First of Iftenau
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MANY of the manufacturers were representated via their local dealers — usual at the I RTE conference.
One such dealer was Midland Continental Commercials representing Berliet and Saviem with two tractive units (one from each marque) and a Club of Four Saviem. Actually, it was not the vehicles themselves which were the interesting feature, but the fact that they were exhibited under the joint banner of "Renault Trucks".
Now the Saviem/Berliet tie-up is well known as they are both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Renault, but until recently the two UK dealerships have been kept apart. This was the first public exhibition where the Renault Trucks banner has been seen.
Looking rather like a Foden because of its identical cab, the Shelvoke and Drewry 4x4 attracted a lot of attention in the display area. Powered by a turbocharged Leyland 410 engine developing 107kW (144bhp), the SD was plated for 16.3 tonnes (16 tons) gvw. I wonder why SD quote the gross vehicle weight in lb?
Mounted on the 4.27m (14ft) wheelbase machine was a Hands-England Drillmaster drill fitted with a 7m (23ft) mast with a feed capacity of 7440kg (16,4001b). The rotary head developed a torque of 6,100Nm (4,500Ibft).
Keeping very quiet about any future implication surrounding the Volvo / SaabScania merger, Scania was represented by a Scania 81 16-tonner complete with Allison automatic gearbox.
Operators who are already using these trucks are repor ting an improvement in fuel consumpton over manual trucks. This might come as a surprise to many people as automatic transmissions usually carry a fuel consumpton penalty through increased power absorption.
However, when the system is used to its best advantage, is stop/start urban delivery work rather than long-haul trunking, the automatic gearbox changes up, say, between traffic lights whereas, with a manual, the driver would just leave it in second and run on the governer without bothering to change up.
Two of the '200 series trucks made up the Seddon Atkinson exhibition, one being in the fleet colours of BP. This was a 4.47m (14ft Sin) wheelbase modal fitted with a 12,600-litre (2770ga1) Fergussons tank.