Opinions and Queries
Page 47
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Comparative Costs of Small Buses
MY attention has been drawn to a letter in your issue
of May 8, entitled "Observations on those small buses," in which B. D. Brooks specifically refers to one of the range produced by Kenex Coachwork Ltd., on a Thames 15-cwt. chassis.
Mr. Brooks appears to take exception to the description of the vehicle as being the lowest-priced vehicle of its type, when completed and ready for the road, which were the terms in which our announcement was couched, and sets out to prove that the Kenex still costs considerably more than the B.M.C. factory conversion of the Morris or Austin.
Our statement that the Kenex product is still the lowestpriced vehicle, when completed and ready for the road, is really the fundamental point, to which we adhere.
It is not my desire to be dragged into a controversy on this matter, but just to clear things up I would be glad if you would allow me to make a few observations.
Naturally the Minibus and the Omnicoach will include such items as a heater and demister, first-aid box and fire extinguisher, as these must be supplied under Ministry of Transport regulations, otherwise a Certificate of Fitness would not be granted.
The price of the Kenebus, complete with a spare wheel and supplied with a Certificate of Fitness, is £724. Now let us examine the figure for the B.M.C. product. The basic price is £677 10s., to which must be added £34 17s. 6d. for single-colour painting, £16 15s. for a spare wheel and £5 1Gs. for a Certificate of Fitness. As B.M.C. do not supply a spare-wheel carrier, and as this will naturally be fitted, there is also a figure of £7 15s. (this is the charge we made for carriers, many of which we have supplied for B.M.C. vans) for this item. This brings the total eost of the B.M.C. van to £742 7s. 6d., which exceeds the total cost of the Kenex conversion.
With reg-ard to the Kenebus seating, it must be pointed Out that both longitudinal seats are 8 ft. in length and not 7 ft. 6 in. as stated by Mr. Brooks. The seating measurement required by law is 16 in. per person, so that both Kenebus seats are the correct length for six persons.
Dover. W. C HARRIS,
Kenex Coachwork Ltd.