Blue Diamond News - Diesel Forum

Louisville_Joe · 01-08-2008, 10:27 PM

It's official. In their latest 10K report, Navistar stated that they have asked Ford to terminate the 'Blue Diamond' joint venture as of Sept. 28, 2009. There is a provision to extend it a maximum of 4 years past that, provided that both parties can agree on terms.

Red Horse · 01-09-2008, 10:56 PM

Interesting. This will have to hurt sales in the short term- in terms at least of any significant fleet orders. As for an extension of 4 years- can you imagine these twom agreeing on anything at this point!

Louisville_Joe · 01-11-2008, 07:48 PM

No, I sure can't! I figure the 4 year extension might be for parts support. What really has me concerned at this point is even though we knew 'Blue Diamond' was probably finished when the GM deal was announced, is there going to be enough time for Ford to develop a replacement for the Blue Diamond 650 and 750, or are they just going to exit the market?

Red Horse · 01-12-2008, 12:07 AM

LVJ,
I would think it will be no big deal as they built the truck for three years at the Cautilan plant. What is interesting is some of the news about the bigger V-8 diesel they are supposedly working on- up to 700 ft.lbs! With everyone going to proprietary engines, this might be of some help- Although as old as I am, I have nothing but bad memories of V-8 diesels!

Also there is enough talk about there being room in Louisville for this line.

Louisville_Joe · 01-12-2008, 12:28 AM

The 2000-2003 F650/750 Cautilan built Super Duty trucks were strange. They were not much more than a 1999 Super Duty cab on a 1980-1999 medium F truck chassis. They even used the same standard front bumper. Ford's original plan was to build a 'new' medium duty in 1996 or so using the HM80 Louisville cab on the old F truck chassis. Couldn't do that when the HM80's were sold to Freightliner, so they used the Super Duty cab. Funny thing was Freightliner really wanted Ford's mediums too. Freightliner ended up building there own version of Ford's HM80 medium, the Acterra. They stuck the HM80 cab on a Freightliner FL60 chassis, with mixed results! Ford's new diesel does appear to have medium duty capabilities, doesn't it?