Freight Rover's £13m postal order
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• The Post Office has placed orders with Freight Rover and Ford for over 1,800 vehicles worth some £13 million.
The bulk of the business goes to Freight Rover for 1,190 vans to replace the old Leyland EA (Easy Access) range currently in service. Over 300 of the vans are the 200 series Sherpa, with the new Perkins-built (Prima) MDi direct injection diesel engine.
The rest of the order is made up of 200 smaller Sherpa vans fitted with the old 'B' series diesel unit, and 689 larger 300 series Sherpa vans in long and short wheel-bases.
A further order for over 200 Sherpa vans may be forthcoming before the end of the financial year in April, if the Post Office is able to release the funds in time.
The order for 610 Ford Escorts is a continuation of the September contract reported in the light vehicle news section two months ago (CM November 1).
Initial reaction to the new MDi DI diesel Sherpa from the Post Office has been enthusiastic, although the 3.9:1 rear axle ratio is felt to be 'overgearcd' especially for the harder working parcels vans.
Freight Rover is 'pleased' at the large order and says the 3.9:1 rear axle will stay for the letter vans at least.