New Strachans minibus
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• A new 16-seat minibus by Strachans (Coachbuilders) Ltd., Hamble, Hants, based on a Ford Transit 1 ; ton chassis, is claimed to be the largest capacity and lowest priced vehicle to p.s.v. standards in its class. The complete vehicle, ex works, costs £1,600; additional vehicles are a 16-seat personnel wagon, price £1,520, and a welfare ambulance, price £1,082.
The new lightweight bus has been adapted from the range of parcel vans which Strachans are currently building for the Ford Motor Co. Ltd., on the petrol-engined Transit chassis. A diesel engine, although available, is not recommended for this particular model. Overall dimensions are 16ft 10in. by 7ft Cqin. by 8ft 7in. height (unladen). The interior saloon height is 6ft 1in.
A standard Ford Transit front end and scuttle are retained, while the main body structure and panelling is of lightweight zinc-coated steel, with double-skinned body sides; the roof lining is of aluminium. Glass-rein
forced-plastics is employed for the front end and roof, while the floor of the vehicle is of resin-bonded plywood.
The doors on each side of the driver are of the sliding type and are fitted with retainers in the open and closed positions. An emergency exit is centrally placed at the rear of the body. The floor is ramped from the front stepwell into the saloon which has a flat floor. Tubularframed seats are provided and are 32in. wide. They are upholstered with polyether foam rubber cushions and squabs and trimmed in simulated leather cloth to customer's choice
of colour.
Anti-nicotine white enamel finish is employed inside the saloon above the waist with casing panels painted to customer's requirements. A Ford cab heater /demister is connected to a 3kW recirculatory heater in the saloon.
The welfare ambulance is basically similar to the 16-seat bus but has a wider rear door equipped with a Ratcliffe tail lift for wheel chairs. To provide room inside the body for wheel chairs, only single seats are fitted along the body sides.