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Facelift looks g rid on PK...
Page 68
Page 69
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?eport by Steve Gray...pictures by Harry Roberts
FTER nearly 20 years' .oduction, during which lov changes have been made it, the Chrysler Dodge (née Dmmer) PB Space Van has id a major facelift.
The changes, mostly stylistic, e intended to give the van a ore up-to-date appearance, thout the need for a costly design involving new body Only new pressing necesry, in fact, is the front panel, hich, although generally simi' to the old one, has been changed to accept a full width matt black radiator grille incorporating headlamps and side and flasher lamps.
A new air intake grille for the heater is included above the main grille and a deeper silver painted bumper is used to complete the frontal changes.
Door handles, similar to those fitted to the Dodge Commando range, are now employed in place of the small button-type and substantial spring-back, door-mounted mirrors are a great improvement over their smaller predecessors. At the rear, the only change is the fitting of larger quarter bumpers.
Inside the Dodge, Chrysler has included a lot of improvements aimed at providing greater driver comfort. Fully reclining seats are fitted, although the passenger seat (when specified) cannot be reclined far because the battery is mounted directly behind it. The seats are specially contoured ' and have an improved adjusting mechanism.
In front of the driver, a neat instrument panel is built into the fully padded facia which incc porates a locking glove. bo ashtray and space for a radio.
A cigarette lighter is locatE to the right of the facia-mount( heater controls.
Better quality
One of the biggest irnprov ments is the use of better quali sound-insulating floor coverini with sound-absorbing mater' around the engine cowl ar wheel arches as well as E improved engine cover seal There are also trimmE windscreen pillars with grE )andles and a trimmed header )anel with padded sun visors, The Dodge is available in /arious forms — as a van with diding or hinged cab doors; a 12-seater bus, a workmen's Jus; a chassis cab or chassis :owl — all with a choice of petrol )r diesel engines and with )ptional automatic transmis
3reater comfort I was able to try the. -e-vamped 5.6cum (200cuft) :opacity space van, with a petrol
engine, around a typical urban route.
The most impressive feature of the fully laden van was its quietness. Interior noise level was extremely low with the engine barely audible at tickover.
The van started easily (a choke warning light is a new feature on the dash) and warmed up quickly.
I found that the new pedals are well-placed and the improved gearbox remote control — the only true mechanical change Chrysler has made — vastly better than that of the previous model.
Easy to manoeuvre
The steering was light even with the load the van was carrying and made the vehicle easy to manoeuvre through narrow streets and into tight spaces.
Visibility through the large curved windscreen is excellent and the solid door mirrors give especially good coverage to the rear_ With the revised Space Vin Chrysler, in my view, has done a
,good job without changing 1 -van dramatically or increasi the price too mu
The 1500 mo el is dropp from the range, but the 20 petrol van costs 2,486, wF the diesel 2500 i £3,031.
These are Hiine vans w hinged doors, b t Lo-line sions are availa le. The ch difference with t e Lo-line is use of black bum ers.
All vehicles n the Doc Space Van range are covered the Chrysler Protect 12-month unli ited mile2 warranty.