The BMC Fatih was a truck series produced by BMC in Turkey from 1986 to 2010. It was a modernised version of the Yavuz, a model developed in cooperation with Volvo, and it was sold with American Cummins engines.
BMC Fatih at a glance
| Maker | BMC, Bornova plant, Izmir, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Production | 1986–2010 |
| Type | truck series |
| Based on | modernised BMC Yavuz, developed with Volvo |
| Engine | Cummins diesel |
| Cab | glazing carried down to the floor for visibility |
| Range | light trucks to heavy site trucks; also tractor units |
| Military versions | tactical wheeled trucks for the Turkish army |
| Right-hand drive | built for the United Kingdom |
| Licensed assembly | Iran, Malaysia and Kenya |
Based on the Turkish Wikipedia article; one source.
History of the BMC Fatih
The Fatih series was launched by BMC in 1986 and built at the company’s Bornova plant in Izmir. It was a modernised version of the Yavuz model, which had been developed in cooperation with Volvo, and it used American Cummins engines.
The design was shaped around visibility in town: the cab glazing ran down to the floor, giving the driver a wider field of view and making parking easier. The range was extended over the years from light trucks to heavy site trucks, and the same family included tractor units for articulated work and tactical wheeled models used by the Turkish army.
Fatih trucks were also built in right-hand drive for the United Kingdom, and the model was assembled under licence in Iran, Malaysia and Kenya and sold in a number of countries. In 1992 a specially built Fatih, piloted by the Turkish racing driver Renç Koçibey, became the first Turkish truck model to take part in the Dakar Rally.
Design and features
- Cummins power: American diesel engines throughout the range.
- Visibility-first cab: glass carried down to the floor to help in traffic and when parking.
- Very wide range: light trucks, heavy site trucks and tractor units on one basic family.
- Military use: tactical wheeled versions served with the Turkish army.
- Export record: right-hand-drive examples for Britain and licensed assembly in Iran, Malaysia and Kenya.
BMC Fatih versions
- Light trucks: the original 1986 range.
- Heavy site trucks: added as the series grew.
- Tractor units: for articulated haulage.
- Military tactical trucks: wheeled models for the Turkish army.
- Dakar 1992 truck: the special vehicle driven by Renç Koçibey.
The Fatih was followed in BMC’s range by the Profesyonel truck family, and the company’s light commercial line is covered in the BMC Levend article. More models are in the BMC collection.
Video: BMC Fatih in the mountains
Video by the uploader on YouTube.
Sources
- BMC Fatih, Turkish Wikipedia: production, engines, range, Dakar
