A Truly International Brussels Show
Page 9
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Franz John F. Moon, Brus,sels, Wednesday
T"E first Japanese commercial vehicle to be exhibited in Europe, several Russian goods vehicles and a brand new Scania Vabis forward control fourwheeler symbolize the variety which is to be found at the 1963 Bruxelles Salon de l'Auto, which was opened today by Prince Albert of Belgium. _
This promises to he one of the most impressive Brussels Shows in post-war years, international representation being particularly wide. Great Britain, I am glad to say, is here in force, and not even General de Gaulle's Monday-night Comments on Britain and the Common Market have dampened the general air of optimism on the stands of British exhibitors. All told there are 65 'stands devoted to commercial vehicles—twice the number displaying private cars—and there arc 15 makes of British vehieles.
The Japanese vehicle is the Prince Nippon Super Clipper forward-control goods design with an apparent payload rating of 1 ton. Similar in layout to British 15-cwt. models, the Nippon has 96-b.h.p. petrol engine under the threeman cab seat and has a quoted price in Belgium equivalent to £980.
The Scania-Vabis newcomer is the L 76, available with a normally aspirated 195-b.h.p. engine or a blown version producing 225 b.h.p. It is the Swedish concern's first forward-control goods model and Oskarshamp have deigned a well-conceived sleeper cab for the occasion. For use in Belgium the L 76 is rated for 17 tons gross (solo), but versions are to be made—the range is not yet in production—for gross train ratings of up to 35 tons. Semi-trailers of all types are prevalent at the Show this year, many of these having light-alloy bodies and one—a Didak tanker—being of plastics construction. LAG. are exhibiting a 20-tonframeless tipping semi-trailer, similar to the American Anthony design made in Britain by John Villiers and Co. Ltd. but built to L,.A.G. patents. Coachwork on passenger chassis is of a very high standard, particularly the Jonckheere, Stoelen and Van Hool exhibits, and Belgian bodies such as these are ShOwn on British. Dutch, German, Italian and Swedish chassis.'
(A fully illustrated report will appear next week.)