French maker takes top
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place at Nice by Tony Wilding • One of the most important coaching events in Europe is undoubtedly the International Semaine chi Car, held in Nice every two years. Last week the 1969 "Semaine" saw all the major manufacturers on the mainland of Europe competing for the coveted Grand Prix Louis Bollandard, which was taken by Saviem with the E7 luxury coach introduced last month. The trophy is awarded for the best performance in a series of technical tests covering acceleration, braking, suspension and noise, these being the most important of the various competitions that take place. The E7 also won the cup for the best driving position and its driver gained top place in the driving tests.
Second most important prize at Nice is the Antoine de Laage Challenge Trophy which is given to the entrant gaining the best marks in technical tests, the bodywork section and the
rally section of the Semaine du Car—assessment of the touring route, etc., taken to get to Nice. The winner must have taken part in the previous event two years ago and this year the trophy went to a Russian coach—a GSKB Type Ukraine 69-N.1.
A feature of this Nice event was, as in 1967, the interest shown by Eastern European vehicle makers. Two other Russian vehicles were there as well as Czechoslovak and Hungarian makes. There were two Czech vehicles, both of them with attractive body designs by Karosa. An 11-metre design had Skoda components while a 20-seater was based on the Saviem A30. The Ikarus 12metre. 34-seat luxury coach from Hungary had a MAN engine and a a very clean design which helped it to gain second place in its class in the bodywork competition; the winner of the luxury-coach section was a Kassbohrer Setra with a very attractive one-and-a-half deck body.
A Volvo with Van Hool body-13 metres long and built with a high standard interior for long-distance transport by Swedish railways —did very well in the technical tests and came second in its bodywork class. Best in the urban and suburban body section was a MAN built to the German standard design.
In the three previous events at Nice the Mercedes-Benz 0.302 has taken the Louis Bollandard prize but the firm had little succes this time. One of its luxury touring models, however, came fourth in its bodywork class and got a special mention in the competition on general safety of the design from the passengers' angle.
A full illustrated report of the Nice event will be published in CM next week.