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0 Italian bound
Page 144
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AMONG the big tractive units making regular runs to Continental destinations is the comparatively small Chrysler Commando G08 owned by Thrapston Warehousing Co Ltd, Thrapston, near Kettering, Northants.
When the company bought the vehicle it did not know a vehicle would be needed for runs to .France and Italy. The Commando was bought as a utility vehicle for domestic use and among its attractions was its biggish body, Luton type, but one not requiring an hgv driver's licence.
"The vehicle has been used on Continental runs some 50 times in 18 months and is proving excellent," says managing director Donald Wilson. "Our cargo does not weigh much and this vehicle takes a large cargo cube. And for EEC work it doesn't require permits, which are rationed and difficult to get. Before we bought it, our first Chrysler, we had had one on loan.
"It is a fast vehicle and we use it for high-value loads; often coming back we hang wrapped suits in it on bars adjustable at both ends, for delivery to West End stores. The vehicle has never failed us; anything needing attention has been so small that the driver has seen to it himself. On warranty in England we had a bolt out of
"4.46clutch and the vehicle towed in by a local garage to a main dealer at Wellingborough.
John Jeffery, the driver, said that he likes the Commando: it pulls well in third and takes Mont Blanc, for instance, in third. The vehicle has a six-cylinder 6.354 Perkins engine with five-speed box. It has the long-wheelbase option.
Criticisms? The seats are a bit narrow and the plastic material causes sweating. A two-speed axle would be useful as well. He said that two fuel filters also would be useful. The reason? "Italian diesel has a lot of water in it; we had to have the pump off once because of this. Italian vehicles have three or four filters to take care of this problem."
John expected the engine to be affected by the thinness of air in the Alps, but this hasn't proved the case, he said.
After 133,000km the engine is beginning to use a bit of oil, he said, but it's still pulling well.
He uses the toll roads: on the trip to Italy the company pays single fares of 41 Fr Calais-Lilliers; 68Fr ParisMacon Nord; 20Fr Annermasse to foot of Mont Blanc; 1,290 lire Aosta-Santhia; 1,900 lire Ivrea-Milano; 2,900 lire Milano-Verona. The Mont Blanc tunnel is 20Fr return.
The Verona trip is around 1,000 miles—accomplished at about 14mpg, added the managing director. -We keep the vehicle in top nick," he said. "Anything the driver says needs attention before he sets out is done; if he says oil is leaking, or the cold start could be better, we get
it done. And, of course, rd make sure the tyres ha plenty of tread. But we doi find that an emergency kit necessary apart from t usual."
One mod Mr Wilson exper some bright bodybuilder offer one day is a sleeper-c, option. To do a mod ther selves would be very expe sive and would lose thE part of the payload. But then space between the cab a the body that could be utilisE and a clever designer cot. do the job and put, another 15 inches on t body.