A 10-cwt. Van Addec o the Fordson Range
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Entirely New Model with io h.p. Engine, Affording lig cubic ft. Loading Space and Offered at Li68 Complete
TO meet a demand for a machine between the popular 5-cwt. van, and the relatively high-powered 15-cwt. model, the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., Dagennam, has introduced a new vehicle rated at 10-12-cwt., which constitutes an addition to the Fordson
range. It is powered by a 10 h.p. engine, and is offered, as a complete van, of 119 cubic ft. capacity, at the attractive price of £168.
Finished in dark blue, the standard colour, this new model has a good appearance, and despite its roomy body is of moderate dimensions, length having been saved by adopting a semiforward driving position. The wheelbase is 7 ft.6 ins. To avoid cramping the driver, the power unit is offset, to the near side, by 4 ins., transmission and final drive following suit.
An examination of the complete van reveals a number of interesting points. There is a new and pleasing design of radiator grille ; the steering wheel has three spokes arranged like the letter T, to give an uninterrupted view of the instrument panel, whilst the light switches are on its hub.
On the right of the seat is the handbrake lever, and the accelerator pedal is placed between the others. In the rear doors, which have a sound locking mechanism, are two windows and ventilation louvres.
The petrol tank is on the near side and the 6-volt battery is under the bonnet and over the compartment in which the pedals are accommodated.
Turning now to the chassis, the basis of this is a riveted frame, comprising tapering longitudinals, upswept from the bask of the power unit, four shaped channel-section cross-members and a light tie at the rear. The maximum section of the side channels is 4 ins. by lb ins. by 0.11 in.
Carried on four large rubber-insulating mbuntings, supported by the first and second cross-members, the engine has a swept volume of 1.172 litre (71.55 cubic ins.), the four cylinders n26 having a bore and stroke of 63.5 mm. (2.5 ins.) and 92.4 mm. (3.64 ins.) respectively.
It has side valves, Ford cast-alloy-steel counterbalanced crankshaft, running in three main bearings, thermo-siphon cooling, the fan and dynamo unit being belt driven, and full pressure lubrication to main big-end and camshaft bearings, by a submerged oil pump. Centrifugal gear automatically controls the distributor, and fuel is fed to the carburetter by a mechanical pump. A neat cable operates the throttle.
. The clutch has a single dry plate, and the gearbox employs synchromesh for second and top ratios. Behind it is a universal joint of the normal Fordson type, and thence a shaft, enclosed in a torque tube with triangulated bracing, transmits the power to the spiral-bevel three-quarter-floating fear axle. The forward ratios are 6.83, 12.05 and 20.5 to 1, reverse being 27.3 to 1.
Driving and braking thrusts are taken by two light tie-rods, which run from the bellhousing (one on each side), to the rear engine cross-member.
These are necessitated by the rubber engine mountings.
Shod with 5-18 tyres, the wheels have five-stud fixings, and steering is by worm and roller. Both front and rear springs are transverse, out-rigger brackets from the axles carrying the shackles. The last-named are of the oil-less type. By this spring arrangement, a spring base of 8 ft. 4, ins, is afforded-10i ins.
longer than the wheelbase. Radius rods; forming a triangulated structure, positively locate the front axle, and are archored by a rubber-covered-ball joint. Four hydraulic shock absorbers complete the suspension system.
Fully compensated Girling brakes are applied on all four wheels by the pedal and on only the rear wheels by the lever. The layout is neat and ingenious, and a noteworthy point is thats at the rear, the near-side cable; which is longer than that to the off-side wheel, is of heavier gauge to equalize stretch, Another is that the cable-casing ferrules have•spberit,a1 seats ,or natural: alignment in theirstops in the com
pensating rocking lever. All drums. measure 11 ins.. by 1-g ins, and have generous circumferential ribbing. Whilst the epithet "'mass produe--. tion " is c'ettaiii15.ts appropriate_ to this model, because each machine averages only' O. minutes ,oit the mblyline and the.sys tern is applied in the making of every part, it should 'not be" ItSe4 in any unaimplintentary dense:. brit rather • as 'praise, for; • by': its Means, cost of manuftte.tn re_ is reduced.
Combine this with the employment of first-class materials (no one who has seen the Ford laboratories and testing plant will dispute the excellence of the ingredients), then the outcome must represent not merely goad value for money, hut in addition high quality for low price.