Improvements in New Austin Range
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Higher Power from "Seven" Engine, Which Now Has Three Main Bearings. 'Clutch and Steering gear Modifications OUTSTANDING among the improvements that have been made to the commercial-vehicle part of the new range announced by the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., Longbridge, Birmingham, on Monday last, are those affecting the 7 h.p. engine.
This now has a centre crankshaft bearing, which has enabled the compression ratio to be raised to 6.1 to 1 and the r.p.m. to be increased. The unit now develops 17 b.h.p. at 3,800 r.p.m., whereas formerly the maximum was 13.5 b.h.p. at 3,000 r.p.m.
On all models, a clutch incorporating a spring-centre plate is now used, whilst on the Ten a modification has been made to the steering gear, this, in its latest form, being of the worm-and-sector type.
The only change in prices is an increase in the cost of the 10 h.p. 6-8-cwt. van from £148 to £150. The models and prices in the, new goods-vehicle range are as follow : SeVen, 5-cwt., £108; Ten, 6-8-cwt.; font." cylinder'. , £150; Twelve, 7710-cwt:,tour cylinders, £172 10s.; Twelve-Six, 7-10-cwt., six cylinders, 15.9 h.p., £190.
Closely resembling the Austin cars in respect of equipment and driver's comfort, these vehicles are of excellent
appearance and constitute an extremely attractive range. The seats are luxuriously upholstered, strap-opening cartype doors are provided, and electric windscreen wipers are standardized. In every case the spare wheel is accommodated at the rear under the floor. On all models a synchromesh mechanism is provided for second, third and fourth gears.
It will be remembered that towards the end of 1935, a 10-cwt. model equipped with a small -lorry body was introduced. We understand that this has proved successful, and it is, of course, still included in the range.