DEVELOPING THE LIGHT VAN.
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Is There a Market for the Small British-made Commercial Vehicle ? Interesting Innovations Forecasted,
T does not require a great deal of consideration to enable one to arrive at the conclusion that the
question " Is the small British van a commercial proposition?" is answered in the same breath as the query "Is it first costs or running costs that are the more important?" Summed up, the imported vehicle usually costs less than the British-built model, but the running costs of the latter are undoubtedly far mare attractive to the user.
Signs of Development.
Up to the present, although the small touring car of British manufacture has made excellent progress, its counterpart in the commercial field has not become popular. There are signs, however, that show that British manufacturers are beginning to cater for the commercial market, and it therefore behaves intending purchasers to weigh clearly the pros and eons of the two types. Naturally enough, the question of patriotism has to be dealt with first. From the point of view of the buyer, who, after all, is the ultimate factor, it cannot be argued that patriotism will be the deciding influence alone. It should, however, carry weight. This country gave of its best in the war ana it -is honourably meeting its debts. Therefore, anything that can be done to help British industries should certainly be done. Take the case Of the small tradesman—a typical user of the small van.He must fully realize that, by buying British goods, he is giving work to people who, in turn, will spend their Wages with him. A fact clearly to be grasped is-this: .Every foreign vehicle sold in this country potentially renders. a British workman unemployed for six months. During that period his dole " comes 'out of public funds, and, therefore' there is a big argument in favour of buying the home-produced goods. A buyer, however, is not going to pay, say, 220 more for a British van than he would for an imported vehicle of the same potential capabilities merely for patriotism only. Business is too unsentimental an affair for that. What, therefore, i does the British van offer n the shape of better value for money than do other types?
In the first place, the average imported vehicle is very much over
engined. It has capabilities for speed that are not wanted; its big, low-efficiency engine has a thirst for fuel, and, although it may easily be said that a driver can be told not to exceed 20 m.p.h., it is very difficult indeed to ensure that he will not do so. One of the chief claims of the British van, therefore, is its economy. The average 12 h.p. four-seater touring eat can show a consumption figure of close on. 30 m.p.g. when laden and when running in fairly difficult country. There is every possibility that the standard type of van that British manufacturers are concentrating upon will show a very similar figure.
The type of user to whom the light van most appeals is the small tradesman. An analysis of daily work shows that it is seldom that loads greater than 10 cwt. net are carried, and, therefore, the need for the power of the imported so-called " light " van ie not only negligible, but, conversely, it means that petrol, oil and tyres are being needlessly consumed every time the vehicle goes out on to the road. When a commercial vehicle is in daily use, these factors assume large proportions.
Then as to first cost. It is anticipated that before long there will be produced in considerable numbers 12 h.p. English-made vehicles capable •of carrying 10 cwt.. at an allm cost of under 2200. Bearing in mind that these vans consist of chassis that have proved their reliability and readworthinessin every part of the globe, and that the running costs of such vehicles are of the order of 25 m.p.g. of petrol, 1,000 m.p.g. of oil, and 8,000 miles per set of tyres, it will readily be appreciated that, taking the total expenditure over a period of 12 months—that is, adding first cost to 12 months' running costs—ea saving would be effected by buying one of these vehiclesem,place-of an imported type of the most rough-and-ready pattern. Another big argument in favour of the British van is its longevity. The average American vehicle is well made certainly, but it has not that reserve o wearing powers that enables it to keep on keeping on year after year.
The writer was recently looking over a fleet of small British commercial travellers' vehicles that had been on the road for over two and a half years. They had not been cared for by a headquarters garage lint although, in certain cases, the coachwork re quired repairing and renovation the chassis were as sciund as could be desired. The British mail car chassis has been developed to appeal to the non technical and unmechanical owner-driver, and, there fore, it has been kept sturdy and simple. Such characteristics are essential in the small van. During the past year, it is interesting to observe, several private concerns have mountedvan bodies on the popular Morris-Oxford and Morris-Cowley chassis, and these have given excellent results. Hewen's garage at Maidenhead have had vehicles of this type giving yeoman service. The vans look smart, run in a refined manner„ and appeal to the prospective buyer as being sound and very serviceable jobs. Further developments in this direction, incidentally, ma.Y be expected to be made in the near future.
Another sphere of utility for the popular small car chassis is that of the commercial traveller's car. Too much emphasis cannot be laid on the time-saving effected by equipping the "live " traveller or salesman with a small car in which he can carry a reasonalale quantity of goods and samples. It increases his scope, makes his work more congenial, and tj-terefore, makes him more efficient in the exercise of his duties. The small 12 h.p. chassis is admirably adapted to this purpose, for it enables comfortable seating to be obtained, together with sufficient space for the transport of a very useful quantity of goods. We strongly advise all intending purchasers of light vans seriously to consider the claims of the new-type British product, for it presents, in cold terms of value for outlay, a very attractive proposition indeed.