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Esso orders automatic Dodges
Page 56
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THE LARGEST single order for British heavy-goods chassis with fully automatic transmission has been placed with Rootes Motors Ltd., by Esso Petroleum Co. Ltd.
Valued at £400,000 the order is for 145 Dodge chassis to be fitted with 2,800gal tankers which are to be used by Esso for bulk fuel distribution throughout the UK.
Dodge is the first British company to fit the Allison fully automatic gearboxes on this scale and this is the result of a special engineering exercise.
Chosen to reduce clutch maintenance and driver fatigue on the high-mileage tankers, the Allison gearbox provides six evenly spaced ratios. A selector lever mounted on the instrument panel enables the driver to choose any one of four drive ranges suitable for all conditions from off-road operation to motorway cruising.
Based on the Dodge 16 ton gross K1100 chassis, the tankers provide for Esso's demountable system whereby tanks suitable for a variety of fuels from petroleum spirit to domestic oil are swiftly interchangeable.
The vehicles will be powered by the Cummins 470 Cu. in., 170 bhp V8 diesel engine and feature full air braking systems capable of meeting the most stringent MoT regulations.
Other interesting features include automatic chassis lubrication, power assisted steering, and lock actuators controlled through a secondary/park brake valve which replaces the conventional handbrake.