Curtain raiser at Brussels
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International sparkle amid the economic gloom
by the Technical Editor
DESPITE rocketing fuel price: vehicle demand and der economic forecasts, exhibit, supporting the year's first inter motor show in almost undir strength, On the commercial side, no fewer than 61 makes countries have chosen to be pi the 1975 Brussels Show; they i strong contingent, from thi (Chevrolet, Mack, White, national Harvester, Ford and and from Japan (Hino and Although Fodens have withdri year. Britain is well representei European operators will special incentive to visit this exl since it is the first public appea the light truck range from the fc tinental manufacturers who I reported on page 62) worked toi a consortium. As well as thest new trucks which will become a on the Continent this year, ti interesting developments from other manufacturers.
The Club of Four trucks on include examples from each member companies: DAF, I Deutz, Saviem and Volvo. T Saviem and DAF have alma( reviewed in CM while the ti details of the Volvo version (relc Monday) are included in this 4 On the Mercedes-Benz stani first 16-ton rigid from the "New I tion" range, designated the 1619 expected to appear as the 161i British market later in th( Featuring the latest "small" c powered by the OM 401 — a V( developing 143kW (192bhp). TF D and L 408 Transporter model show for the first time witl powerful engines broadly sin those fitted to the 240 D(Diesel) 4 (petrol) passenger cars — mean the models are now desig! I. 407 D and L409. On the bus new rationalized bus range 1 recently in CM, the 0.303 is on 1.
lrst appearance of the TM in Belgium is emphasized by mples of the range including the with the V8 Detroit Diesel and fully automatic Allison sion as seen at Earls Court. iriants of the CF van range on d at Brussels include a pickup the 3.32-ton chassis cab with y Krieg and an aluminium by Wi nand.
buses if the British Leyland stand is of the 25 Leyland Nationals by the Netherlands State 5 while other bus exhibits a D.A.B. Worldmaster and a converted Terrier coach. Two s of the top-weight Marathon Jemonstrate the artic and options with standard and cabs. The light and medium of the Leyland truck range are resented with various examples ers, Boxers and Mastiffs.
iat Group have a wide selection les drawn from the Fiat, OM ranges. One of the exhibits, the A 160 is a new model for both and Holland at 17 tonnes gvw ireviously only been available in
Fiat and OM exhibits cover the whole of their respective ncluding the 619 and 684 heavy ind the 55 and 75 vans, all of re available in the UK.
!n Transits from the Ford are split between the cornand car stands. Also on view are four examples of the L-series which are the bonneted range of American assembled trucks. The L-series is already available in Switzerland but this is its first appearance in Belgium. Other first-timers on the Belgian market are the A-series with five such vehicles on display and the D-series with the 504 Cummins engine.
All the cabs and axles for DAF trucks are actually produced in Belgium, at Oevel, so it is not surprising that the Dutch firm is exhibiting no fewer than 20 vehicles ranging from 6,5 tons to 56 tons gross weight. As well as the DAF versions of the Club of Four range, the 56-ton FT 2805 DKS tractive unit can be seen. This is powered by the turbocharged and charge-cooled DKS engine developing 230kW (307bhp).
Trucks on display which are available on the British market include 2800, and 2200 models. DAF, of course, also in the trailer business and this is reflected in the inclusion of one trailer and two semi-trailer of its own make on the DAF stand.
Berliet's 100-tonner
The biggest exhibit from the French company of Berliet is the TRH 320 6x4 which can gross up to 100 tons. Down among the more mundane weight levels are examples of the TR 280 and 320 38and 40-tonne tractive units, the former being similar to the exhibit at Earls Court last September. Other models on the Berliet stand include the OR 280, a 19-tonne-gvw rigid with a gtw of 38 tonnes and the GF 190 L, a rigid grossing 17'./Z tonnes.
Last year the Commer Commando range was introduced onto the British market On the Continent this range is known as the 100 series and six examples are on view, including a Fire Truck version of the 011-345 Turbo with crew cab. The Spanish-built 38tonne Dodge marketed in Britain as the K 3820P is known in Belgium as the 200 series and one such vehicle is included on the Chrysler Belgique stand. The French sector of the Chrysler combine is represented by three versions of the Simca 1100 light van including the "High Top" which was unveiled at the London Commercial Motor S year. The increased height of t Top" gives a total load space o (88 cu ft).
'European' truck
Although the B-series from I announced at Earls Court, nc from this range are at Brussels. the Cheshire company is show verions of its "European" tru powered by the Cummins 33:` The NGC 420/250 is a rigid a 42-tonne operation in draw and the NGC 420/261 is a trac for the same gross weight.
The sleeper cab version of th Seddon-Atkinson is or incorporating several modi suggested by operators since appearance in Amsterda February. The power unit is a C NTC 335 rated a 245kW coupled to a nine-speed Fuller The show is open from JanuE 26.
Next week CM will carry illustrated report on this fir mercial motor show of the ne% the Japanese truck manufacas been on the verge of launchnodels in Britain for some time, yet no firm date has been and. However, 1-lino does export ; in ckd form, to Eire where they ;mbled and marketed by J. Haremblers Ltd, of Cloghran, nr week, through the courtesy of Clearance Ltd, Camlough, Co N Ireland, I was able to t a brief test of its Hino HE335E ;eler while it was at Whale s Ltd, Solihull, for the fitting of a lire (3,500gal) vacuum tank.
5.9 m .(19.5 ft) outer-axle spread rhich can operate legally at 23.7 (24 tons) has a six-cylinder in2;sel engine which is vertically 'd in the chassis. Maximum output is 189 kW (253 bhp) gross 0 rpm and 784Nm (578.6 lb ft) )rque at 1,600 rpm.
six-speed gearbox has synchron the top four ratios and an over)p gear. From the gearbox drive mitted to the double-drive rear ia a three-piece propeller shaft.
vehicle has the optional third itial with lock.
n tested the chassis cab weighed 8.2 tonnes (8.1 tons), its odond 480 km(300 mls) and I took it ; carriageway and narrow lanes Solihull.
all-steel sleeper cab sits high on ssis with only a shallow engine o break an otherwise flat floor.