First Volvo truck built in Va. facility comes back

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This 1982 Volvo F7 was the first Volvo Trucks model to be built in the United States at the Virginia New River Valley plant.This 1982 Volvo F7 was the first Volvo Trucks model to be built in the United States at the Virginia New River Valley plant.

Volvo Trucks North America recently caught up with the very first Volvo truck model to roll off the assembly line at its New River Valley assembly facility in Dublin, Virginia. The company caught up with it when it came back to New River Valley after donation by the Wilson family, founders of the former Wilson Trucking Corporation.

This dash-mounted plaque was installed during the original production to commemorate the first U.S.-built Volvo truck.This dash-mounted plaque was installed during the original production to commemorate the first U.S.-built Volvo truck.

The 1982 Volvo F7 model will reside at the Volvo Trucks Customer Center, adjacent to the plant. Volvo and Wilson Trucking enjoyed a long-standing relationship beginning in the 1970s, when Wilson Trucking purchased the first Volvo F86 model sold in the U.S. In 2011, Wilson Trucking took delivery of the 500,000th U.S.-built Volvo truck model.

The Wilson Trucking family and the ’82 Volvo cabover, from left: Ginny and Chuck Wilson and Guy and Rebecca WilsonThe Wilson Trucking family and the ’82 Volvo cabover, from left: Ginny and Chuck Wilson and Guy and Rebecca Wilson