European Heritage Days: Renault Trucks showcases the legendary Berliet T100

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Renault Trucks Press Release  /  September 11, 2019

Renault Trucks is participating in the 2019 European Heritage Days, opening its doors to the public to show off the biggest truck in the world, the pride of French industry: the Berliet T100. Renault Trucks will be welcoming visitors to its site in Saint Priest near Lyon on Saturday, September 21 from 10 am to 5:50 pm. They will have the opportunity to admire one of only four models of this legendary truck manufactured in 1957.

The Berliet T100 nicknamed the Desert Giant is coming home for the first time for the 2019 European Heritage Days to the delight of automobile fanatics. 

The T100 No.2 is a massive 50-tonne vehicle standing over 5 metres high. It will be on view at the former Berliet site - now home to Renault Trucks - in Lyon Saint Priest on Saturday, September 21 from 10 am to 5:50 pm. 

The T100 No.2 rolled off the assembly lines of Berliet’s Lyon-Monplaisir factory in 1958. It was destined for oil companies operating in southern Algeria. Its ability to plough tirelessly through the sand dunes meant that it played a role in putting out a huge fire at the oil well in Gassi-Touil in 1961-62 by keeping the fire brigade supplied with thousands of tonnes of baryte. Since 1981, this symbol of French industrial heritage has been in the hands of the Fondation Berliet which was set up to conserve and showcase the brand’s heritage vehicles.

Their modern descendants - the Renault Trucks T, C, K and D Wide trucks - will be on show side by side with the famous old timer.   

Berliet T100 No.2, technical specifications
- Unladen weight: 50 t/payload: 50 t; total weight: 100 t
- Dimensions: - Length: 15 m; Width: 5 m; Height: 4.45 m; tyre height: 2.2 m
- “Cummins” V12 700-hp diesel engine
- Clark 4-speed hydraulic coupling gearbox
- Messier multiple “aeronautical waterproof” disc brakes, four on each of the six wheels.

Follow the special convoy
Moving the T100 is quite an expedition; the vehicle has only left its home twice since 1981. Truck fans will be able to follow the progress of the Desert Giant from the Berliet Conservatory in the Ain department to the Renault Trucks site. It will be hauled by a Renault Trucks C 520 belonging to Transports Lavoye, customer of Berliet and then Renault Trucks since 1944.

The T100 will set off on September 18, 2019 at 8 am and will take the following route:Le Montellier – Les Augers / D61 / D4 / Pérouges / Meximieux D22A / D1084D65B / D124 / Blyes / D20 / LOYETTES / D18d / D55 / D517 via CrémieuD75 / Saint-Quentin-Fallavier / D76 / D318 Vénissieux

Practical information
Open from 10 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday, 21 September only.
Admission is on a first-come first-served basis, there is no need to book in advance.
Address: Renault Trucks - 99 route de Lyon, 69800 Saint-Priest 
Free car parking

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