Weather Tests Nice
Page 60
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Rally Drivers
BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
FOR the first time on record, the international " semaine du car" in ,Nice was held last week in
• atrocious Weather. It rained heavily most of the time, which is unusual on the Riviera coast in May.
_ There were 31 entries in the Rally proper, and all but four of them took part in the comfort and elegance concours. Seventeen also entered for the manoeuvrability, acceleration and braking tests. The rally, the concours and the tests are three entirely separate events.
The tests were particularly severe this year and weather conditions did not help the drivers, who were carefully
selected. Many vehicles not taking part in the rally, but entering the concours, also entered for the tests. On this occasion there were 41 of them-15 Berliet, six Chausson, six Bussing, two Floriat, two Daimler-Benz, two Isobioc and one each made by Renault, Leyland, Chevrolet, Saurcr, Kassbohrer, A.E.C., Kraus-Maffei and Seddon.
Big Berliet Entry
The somewhat overwhelming Berliet entry is due to the fact that the concern produce a great variety of types. One rather surprising point this time was the extremely small Italian support to the affair. Fiats are usually well to the fore, and their splendid long-diStance coaches much admired.
Looking at the coaches lined up on the Promenade des Anglais, it was noticeable that there was a steadily increasing use of plastics materials in Continental coachbuilding, and the idea of all-round and overhead vision had been carried to remarkable lengths. An example was the Berliet PLH, which had a complete Plexiglass roof with rolling sunblinds, but there were many others.
Eighty-nine vehicles took part in this concours, which is divided into five categories ranging from the town bus up to super-luxury long-distance coaches. These coaches are always the most interesting in the show. Many ideas relating to passenger comfort are borrowed from present-day airliner practice, such as reclining sears.
Bars, some of them smart little ones, and toilettes with hot and cold water, are to be found in most of the longrange Continental vehicles. This being an international event, one fine coach may deserve mention as perhaps the most international vehicle presented.
This was an A.E.C. with Swiss coach work by a subsidiary of the famous Belgian Gangtoff concern, located in Berne. The interior panels of the body were covered with a German plastics material, Plastacella. There was a tiny reading lamp for each passenger, well screened to prevent any annoyance to his neighbours.
Plastics were used for large body panels and a wide range of internal equipment, but not for seats. There, leatherette and textiles still hold their own.
So much has been done in recent years to increase drivers' comfort that little seems to remain. All-round vision has become universal.
The rally proper was won by Voyages Pullman. of Liege, with a Bussing coach. This gained the President of the Republic's Cup and the Liege R.A.C. Cup. The ',same tourist coach concern also won second place with another Bussing. Third came a Chausson, entered by Les Cars Hourtoule.
Seddon Leads
In the acceleration and braking tests a Seddon coach from Liege beat 28
other competitors. The ,coachwork concours was won by the Monaco Bus Co., with a Berliet PLR, which received the Grand Prix and a cup presented by the Union Routiere de France. Berliet PLR coaches were also second and third in this concours.
PRINCIPAL AWARDS Grand Prix du President Voyages Pullman dc, Liege (Bussing), also winning the Liege R.A.C. Cup.
Grande Prix d'Excellenee
Voyages Pullman de Liege (Bussing); Cats Houruaule, Gastines, jointly with Stavo and Perrier; Sofica a Vimoustiers. jointly with Grands Coun-iers A Paris (Saurer); Loisirs de Normandie, jointly with Joffet A Rouen (Chausson.); Loisirs de Normandie, jointly with R. Legrand S Rouen (Isobloc); Generalcar S Brunettes (Volvo); Voyages Dora A Liege (Chevrolet); Courtiers Normands A Caen, jointly with Transcar (Chausson-Amiot).
Grands Prix d'Honneur L. Bet* a Noodwijk Ann Zee (Pays-Bas) (Volvo); Audcrset ct Dubois A Geneve (A.E.C.); Lyon Voyages, jointly with Car Lyonnais (Mercedes); Intertnediaire International A Amster' dam (D.A.F.-Leyland); Transports Dtouin h Nantes (Soinua); Societe Generale des Transports Departementaux A Paris, Jointly with Transcar de Chalons sur Marne (Fluriat); Comnaanie Francaisc de Tourisme h. Paris (Bernet); Voyages Brooke h Bruxelles, jointly with Etablissements Colin (Studebaker); Voyages Ideal Tourisme 6 Liege (Bussing).