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New Models kre Few But Good

T.HERE will not be a spate of new models, as in 1958, at the Commercial Motor Show, which opens at Earls Court next Friday, but several Outstanding new vehicles will be on. view. Other exhibits will reflect the consolidation of the past two years. Of the five Continental marques entered, three have not appeared at Earls Court before, at least since the war. These are Renault, Mercedes-Benz and MagirusDeutz.

As one has come to expect, Goy will probably provide the most technically advanced passenger chassis. This is the Wulfrunian front-entrance double-deck model with disc brakes and air suspension at all wheels. The vehicle shown will have a Gardner 6LX engine and a fourspeed semi-automatic transmission.

Pre-eminent in technical interest among the goods vehicles will be the Thompson integral eight-wheeled tanker, which, among other unusual features, has a rearmounted transverse engine-transmission pack and leaf-air suspension for its front axles.

Rear-engined Double-decker

Daimler are to show a new rear-engined chassis for double-deck bodywork, which is designated the RE.30. The enginegearbox unit is mounted transversely across the frame and drives into the back of the rear axle. A somewhat similar layout is employed for the Leyland Lion chassis for single-deck bodywork, which has a 200 b.h.p. engine.

Leyland have introduced a new heavyvehicle range made up of redesigned Beaver, Hippo and Octopus four-, sixand eight-wheeled models. Beaver and Octopus chassis will be shown with 11.1-litre engines, The new Leyland 0.400 engine of 125 b.h,p. will be seen fitted to an Albion Clydesdale 9-tanner and to a Reiver light six-wheeler with a new non-reactive rear bogie.

Completing the Leyland group introductions, Scammell are to show their Handyman eight-wheeled articulated unit, comprising a four-wheeled tractor and a 27-ft.-long semi-trailer with rubber suspension. Another new Scammell vehicle will be the Trunker six-wheeled tractor which has a Gardner 611LX underfloor engine and will be coupled to a 4,0P1-gal. tanker semi-trailer with an air F38 sprung tandem-axle bogie.

Bedford are the only British quantity production manufacturers with an entirely n e w range for the Show. This consists of the TK forward-control models, which have vertical engines mounted beneath the back of the cab. This provides a forward entrance and full-width bench seat.

Appearing at Earls Court for the first time will be the Commer 1-ton forwardcontrol range. and the Austin and Morris Commercial FG models with angleddoor cabs. B.M.C. will show the MiniVan front-Wheel-drive 5-cwt. van, which has a transverse engine.

Front-wheel drive is also a feature of the Dennia Vendor 30-cwt. van. This model has an exceptionally low floor and independent rear suspension by trailing arms and rubber springs. Dennis have introduced also a new 6-7-ton Pax range—the Pax IV with new part-plastics cabs.

A compact 4 x 4 dumper chassis will be a Thornycroft innovation. It has a 150-b.h.p. oil engine driving through a combined main and transfer gearbox which provides five forward speeds. Drive to the front axle can be engaged with any ratio in the main gearbox.

Oilfields Tractor Magirus-Deutz exhibits will consist of a single-deck city bus with a rear engine arid air suspension, a 145-b.h.p. 6 x 6 dumper and a six-wheeled oilfields tractor. The bus employs integral construction and hai an air-cooled -oil engine.

Although the Mercedes vehicles to be shoWn are established models, they are new to this country, The well-insulated and sound-proofed pressed-steel cabs on the normalarid forward-control 13tanners to be exhibited are particularly worthy of note.

The Goggomobil forward-control 5-cwt. van and 6-cwt. pick-up are to be augmented this year by attractive 8-cwt. van and ambulance versions of the Royal estate car.

Probably the largest engine to be found

Goods

JEH1CLES on show for the first time V in the 5-12-cwt. class will be contributed by Austin, Morris and Goggomobil. The B.M.C. introduction is, of course, the front-wheel-drive 5-cwt. Mini-Van, which has a transverse engine driving through a four-speed gearbox incorporated in its sump. Moulton rubber springs are employed for the independent suspension units at each wheel. A flattwin air-cooled engine powers the Goggomobil Esquire 8-cwt. van, which is shown also in ambulance form.

Ford are to exhibit their Thames 5-cwt. and 7-cwt. vans which arc unchanged for this year, whilst Commer will display the latest version of the Cob 7-cwt, van which now has greater power, a closeratio. gearbox and improved body styling. The Bedford CA 10-12-cwt. and 15-cwt. vans to be exhibited are now mounted on 13-in, wheels and each can carry 1* cwt. more payload. Standard will show Atlas 10-12-cwt. vans and pick-ups in addition to their 6-cwt. models.

Three goods versions of the Estafette 12-cwt. are to be exhibited by Renault. This vehicle has an 845 c.c. petrol engine which drives the front wheels through a four-speed gearbox. The combination of engine, transmission and front suspension

The engine employedis the Perkins Four 99 1.6-litre unit developing 42.3 b.h.p., which is offered as an option to a 1.5-litre petrol engine. This unit is to be fitted in other models shown. •

Recent modifications to the Volkswagen I5-cwt. Transporter include an increase in engine power, accompanied by redesigning of the engine and gearbox structures to accommodate the higher output. Other 15-cwt. models will be exhibited by Ford, Austin and Morris.

Trojan have now standardized on the 25-cwt. forward-control .chassis as their sole product. With a Perkins P3/144 oil engine and four-speed gearbox, it will appear in chassis form and as the basis for three vans and a drop-sided teuek.

Light vehicles for use on and off the road are to be represented by nine. LandRovers and the latest series II Austin Gipsy 4 x 4.

A Bedford newcomer on view will be the 10-cwt. normal-control pick-up. wheel drive from a Standard 2.26-litre oil engine and the transmission incorporates a three-speed gearbox with Porsche synchronizers on all forward gears. The unladen height of the body floor is only 1 ft. 7f in. and independent rear suspension with rubber springing is employed.

For the same payload Mercedes-Benz offer the L319 forward-control van, which is to be exhibited with a 43 b.h.p. oil engine coupled to a four-speed all-. synchromesh gearbox.

Morris are to show the latest addition to the recent FG forward-control range

—a 14-tonner with single rear. wheels, The FO models. share a novel cab with doors located at an angle on the rear quarters. The single-piece windscreen is . large, and curved lights are incorporated in the front quarter panels below waist . level. An FG 3-tanner with the 3.4-litre " oil engine will be displayed, whilst Austin. are to exhibit their version of this 3-tonner with drop-sided bodywork.

The new Bedford TK forward-control range starts at 4 tons. The lightest model will be seen in chassis and cab form with . the 214-cu.-in, petrol engine. The cab is ahead of the front axle and, on the 4-ton model with 16-in, wheels, is entered by a step I ft. 7 in. from ground level. The engine is beneath the rear of the cab and does not intrude into the driving compartment, which has a fiat floor.

Vacuum-assisted brakes are fitted on the 4-tonner, whilst the hand brake acts on a separate drum in the transmission line. Other TK models on the Bedford stand will be an oil-engined 6-tonner with drop-sided bodywork, a 6-cu.-yd. oil-engined tipper and a 71-twiner.

For 1961, the Thames normaland forward-control ranges will be largely unchanged, but more efficient braking systems have been adopted recently for Trader forward-control 5and 7-tonners. The Commer medium-weight range and Karrier vehicles on show will have no modifications.

• The Albion Claymore underfloorengined delivery-van chassis is now fitted as standard with a five-speed constantmesh gearbox. If required, a sixth-speed overdrive ratio can be supplied.

A 4-cu.-yd, concrete mixer will be fitted to the Albion Clydesdale 14-tongross chassis displayed. This model has been modified by the adoption of the new Leyland 0.400 nil engine, which develops 125 b.h.p. at 2,400 r.p.m. and 300 lb.-ft. torque at 1,600 r.p.m. Otherwise the chassis is unchanged, having a five-speed gearbox and double-reduction rear axle.

r40 Leyland. too, have adopted the 0.400 Super-Plus engine for the Super Comet 14-ton-gross four-wheeler. It replaces the 0.375 engine and the latest model will be on view.

The 14-ton-gross vehicle is now the mainstay of the specialist manufacturers' medium-weight market and Seddon, Atkinson, E.R.F., A.E.C., Guy, and Foden are all to show vehicles of this type. With a slightly lower rating. Mercedes-Benz will exhibit two 13-tongross models with almost identical chassis, but of normaland forwardcontrol layout. Both vehicles have the OM 321 indirect-injection oil engine, which develops 110 b.h.p. at 3,000 r.p.m. from 5.1 litres with noteworthy silence. A five-speed all-synchromesh gearbox is fitted and the exhibition models will have air-operated two-speed axles. That fitted to the normal-control vehicle, which is to have tipping bodywork, incorporates an air-powered differential lock.

Atkinson's I4-ton four-wheeler on show will be a lightweight model introduced last November. It was derived from the 11-ton L.644, is known as the L.645, and has a Gardner 5LW engine, a five-speed gearbox with overdrive-top gear and a single-speed rear axle. A similar engine is employed for the Foden KG.3/14 four-wheeler to be exhibited with van bodywork.

The chassis of the A.E.C. Mercury Mark 11 will be shown unchanged. but the vehicle now has a new Park Royal cab, the main feature of which is a onepiece curved windscreen in place of the two flat panels used previously. A 13.M.C: 5.1-litre engine powers the Warrior 14-ton chassis to be displayed by Guy. It is coupled to a five-speed overdrive-top gearbox and drives a two-speed rear axle. : •

Light Six-wheeled ehasSis 'continue to gain. popUlarity. Seddon will show one de-rived &dmtheir Mark 15/10 14-tongross four-wheeler. it has a trailing third axle arid is powered by a Leyland 0.375

10 b.h.p. 'engine,

A Hendrickson rubber-sprung walkingbeam rear bogie. with two driven spiral-bevel axles is fitted to the recently introduced Marshal six-wheeler to he displayed by A.E.G. This model is basically • a ",` stretched " version of the Mercury Mark .111.. fottr7Wheeler and has a rating of 20 ton S' gross. The ;engine is which will be exhibited by Leyland. This hew vehicle has the pressed-steel cab used on other Leyland models and a 9.8-litre power unit developing 140 b.h.p. at 1,700 r.p.m. and 430lb.-ft.

torque at 1200, .r.p.m. •The. Octopus shown will have double-reduction rear axles with spiral-bevel . primary -reduc tion. A neW Heaver four-wheeled • tractor on view will also have the .200 b.h.p. power unit and pressed-steel cab. Leyland running units are fitted to the advanced eight-wheeled integral . road tanker to be displayed by Thompson. This frameless vehicle has a Leyland Atlantean-type .engine-transmission unit mounted transversely at the rear of the tank, which drives the trailing axle of the tandem rear bogie.

Cab and front bogie are carried on a sub-frame extending from the tank, and leaf-air suspension is fitted at the front. The cab is novel in that it is entered through a single door in the front.

Disc brakes will be fitted -hi the leading axles of an eight-wheeler displayed by E.R.F. The brakes are operated by an air-hydraulic system and the vehicle has a Gardner 6LX engine. All three eight-wheelers shown have Aeon rubber helper springs on their leading froni axles.

• A Rolls-Royce 2004,14. Oil engine is :inCorporated in a .13-ft.:_ 9-in.-wheelbase. Invincible eight -wheeler. to he shown by `Guy. An Invincible six-wheeler on view will have a Gardner 6LX engine. and a novel 12-speed transmission consisting of a six-speed constant-mesh gearbox and a . two-speed synchromesh auxiliary unit. The six-wheeler has a double-drive rear bogie. a dual air braking system and a fifth-wheel coupling.

Searninell's new Routernan. rigid eightwheeler will be seen only On bodybuilders', Stands and in the demonstration park, but the HantWman eight-wheeled articulated unit and the 10wheeled Trunker '" artic will appear on Scammell's on stand.. The Trunker is a six-wheeled tractor unit with a Gardner 6HLX horizontal engine behind the cab. It will be shown with a 4,000gal, tanker semi-trailer with

•

air . suspension for its tandem-axle bogie.

The Handyman is a forward control four wheeled tractor derived from the established Highwayman normal-control model. The semi-trailer to which it is coupled will have a rubber suspension bogie. A supercharged Rolls-Royceengine developing 250 b.h.p. will power the latest Super Constructor 6 x 6 to be shown.

• Gross train weights up to 40 tons can be handled by the BT 1366CA sixwheeled tractor which will be found on the Atkinson stand. This normal-control model has a. Cummins 212-b.h.p. sixcylindered engine driving both axles of the rear bogie through a Z.F. six-speed gearbox. Atkinson are also to exhibit five eight-wheelers.

Magirus-Deutz will have a Saturn 6 x 6 dumper with a 145-b.h.p. engine and a Uranus AE normal-control oil-. fields tractor on their, stand. The sixwheeled tractor drives on all wheels and has a 250-b.h.p. air-cooled oil engine.

The welcome trend towards higher power-to-weight ratioS, is reflected by the latest Foden engine, which will be shown in an FED.6/30 dumper. This is a turbocharged version of their Mark lit 4.09-litre two-stroke oil engine producing 210 b.h.p. The 'dumper has a I2-speed gearbox and a double-drive rear bogie.

Thornycroft are to have a new 4 x 4 dumper on their stand. This is a I3-ton model with a 150-b.h.p. engine and a five-speed gearbox which incorporates the transfer gearing. The welded chassis frame is constructed from 15-in.-deep rolled-steel sections and the specification includes doublereduction axles and power steering as standard. Other Thornycroft vehicles at . Earls Court for the first time will be the Mastiff six-wheeler and the Mastiff tractor.

Hannibal and Forester 4 x 4 tractors with Gardner 5LW and 4LW oil engines, respectively, will be shown by Unipower, whilst Smith's N.C.B. are, as usual, the F46 only manufacturers of battery-electric vehicles with a stand at the Show.