DIVERGENT USES FOR A WELL-KNOWN CHASSIS.
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Some Interesting Vehicles Turned Out Recently from the Works of Fiat Motors (England), Ltd.
A MONGST the many uses to ..ti-which the 502F Fiat chassis has been put recently there are several of outstanding interest, and the bodies employed deserve more than passing notice, for not only do they illustrate how a chassis can be adapted to Meet widely divergent needs, but they also help to show how the motor vehicle is revolutionizing road transport and exercising a tremendous influence upon users, in some cases permitting a trader to extend his sphere of operations in a manner which would have been totally impossible only a few years ago. For instance, one of the vehicles which we illustrate is a travelling potato-chip van, constituting in itself a complete "chip shop" equipped with potato cutters, ovens and everything pertaining to the art of potato frying and its presentation as a nutritious edible.
The vehicle is in the service of Mr. L..Divito, of Dowlais, and with it he travels from village to village selling his wares. We understand that his venture is proving a most successful one, being very popular with the inhabitants, who flock to his vehicle, for which they are always prepared as the round is carried out with great punctuality. Quite different is the service afforded by another user in the
neighbourhood a York. He possesses a presentable-looking bus capable of carrying 14 people, but in which the seat cushions can be removed, the seats folded back and sheep or other animals accommodated in the interior. Of course, when used for such a purpose ample straw is spread over the floor. The user is, we believe, a farm2r and he collects his passengers, both animal and human, from neigiibouring farms and from the market, so that, in a sense, this constitutes ,!ooperative transport.
We understand that, at times, both animals and people are carried together. This would hardly appeal to the city-bred traveller, but, apparently, has its merits for service in the country. Fortunately, arrangements are made for ample ventilation, and when the animals are carried wire screens can be fitted over the windows.
Accommodation for a certain amount of luggage, etc., is provided by building the roof sufficiently strong for the purpose, and equipping it with a rail. Ample protection is afforded to the driver,the cab being totally, enclosed and provided with sliding windows in the doors; there is also a three-piece windscreen.
A third use of the chassis is for the carrying of ambulance bodies and, in this connection, we illustrate the exterior and interior of a simple but efficient type of ambulance recently constructed for use in Pembroke, the purchase money for this being obtained by subscriptions from local whist drives, etc. Incidentally, it was supplied through Mr. E. Monti, the local Fiat agent in Haverford West.
An ambulance of this type costs approximately £430, the price natur
ally varying according to the pttings desired.
The inside is lined with three-ply on felt, the last-named assisting in insulating the, passengers from external noises. The whole of the inside is finished in white enamel, and the outside in cream with a red line, the upholstery being carried out in red leather to match.
It has two stretcher carriers with Carter's Rastilon scissors-type springing. This is considered by the makers to be one of the best springing arrangements for such work. It provides easy riding for a child of six or a grown-up person, and obviates rolling. The stretchers are carried on runners, and where sitting patients are to be carried two pairs of seat cushions can be fitted over the carriers, thus providing total accommodation for eight inside the body.
Easy access to the interior is afforded by double doors at the rear, and there is a double folding step. All corners are rounded to prevent the lodgment of dirt. The windows are fixed and of frosted glass. Hit-and-miss ventilators are mounted in the partition between the driver's cab and the interior, and there are ventilating louvres along the sides. These give a good current of air without causing draughts,