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East European contender enters British arena

20th February 1976
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Page 39, 20th February 1976 — East European contender enters British arena
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Keywords : Truck

by Graham Montgomerie

MMXIOU years after Julius Caesar first set foot in this country, the new Roman invasion consists of trucks instead of chariots but they don't even come from Rome !

The new range, which will include four basic models, is manufactured in Romania under licence from MAN in Germany. As forecast exclusively in CM many months ago, the trucks will be marketed by MAN Concessionaires GB Ltd through the existing MAN dealer network, which is being expanded.

In total, the Roman range will consist of two 4x2 rigids, a 6x4 rigid and a 4x2 tractive unit. Although only the smallest model has arrived in this country at the moment, the complete range will be available tin the UK by April, with weights up to a gew of 32 tons.

The trucks are fitted with an all-steel tilt cab, and a sleeper version is available on all except the smallest. Not surprisingly, the vehicles bear more than a passing resemblance to the MAN-the only real difference being that the Roman short cab is slightly shorter than the MAN short cab. The interior layout is also basically s:rnilar, including the very upright instrument panel and the steering-column gearchange.

The smallest vehicle in the range, a 12/12.6-ton-gvw rigid uses a 100kW (135bhp) naturally aspirated six-cylinder diesel engine while the remainder use a 160kW (215bhp) unit. Both engines utilise the famous high-speed swirl 'M'combustion system.

Hydraulically actuated clutches are used in conjunction with ZF fiveor six-speed gearboxes with the 12-speed splitter box being available on all models except the smallest.

The Roman vehicles are not merely assembled from ckd units in Romania as the factory at Brasov has its own foundry, forge and press steel plant. Even the engines are assembled in Romania.

The first model which arrived in England last week is the R8 135F which is designed to suit haulage and tipper operations. The tipper model, which is available in two wheelbases of 3.1 and 3.5m (10ft 2in and llift Oin), is plated for 12.1 tonnes (12 tons) gvw while the haulage modal is plated for 12.8 tonnes (12.6 tons) operation. In addition to the wheelbases already mentioned, the haulage model has two extra wheelbase options on the market at 4.0 or 4.5m (laft lin or 14ft 91n).

The tilt cab is torsion bar counter-balance-d and can tilt to 45 or 60° depending on the access required.

Power unit

The engine is the 797.05 unit of MAN design which produces 100kW (135bhp) at 3,000rpm. It is interesting to remember that the International Harvester engine in the small Seddon Atkinson 200 also shares this high engine speed. The maximum torque is 363Nm (268,1bft) delivered at 1,700rpm and the cubic capacity of the engine is 5.49 litres (335cu4n). The capacities of the cooling and lubrication systems are 25 litres and 15 litres (5.5 and 3.3gal) re sp ectively.

The power is transmitted through a hydraulicallyoperated single-dry-plate clutch 310mm (12.2in) in diameter to a five-speed ZF constant-mesh gearbox. A single-speed rear axle with spur gear hub-reduction is featured. The standard ratio is 6.26:1 but three lower (le numerically higher) ratios are available. The rear axle design is worth a closer look as it is in effect a solid "I" beam axle with the differential unit bolted to the back from where the halfshafts go out to the spur gear hub-reduction units.

The steering is by ZF with hydraulic power assistance with semi-elliptic leaf springs making up the front and rear suspension. At the front double-acting telescopic shock absorbers and progressivelyacting rubber springs are included. The frame has pressed steel channel section sidemembers with the cross-members rivited and bolted in position.

The braking system is a comparatively rare arrangement with air/hydraulic at the front and full air to the rear. "Air/hydraulic" is almost a misnomer as the front system is full air right up to the roadwheel units where ,hydraulics take over to provide the shoe movement. The total lining area is 3,940sqem (61Isqin) which gives 308sqcm/tonne (48sqin/ton) laden for the haulage models. Spring-brake parking units are specified and an exhaust brake is standard equipment.

The Roman R8.135F carries a 50,000,mile/12-month warranty, and as an example of what the machine costs the 4.5m (14ft 9in) wheelbase model has a list price of £5,690.

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Locations: Rome

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