The BMC Profesyonel is a cab-over-engine truck series that BMC put on sale in Turkey in 1996. It was the first truck range whose industrial property rights belonged to a Turkish company, and it grew from light trucks into heavy site and military models.
BMC Profesyonel at a glance
| Maker | BMC, Bornova plant, Izmir, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Launched | 1996 |
| Type | cab-over-engine truck series |
| Claim to fame | first truck series with Turkish-owned industrial property |
| Cab | glazing carried down to the floor |
| 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, sold as BMC Professional |
| Model designations | BMC 415, 518, PRO 522 to PRO 1142, 215-13, 235-16P, 380-26P |
Based on the Turkish Wikipedia article; one source.
History of the BMC Profesyonel
The Profesyonel was introduced by BMC in 1996 and built at the company’s Bornova plant in Izmir. BMC presents it as the first truck series whose industrial property belonged to a Turkish company, a notable step for the country’s vehicle industry.
The cab was designed with glazing carried down to the floor, which gave the driver a wider field of view in town and made parking easier. Like the earlier Fatih range, the Profesyonel was developed into a broad family: light trucks, heavy site trucks and tractor units shared the same basic layout, and tactical wheeled versions served with the Turkish army.
Right-hand-drive examples were built for the United Kingdom, and the model is still assembled under licence in Iran, where it is sold as the BMC Professional.
Design and features
- Turkish-owned design: the first truck series with industrial property belonging to a Turkish company.
- Cab-over-engine layout: short, manoeuvrable trucks with the driver over the front axle.
- Very wide range: from light trucks to heavy site trucks, tractor units and military models.
- Export versions: right-hand drive for Britain and licensed assembly in Iran.
BMC Profesyonel versions
- Light trucks: BMC 415, BMC 518 and PRO 522.
- Medium and heavy trucks: PRO 617, PRO 620, PRO 624, PRO 625 and PRO 822 LHF.
- Heavy site trucks: PRO 827, PRO 832, PRO 935, PRO 940, PRO 1142 and PRO 1144.
- Specialist chassis: 215-13, 235-16P and 380-26P.
- Military tactical trucks: wheeled models for the Turkish army.
- BMC Professional: the Iranian-assembled version.
The Profesyonel followed the Fatih truck range, and its name was later given to the Probus bus. More models are in the BMC collection.
Video: BMC Pro 827 restored
Video by the uploader on YouTube.
Sources
- BMC Profesyonel, Turkish Wikipedia: launch, design, range, models, Iran
