Jap bus at Geneva
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by A. J. P. Wilding • High-quality goods bodywork is once again an eye-catching feature of the Geneva Show. And the continuing activity of Japanese manufacturers in Europe is demonstrated by the first appearance of the name Datsun in this part of the world.
The Japanese exhibit is the Cabal!, alightweight chassis, and it has a locally-built pick-up body. Hino is also here with the first Japanese-based p.s.v. at a European show— a light chassis with 32-seat Belgian (Stoelen) body.
Scania-Vabis shows for the first time the integral bus it designed and built for Sweden on the change over to right-hand traffic, Saurer shows a luxury coach with new Neoplan body, there is the 5,000th Mercedes-Benz 0302 built (it has the new 255 bhp Mercedes-Benz engine) and Hanomag has a new 14-seat p.s.v. on the F25.
The rest of the important news relates to goods chassis. As announced last week, Fiat has the 616N2 with new cab and front end and three-cylinder diesel. Following rationalization of engine production between agricultural tractors and trucks, Fiat has new three-, fourand six-cylinder diesels sharing common bore and stroke dimensions and many parts—the four-cylinder is fitted in the 625N2 and the six in the 645N1 and 650E1. Saurer also has engine news. A number of exhibits have diesel engines uprated a year ago by increasing the bore size—from 125 to 130 mm—and Swept volume—from 10.3 to 11.15 litres. The latest naturally aspirated DK gives (at 2,200 rpm) 210 bhp net as against 160 bhp and the supercharged DKL, 255 bhp at 2,200 rpm instead of 210 bhp at 2,000 rpm.
OAF of Austria introduces the forwardcontrol Tornado FNL9-180 with tilt cab and the long-standing Skoda 6 x 6 is strikingly different, here being shown with a locally made plastics forward-control cab.
Lack of personnel on stands before opening day (Friday) calls for a lot of digging to get information but full details of chassis mentioned here and any other important ones discovered will be given in next week's issue.