An Ingenious
Page 68
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Dual-purpose Body
TBERE exists a large number of persons engaged in business which, during six days of the week, demands a vehicle for work as a goods-carrying unit, whilst the owner may wish to use it at week-ends as a saloon car. Frenchmen, in particular, have been quick to grasp the possibilities of this type of coachwork, and the body here described is of French origin, being handled in this country by Imperia Motors, Ltd., Cordwalles Works, Maidenhead. It is known as La Chatelaine.
As a van, the body has a capacity of 50 cubic ft. The length from the driver's seat to the tailboard hinge is 4 ft. 1 in., and 7 ft. 6 ins, from the front seat (when tipped) to the extremity of the horizontal tailboard ; the inside width of the body is 3 ft. 8i, ins., whilst the height is 3 ft. 8 ins. Each of the two side doors is 2 ft. 8 ins. wide. The rear door has an effective opening of 3 ft. by 3 ft. 3 ins.
At the rear is a horizontally hinged flap, forming the top of the "door," whilst the tailboard forms the lower half of it. This tailboard is equipped with chains and is substantially built to stand loading strains. Support for the upper' flap takes the form of a stay; this flap is, when closed, locked at two points. The detachable tailboard affords good space for display work, and, as it is not normally used when the vehicle is being employed as a saloon car, the advertising matter is shown only when required.
Further publicity space is afforded by two polished fillers, which protect the glass -sf the side windows when the body is being used for goods transport. When the vehicle is in saloon-car form the rear flap is locked and the tailboard is replaced by a roomy luggagebox, access to which is gained by the removal of the rearseat squab. The seat cushion and squab are then fixed in place, the lining boards are hidden by moquette detachable covers, and casings of similar material are slipped over the leather-cloth-upholstered tip-up seats at the front. In place of fixed arm-rests for the rear-seat passengers, two loose cushions are supplied; if these be removed there is, on the rear seat, space for three persons.
Under the tip-up front seats are tool lockers, one of which houses a shaped block of wood carrying the items comprising the kit.
This body, which is finished in green, with a black roof, in the ease of the model illustrated, is sold at 185 for mounting upon the Ford 10-cwt. chassis. This includes loose upholstery covers, a parcels net, mirror and toolholder. For £90 the body can be obtained for Chevrolet and Citroai light commercial chassis. In the case of the Ford, the tax is 115 per annum. No tools are needed for converting the body from one form to the other, and it should prove to be an attractive proposition.