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THE L.G.O.C.'S NEW TOURING COACH.

10th April 1928, Page 57
10th April 1928
Page 57
Page 58
Page 57, 10th April 1928 — THE L.G.O.C.'S NEW TOURING COACH.
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Built for Long-distance Touring, the Coach Combines Complete Saloon Comfort with the Freedom of the Open-roofed Vehicle.

AN opportunity Ii a s recently been afforded us of a test run on one of the new 28-seater semi-saloon coaches, of Which ten have now been completed at the Southall works of the Associated Daimler Co., to the order of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd. They are for use on the summer-season tours of the latter company, which commence in June. Heavy advance engagements ha v e been made already for long-period tours to Scotland and the -West of England, and the season promises to be a good one, so that the new coach comes on to the road at an opportune time, and its advantages and refinements are likely to be quickly appreciated by the coach-touring public.

The two outstanding features of the new vehicle are a higher seating position, giving an improved view of the countryside, and a sliding-hood arrangement which combines open-body pleasures for fine weather with positive saloon comfort on rainy days and during cold evenings. •

The chassis selected is the Model 416A Associated Daimler, first prodifeed at the beginning of last year. It has a frame upswept at the front end to clear the front axle and arched far the back axle. The driving cab is placed beside the engine, providing ample body length. The engine in this chassis is of high-efficiency design, being the maker's 35-40 h.p. four-cylinder model of 108 ram. bore and 140 mm. stroke, with side valves and a form of Ricardo head. The power output is at least 38 b.h.p. at 1,000 r.p.m. and over 45 b.h.p. at 1,500 r.p.m., mainly on account of the design of valves, cams and cylinder head. Plain aluminium pistons, Duralumin connecting rods and a threebearing crankshaft of extremely fine

balance are other features making for high performance. A four-speed gearbox is provided, the drive thence being by an open cardau shaft in two portions with Spicer universal joints, the torque being taken by the semi-elliptic rear springs.

On the chassis, with its low centre of gravity, a high. floored body is constructed, with a longitudinal base member 9 ins. thick,

• which provides the r e quired floor height. The floor itself is ramped up an additional 3 ins. at the rear. This departure from general practice allows four distinct advantages. First, it obviates longitudinal seats over the wheel-arches, the floor being so high that the arches only intrude to the extent of 4 ins. Secondly, it gives the passengers a high seating position, which makes country touring more en

joyable. The better view thus provided is further improved by the sloping floor, making it possible for passengers in the rear seats to see over the heads of those before them. And, lastly, it provides a great deal of kicker space under the floorboards between the frame members and in the body side panels, which arc. extended about 2 ft. below the floor level. These lower

panels are hinged and detachable, giving access to luggage compartments 24 ins. deep and 18 ins, wide, which extend from the front doors to the rear wheel arch.

The body is constructed with fixed front and rear roof domes, giving great stability, between which a sliding hood is stretched over three metal-tube hoopsticks. The hood can be folded back in a few minutes and neatly bundled withstraps against the rear dome, the three hoopsticks sliding back with rollers on a Steel rail • abOve the window panels. To prevent rain from creeping in at the front end of the' hood, when closed, it is fixed-under a rubber-edged metal lip. The sides are made with four metal-framed drop windows of the Strachan and Brown type, each having a 4-in, visor of plain glass, which makes it possible to open the windows 3 ins, even in rainy weather without rain entering the saloon to the discomfort of passengers. The window pillarsare narrow and an electric light is fitted at the top of each.

Five pairs of cross-seats are fitted with a gangway down the centre, a seat for five passengers occupies the rear dome and another for three passengers is placed before it, opposite the rear door which is on the near side. Two doors are provided at the front end, one on each side. As the floor is a high one, two steps are fitted to allow easy access, the lower one automatically falling into position when the door is opened and folding up when closed.

The front bulkhead holds a metalframed screen with double screen wiper, so that the passenger's view forward is not spoiled by rain. The seats are commodious, are mounted on a pressed-steel frame and upholstered in green leather, ashtrays rug-rails, grab-handles, parcel satchels, and electric bell-pushes for calling the driver's attention being fitted. There is comfortable leg-room and footrests are provided. The interior is finished in polished mahogany, the floor being cleanly covered with green rubber.

The overall length of this coach is 26 ft., the width 7 ft. 6 ins., the height (loaded) 8 ft. 6 ins., wheelbase 16 ft. and overhang 7 ft. 7 ins. The unladen weight is 5 tons 9 cwt., the laden axle weights being 3 'tons front and 4 tons 12 cwt. rear, and the vehicle is capable of 45 m.p.h.

The coach is equipped with Dunlop pneumatic tyres, the spare wheel being accommodated on a platform below the rear end of the frame, access thereto being given by cutting away the lower portion of the back panel. There is an emergency or extra door on the rear quarter behind the rear wheel.

We found the coach to be extremely comfortable and to have a good turn of speed. The springing really was excellent, and the riding was quite comparable with what would be expected with a private car. The employment offourspeed gearbox permits the oach to take hills at speed, and in the course of a day's run in Surrey we observed that it was no uncommon thing for ordinary touring cars to be passed. The steering appeared to us to be particularly easy, and the coach to handle with a responsiveness that must materially reduce the strain of driving a largo vehicle through a lengthy tour.

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Locations: Surrey

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