Trying a 12-cwt. Napier Van Chassis.
Page 13
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Impressions formed During a 640-mile Road Test by a Member of the Editorial Staff of this Journal.
We have fell keenly interested, since we had the opportunity to handle a Napier one-tanner in London traffic some few weeks ago, to put a similar chassis through its paces on the highway. Having regard to the fact that Napier vans of both the 12-cwt. and the 1-ton load capacities will be used for express deliveries in all parts of the country, we thought that no better opportunity could be expected than to plan a 640-mile trial, and that was undertaken and completed last week.
We could not, of course, having regard to the amenities of the road, run that distance with the orthodox box-van body on the chassis, and with nothing but a dead load aboard. Our company was very much alive, although the body of the vehicle may have been a little unfinished. The arrangements were completed to the mutual satisfaction of the parties concerned, and the net useful load proved to be the equivalent of Bicwt., exclusive of the weight of the body.
Readers who are acquainted with the following itinerary will know full well that the composite vehicle was subjected to a trial of considerable severity, and that the mere fact of its taking 8?> cwt. over some
of the hilly districts in that course, and doing so at good average speeds withal, is valuable testimony. The power per stroke of the Napier 15 h.p. engine is undoubtedly exceptional. It hangs on to its work with wonderful tenacity.
The route covered was the following: London, Guildford, Farnham, Salisbury, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Crewkerne, Chard, Honiton, Exeter, Moreton Hampstead, Prince Town, Tavistock, Launceston, Tintagel, Boscastle, Bude, Clovelly, Bideford, Barnstaple, South Melton, Dulverton, Dunster, Minehead (and back again through Dunster), Bridgwater, Axbridge, up Cheddar Gorge. Chewton Mendip, Bath, Gloucester, Ross, Mon• mouth. Chepstow, Lydney, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Fairford, Faringdon. Wantage, Streatley, Reading, London, the balance of the mileage being completed by deviations from the main road between Reading and London, but that part of the trip was over pretty level country. The complete mileage for the trip was 63W,, and the total petrol consumption was 42 gallons. This gives a performance of 15.24 miles of running to the gallon, inclusive of many of the steepest roads in the hilliest areas of the extreme western counties of England. On average roads, it does 20. On two days, the road conditions were heavy ; on the other days, the roads were dry and in good condition. The make-up of lubricating oil in the engine casing was less than half a gallon. During the run, two exceptionally cold nights were experienced, the mercury on one occasion falling to 33 degrees Fahrenheit. There was at no time any difficulty in starting up the engine.
It should be mentioned that the chassis was fitted with Dunlop pneumatic tires throughout, of s15 mm. by 105 mm., and that two of these had metal-studded treads. The driving and braking control were at all times excellent and responsive, and we arc fully satisfied, after the completion of the exceptional test. to which we refer, that the Napier 12-ewt. van is am well fitted for long-distance, crosscountry running as it has undoubtedly proved itself to be fitted for town service. The low gear was required on fewer than 20 occasions, and the complete vehicle. with its net load of 8-.1 cwt., maintained an average speed "fully up to the legal limit of 20 m.p.h."