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the cab allows a partial reduction of the air pressure in the third-axle springs so transferring weight on to the driving axle when extra adhesion is required.
One of the more interesting aspects of the Italian, industry is the link between Alfa Romeo and Saviem under which the Italian company manufactures engines for Saviem bnd markets lighter models from the French concern. The first practical example of this latter agreement was at the 1967 Turin Show when Alfa Romeo also exhibited the jointlydesigned F20 front-wheel 2-ton van. Now Alfa Romeo is importing chassis /front-end versions of the Saviem Super Galion—the Alfa Romeo A38—and this is used as the basis for a number of small p.s.v. seen at Turin. Also of interest is an artic outfit shown by trailer maker V. Orlandi using the A38 and with a gross train weight of about 13 tons.
Higher gross weights have been expected in Italy -since around 1964 but proposed amendments appear to be as far away as ever. Maximum weights in Italy are the lowest in Europe for rigid vehicles and-to get to the maximum of 32 tons on an artic, five or more axles are essential. Tractor-trailer combinations can go up to 44 tons provided each part has four axles (eight-wheelers have a 22-ton limit) and this explains the reason for the considerable number of four-axle tractors —and trailers—to be seen. Surprisingly, there appears to be no effort to reach a standard type and every possible combination of axle number and location is used. There are many four-axle trailers with 16in. wheels and tyres and because of the restrictive outer and inner turning-circle requirements steered axles on trailers are the rule.
A change by Viberti is the introduction of a two-axle semi-trailer with the forward axle set at about the mid-point and the rearmost axle steered by a mechanical linkage to the turn table position—a wedge locates in the turntable vee to operate the linkage. This is the first time Viberti has used mechanical steering for its semi-trailer axles and Bartoletti is showing similar semi-trailers also with mechanical linkage.