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Gilford . . 105
Page 16
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AFULL description of the remarkable oil-engined front-drive passenger vehicle which the Gilford company has produced appeared in our issue for last week. It incorporates a six-cylindered two-stroke oil engine of the opposed-piston type, this being housed in a cowling at the front end of the lower saloon. The drive is taken forward through a hollow worm shaft to a gearbox in which all gears are in constant mesh, and is brought back by the said worm shaft to a worm wheel, being transmitted thence to the two front road wheels through constant-velocity universal joints. Suspension is by large Gruss air springs. A combination of vacuum and hydraulic brake application is employed.
Another most fascinating feature is that the orthodox chassis frame is dispensed with, the body frame taking its place. The latter is built of light boxsection drawn-steel members, whilst strong steel wheel-arches, forming part of it are used to hold the wheel suspension springs, guide bars, etc. The result of employing this form of construction is that a floor level throughout of 1 ft. 11 in. is obtained. Another advantage is that the weight is practically evenly distributed between front and rear wheels, so that low-pressure single tyres can be fitted all round; the size used is 11.25 ins. by 20 ins. The moderate overall height of the double-decker (12 ft. 11 ins.) will be noticed. It seats 31 persons in the upper saloon and 25 on the lower deck. Visitors will find this vehicle most interesting and should make particular note of the emergency exits, wide stairway and level upper-saloon floor. Ample power is available, tor the engine develops about 120 b.h.p. The seating layout is interesting.
As a separate exhibit, the front-wheeldrive unit isitavailable for inspection.
The new MOT 26-seater chassis is shown completely equipped with a saloon coach body. This model is built specially to comply with the latest Ministry regulations. It has a six cylindered overhead-valve engine of 117 b.h.p., four-speed gearbox and underslung-worm axle with fully floating *shafts. Dewandre servo brakineis employed, incorporating the Gilford patent equalizer. The wheelbase is 16 ft. 8 ins. and the semi-elliptic suspension is improved by the use of Gruss air springs at the front. The body is by Strachans (Acton), Ltd.
The familiar 1680T type is shown complete with 32-seater all-weather coach body by Wycombe Motor Bodies, Ltd. Although this has a slightly smaller six-cylindered engine, it is notable for quite a good performance, also for smoothness of running. The arrangement of the body mouldings, etc., to make the vehicle suitable for cellulose exterior finish, is a speciality of the Wycombe company.
A smaller Gifford machine is seen in the DF6 six-cylinder goods chassis, shown with a Newns horsebox body for two animals. The wheelbase in this case is 14 ft., and the chassis has practically all the usual passenger-type tefinements, including offset transmission, underslung-worm drive, a smooth sixcylindered engine and four-speed gearbox. The tyre size is 32 ins. by 0 ins. (twin rear). The ease of handling the horsebox ramp will be noted.—The Gilford Motor Co., Ltd., High Wycombe, Bucks.