Deals on Wheels #469

Australia’s early Freightliners
were assembled on a line at
Mercedes-Benz Australia’s
Mulgrave (Vic) facility
A founding father of
Freightliner in Australia, the
late Ian Bruce. Daimler-Benz’s
purchase of Freightliner in
1981 created huge excitement
for the eventual introduction
of the brand in Australia
146
direction, Freightliner, in 1985, introduced a
new ‘medium conventional’ model called the
FLC112, obviously built on a 112-inch (284.5cm)
BBC dimension but also sporting a steel cab
adapted from the Mercedes-Benz stable,
and largely intended for US shorthaul and
construction-type applications.
Australian interest in this model was
quickly aroused, not least because of
the durability and safety aspects of the
welded steel cab compared to the FLC120’s
aluminium sheets joined by a plethora of pop
rivets. Despite concerns, the word from within
MBA was that the two test units were actually
surviving well and, besides, tare weight was
undeniably attractive.
It was, however, becoming increasingly
apparent that the steel-cabbed FLC112 was
building most favour in Mulgrave despite 1987
bringing news of Freightliner’s US launch of its
first ‘aero’ conventional, the FLD range.
Still, the FLC112 was the increasingly
lower-priced favourite for a number of
reasons including, perhaps, an easier and less
expensive conversion to right-hand drive
than either the FLC120 or its FLD successor.
So, finally, in 1989, after almost seven years
of protracted discussion and engineering
assessment both here and in the US,
and Portland’s commitment to adapt a
construction-type model into a truck suitable
for everything from shorthaul tipper work
to heavy-duty prime mover roles, the FLC112
became the foundation for Freightliner’s first
foray into right-hand drive markets.
It took time and lots of toil but, ultimately, the
choice of the FLC112 – back then assembled
on a now-defunct Mulgrave assembly
line – proved to be an inspired decision as
the model notched a solid reputation in
everything from logging to linehaul, tippers
to tankers and, eventually, even roadtrain
triples. Indeed, it’s not uncommon to see an
FLC112 still earning an honest living.