by Scania WA Regional Executive Manager Michael Berti in late March.

The limited edition trucks mark the half century of V8 power for Scania with a limited run of just 50 celebratory trucks destined for Australia.

“I was on a visit to Sweden last year and I saw the 50th Anniversary truck and I decided then that I would have one,” Danny said.

“The truck is rated at 145-tonnes and will be used by the Matic Resources Division to haul a 100-tonne heavy haulage float carting machinery up to the Pilbara out of Perth,” he said. “One of my Scania R 620 V8 drivers will be driving it.”

“Danny has around 20 Scanias on his fleet now across a range of applications and this new truck is an absolute standout,” said Michael Berti. “The special black and gold Matic Resources livery completes this truck and perfectly matches the limited-edition graphics, black rims and the bull bar. This is one tough looking unit.”

The limited-edition trucks are all finished in Ghost White paint with gold V8 detailing and 50th anniversary decals. There are high gloss Ebony Black rims and matching black wheel arch trims and chassis highlights to enhance the already impressive look of the New Truck Generation R-series cab.

Inside, the anniversary trucks feature a premium leather-lined cab designed for comfort, safety and quietness, we’re told.

Further special features include a numbered plaque identifying the vehicle as being an anniversary special.

There are premium black leather-clad heated seats complete with red stitching and a flat-bottomed red-stitched V8 steering wheel, electric glass roof hatch, factory cab cooler integrated into the cab ventilation system and a premium sound system with upgraded speakers and sub woofers.

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“The Scania 50th Anniversary Edition recognises the huge role the V8 engine has played in the consistent growth of Scania as the brand that delivers high horsepower with low revs and low fuel consumption,” Sales Director Dean Dal Santo said.

“Scania is the sole supplier of V8 engines for the heavy vehicle market in Australia and our V8 range starts at 520hp and reaches as high as the flagship 730hp V8, which is the most powerful on-highway truck you can buy in Australia, complete with 3500Nm of torque,” he said.

“The special edition R 650 has been specified with Australian customers in mind and will provide an eye-catching hero to any fleet,” Dal Santo concluded.

The new generation 16.4-litre V8 family is built on many of the successful features sourced from previous generation V8 engines: out of approximately 650 components that make up the entire engine, 200 are completely new.

Trucks powered by the V8 engine account for around half of the more than 1000 Scania trucks sold in Australia each year, making Australia one of the more important global markets for the V8 range.