A Six-wheeler
Page 58
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for the
Indian Jungle
A Well-equipped Machine for Traversing Rough Country in Pursuit of Big Game. Crossley Chassis and Barker Coachwork ,Selected THE suitability of the rigid-frame six-wheeler for cross-country work is portrayed in every line and feature of the Crossley shooting brake, which has just been completed for ELM the Maharajah of Bahawalpur. It has evidently been designed with a full knowledge of the work that it must do, not to mention a considerable experience of shikar conditions in India.
Details of the Chassis.
The chassis is the standard India Office model Crossley six-wheeler, and it has a four-cylindered engine of 89 mm, bore and 149 mm. stroke. The direct-drive ratio is 6 to I, the fourspeed gearbox providing indirect ratios of 11, 15.6 and 22.5 to 1, the reverse gear also being 22.5 to 1. Behind the main gearbox is an auxiliary gearbox, giving a low range of ratios especially for cross-country work. These are 24, 44.2, 62.4 and 90.3 to 1, the low-range reverse ratio also being 90.3 to 1. The only alteration that has been made to the chassis is the addition of a second petrol tank attached to the war-side
frame-member. Full articulation of the driving bogie is permitted. c3
The body, -which is by Barker and Co. (Coachbuilders), Ltd., of 66, South Audley Street, London, W.1, is framed up in ash and panelled in aluminium. To render it less noticeable against a background of undergrowth, cactus, etc., the exterior has been finished in a mottled khaki and no plated or bright parts whatever are visible. The wheels are equipped with 32-in. by 4i-in. pneumatic tyres (twins on the bogie wheels), and two spare wheels, as well as steel endless-chain tracks for the driving bogie, are carried.
The driver's compartment, which has two folding, leather-upholstered seats, is separated from the main body by a windowed partition with a central door and there is another large door at the rear. Behind the partition a body length of 9 ft. is available, the interior being equipped with two side lockers on which are folding mattresses, each providing a bed of 7 ft. 1 in. long and 2 ft. 3 ins. wide. The body interior Nis 4 ft. 6 ins, high and 6 ft. 1 in. wide.
Apart from the large windows in the doors there are four small windows in the main body and all are protected by metal screens, so that the occupants may sleep at night without fearing the intrusion of snakes, et. The roof is made to slide,
There are two cupboards at the rear of the body for provisions and in one is carried a very large .battery to supply the generous lighting equipment required for night work. There is a powerful spotlight, mounted in front of the radiator, which can be swivelled from the driver's seat ; also
two spotlights are universally mounted on the canopy. A fourth light is mounted in the rear door panel and can be controlled from within.
Interior Towing Hooks.
A good point is that the body does not extend beyond the rear ends of the frame-members and, by reason of a floor well at the rear, these are exposed when the door is open, so that two towing hooks, bolted to them, can be brought into use. There is of course, interior lighting, also an electric fan. So that it may be possible to use rifles from the driving-compartment seats, 'the windscreen, which has Triplex glass, is made to lower outwards.