Engineerisig News'
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ERF's new horizons
ERF NEEDS to look beyond its present horizons and extend its range further down the weight scale according to sales director John Bailey.
Speaking at the Motor Show Mr Bailey said that ERF can only expect to succeed if the company is corn petitive or if it offers "something special in a specialised sector."
Mr Bailey was referring to the Project QM chassis 1CM, October 23) designed by ERF in conjunction with Dunlop Automotive Engineering Division and a design consultant.
ERF has stressed that the QM is very unlikely to become a production model — at least not in the form shown at the NEC.
The existing GM chassis is being used very much as a mobile test bed to analyse the practicability of the various design features, and, to date, it has covered over 2,253km (1,400 miles) at MIRA including pave and the ride and handling circuit.
Bailey commented that if sufficient interest in the concept is shown at the Motor Show, then a vehicle based on the GM could • go into production by the middle of next year.
It has also been suggested• that Project QM could form the basis of a bus chassis and Mr Bailey saw no reason why this should not be done.
The Perkins engine was chosen as ERF decided the Gardner would be too expensive for a competitive 16 ton chassis.
The GM employs some Huck bolts (well known in the bus industry) in addition to the more conventional rivets or bolts.