Mercedes-Benz Make Triple Challenge
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TWO 13-ton-gross four-wheelers and a light van will be shown by the newly established commercialvehicle sales department of MercedesBenz (Great Britain), Ltd., Great West Road, Brentford, Middx, at the Commercial Motor Show. The heavy vehicles are normaland forward-control versions of the same basic chassis, whilst the van, with either an oil or a petrol engine, can carry a payload of just over 30 cwt.
'The first Mercedes-Benz cornmercial vehicle to be imported. an LP327 forward-control 13-tonner, arrived in this country last week. It is to be fitted with a drop-sided body and will appear in the demonstration park at Earls Court, whilst a similar chassis will be displayed on Stand 60.
This model has a 14-ft. 6-in, wheelbase and can carry a 20-ft.-long body and a payload of about 8 tons. It is already established on the Continent and in certain overseas markets, Australia in particular.
The chassis and cab will sell in this country, complete with a number of standard fittings which on British chassis would normally be counted as optional extras, for about £2,800. It has the 5.1-litre six-cylinde red indirect-injection OM.321 oil engine, with heater plugs for cold starting.
High-speed Engine
The unit develops 110 b.h.p. at its maximum rated speed of 3,000 r.p.m., and 232 lb.-ft. torque at 1,600 r.p.m. The gearbox is a five-speed unit with a direct top gear and synchromesh on all forward ratios. It is operated by a forwardcranked gear lever, quickly adjustable for height and offset and mounted direct on the gearbox turret.
A divided propeller shaft takes the drive to the two-speed rear axle, which has air-pressure-operated ratio-change mechanism. The two-speed unit, which can incorporate a differential lock, is an optional fitting adding about £100 to the chassis price.
The standard axle is a single-speed component which permits a maximum speed of just over 42 m.p.h. and a gradient ability in first gear with full load of under 1 in 3. The standard ratio is 8.17 to 1.
The air-pressure-powered hydraulic braking system acts on a total lining area of 438 sq. in. An exhaust brake, operated by a lever to the right of the steering column, is a standard fitting and, in addition to its use in retarding the vehicle, is also employed as an engine stop. This brake is released automatically when the accelerator or clutch pedal is depressed. A multi-pull handbrake is fitted.
Suspension is by leaf springs all round with helper units as standard equipment at the rear, and telescopic dampers at the front axle. Recirculating ball-type steering gear is employed. The main longitudinal channel-section frame members are 9.8 in. deep and the alligatortype cross-members are riveted to them. Tyre equipment is 9.00-20 in. whilst a 22-gal. fuel tank and 12-v. electrical equipment are fitted.
The pressed-steel cab has an entrance step ahead of the front wheels and contains a fully adjustable driver's seat and a two-man crew seat, part of which is mounted on the steel engine cover. Cab appointments are ample, with beating and demisting equipment, separate ventilators above and below the one-piece curved windscreen, and a:great deal of thick soundproofing material provided as standard.
Because of the use of this material on the underside of the engine covers and the inherent silence of the power unit, noise level in the cab is particularly low.
A similar lavish specification is followed for the normal-control cab fitted to the LK327 chassis which will be seen at the Show. This model, which has an almost identical chassis specification to the forward-control vehicle, is obviously well suited for tipping work because of its weight distribution and will therefore be shown with a tipping body, At the other end of the Mercedes-Benz range, the forward-control L319 chassis, which is available with van, platform or drop-sided bodywork, has a Wheelbase of 9 ft. 4+ in. and in van form, as it will appear at Earls Court, provides 303 Cu: ft, of loading space. This version weighs 1 ton 19 cwt, unladen, but including the driver, and has a permissible gross weight of 3 tons 14 cwt, on 6.00-16-in. tyres.
Both power units offered have four cylinders. The 1.767-litre oil engine develops 46 b.h.p. at 3,500 r.p.m., whilst the petrol unit, with a capacity of 1.897 litres, produces 74 b.h.p, at 4,700 r.p.m.
A four-speed all-synchromesh gearbox is fitted, and the rear-axle ratio is 5.857 to 1. This provides a maximum speed of 58 m.p.h. with the petrol engine and 49 m.p.h. with the oiler.