Large capacities on small hassis
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Transwop body from Penman
• "TRANSWOP" is the name given by A. C. Penman Ltd, Heathall, Dumfries, to its new 543 cu ft capacity swop-body for use with the 35cwt Bedford CF chassis cab.
The new Luton container may be fitted to both petrol and diesel chassis from which it may be removed by the Penman jack-leg dem ounting system in a matter of minutes.
Four varieties of body are available; Luton, box, dropside and platform, all with a payload of approximately 27cwt, within the under-30cwt licensing category, and all interchangeable with the chassis to give flexibility. The containers may also be stored and quick and easy demounting by the driver frees the chassis for other duties or servicing while the body is unloaded.
Dimensions of the Luton Transwop body are: length 10ft Sin.; height, 6ft 1 lin.; width, 7ft 3in. Construction is in flat alloy panels with a glassfibre roof, roller shutter at rear and plywood flooring. The bodies are available through Bedford dealers.
£380 for 530 Cu ft Luton
• A new "Tonbridge" range of low-priced, under 30 cwt boxvan and Luton bodies designed for use with Bedford CF chassis has been introduced by E. J. Baker Motors Ltd, Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent.
The bodies are framed in lightweight extruded aluminium alloy sections with radiused cant rails and integral gutters. Pillars, waist rails and roof sections are of top-hat section and panelling is in 20 gauge alloy sheet with all joints lapped, sealed and riveted. Main floors are of iin. resin bonded plywood mounted direct to the chassis with steel extensions. Bulkheads and Luton floors are of lin. ply. Other features include a one-piece glassfibre roof panel, full-height rear roller shutter, lightweight tie rails fitted to sides and 20g Zintec steel wheelboxes with ply tops.
Both types of body are made in short and long wheelbase versions and the capacities and prices are as follow: Boxvans, swb, 408 cu ft, £328; lwb, 469 cu ft, £348; Lutons, swb, 462 cu ft. £360; lwb, 530 Cu ft, £380: Optional extras are: double rear doors, £13; 19g ribbed panelling to sides, £16; exterior rub rails, £8; 18in. drop tailboard, £15. The finish is natural aluminium, painting, lettering, extra lashing rails, interior linings etc being available on quotation.
Big-space vans on special chassis
• A special version of the British Leyland EA chassis-cab forms the basis for new series of lightweight Lutons and boxvans from Unit Body Developments Ltd, Boreham Wood, Herts. The chassis is a 440 EA model, down-plated to 3.5 tons gvw to avoid the provisions of operators' licensing. Plated rear axle weight is 2.7 tons.
Although the standard 350 EA chassis cab is plated at the same weight as that of UBD's new vans, its wheelbase of 8ft 6in. allows a maximum body length of only 10ft 2in. The extra 18in. wheelbase length of the 440 EA makes possible a deck length of lift 7in.
Standard interior height is 8ft while the usable width is 7ft. Between the flat-top glassfibre wheelboxes the floor width is 3ft 1 lin. Loading height is 2ft 9in. (unladen) and the rear doorway head room is 7ft 3in. These dimensions givea clear boxvan capacity of 580 cu ft, more than twice that of standard EA vans.
Construction is based on UBD's modular principle with readily replaceable aluminium prefabricated panel sections. With furniture and other bulky loads in mind, a number of special feature have been incorporated in the design. The familiar UBD three-ridge rubbing rail, an extra on other tailored bodies, is standard on the EA boxvans and Lutons to withstand the rigours of manoeuvring in congested warehouse areas (turning circle 42ft) and the possible abuse from drivers in rental fleets.
Another traditional pantechnicon feature is the option of a dropped ramp tailborad with 9in. ground support brackets.
With a substantial soft-wood boarded floor, the unladen weight of a diesel engine prototype UBD Luton, complete with spare wheels and four gallons of fuel, is 2 tons 3cwt, giving a payload• allowance of over 25cwt. The specification of the lighter petrol engine adds Icwt to the payload rating.
Recommended retail price for the boxvan is £550 and for the Luton £615. Rapid deliveries can be made from a banked stock of the special EA chassis-cabs, availability being through the UBD network of body-builder distributors.
Glassfibre bodies from Rix
• A glassfibre body, which is claimed to reduce the cost of conventional aluminium Luton-type bodies by up to 15 per cent, is now being offered by Oliver Rix (Commercial Vehicles) Ltd, from its depot at Waller Avenue, Luton.
Although the new body can be fitted to any suitable chassis, the company is specializing in offering it on Austin-Morris 250JU and Leyland 350 FG chassis. Being a completely moulded unit, known as the Rix Yeoman series, there are no ugly panel joins and, consequently, no problems with water seeping through the joints. Sign writing on the completely flat-sided body is also much easier and more effective. Localized repairs, which with a Metal body may require a new complete panel, are carried out by filling-in with glassfibre and then polishing and painting.
A further claimed advantage for a glassfibre body is the saving of weight, and therefore an increase in payload, which, says Rix, can be as much as 25 per cent on an aluminium body.
Price of the Rix Yeoman 540F series glassfibre body on an Austin-Morris 250JU chassis-cab, petrol engine, wooden floor and finished externally in a single colour, is £1,205 including seat belts, number plates and delivery charge. The 740F series glassfibre body on a Leyland 350FG chassis-cab is £1,610 delivered. This price includes petrol engine, woodeia floor and body and cab finished externally in a single colour.
Two new Cost Cutters
• Coachwork Conversions Ltd, of Colne, Lanes, is now engaged on quantity production of two additions to its Cost Cutter range of alloy bodywork.
Based on the Austin-Morris 350 EA chassis cab, the 415 cu ft and 478 cu ft van bodies are designed to provide maximum payload and cubic capacity within the 3.5 tons gvw category. The internal width of 801n. and length of 117.5in. are common to both bodies; internal height of the former is 6ft 3in. and of the latter 7ft 3in., payloads being respectively 36861b with petrol engine and 36011b with diesel; 36301b (petrol) and 35451b (diesel).
The new units have full engineering approval from Austin-Morris division of British Leyland and a bank stock of 350 EA chassis cabs is being located at Colne. Either body can also be fitted to the 420 EA chassis cab.
Retail prices, which include free collection of the chassis from the factory and subsequent delivery of completed vehicles within the 'UK mainland, are: 415 cu ft, £379; 478 cu ft, £399. A glassfibre roof and full-length all-alloy roller shutter are standard equipment and there is a wide variety of optional extras available.