Choice vehicle •
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for owner drivers
WHEREAS the ageing HA van is aimed at the fleet user, the more stylish Cheyenne is more likely to appeal to the owner driver.
Fully trimmed, it combines saloon car comfort with the carrying capacity of a small commercial vehicle.
Around our test route, which passes through nine Thames Valley towns, it proved to be quite frugal. Running on twostar petrol it returned 7.33 lit/100km (38.54mpg) and 6.68 lit/100km (42.3mpg) laden and unladen respectively, while averaging speeds of 48.7km/h (3 0.2 5mph) and 50.4km/h (31.3mph).
With a low compression ratio of 7.3 to 1, the 1,256cc engine ran happily on two-star fuel yet developed a power output of 39.3kW (52.8bhp) ample for all occasions.
Selection of any of the four synchromesh gears is positive using the short and light lever. Foot controls are small and the clutch pedal is placed too close to the transmission tunnel, but the cable operated clutch with heavy-duty rating is light to operate. Other controls fall neatly to hand with the park brake lever placed between the seats and the small steering wheel along with its multi-purpose stalks raked back at a convenient angle.
The driver's door contains a pouch which should prove useful to hold any delivery notes while a parcels shelf is included on the passenger side, most of the room is taken up by the hose ducting for the air vents. Instrumentaticrn is not over generous. However, it includes a clock along with the more essential fuel gauge, temperature gauge and speedometer.
As the load was added, the suspension noticeably sagged at the rear even though as the load was kept as far forward as possible. On the weighbridge we recorded an unladen weight of 892kg (17cwt 2qr) allowing for a payload, to include the driver, of 458kg (9cwt).
Behind the seats a low bulkhead is included to restrict forward movement of the cargo. A neatly cut piece of plywood had been laid over the floor to protect the paintwork from our rough test weights. When it was removed a bitty floor constructed in three sections became exposed.
The rear is enclosed by a tailgate which opened up well above roof height. Unfortuna tely, its retaining bracket protrudes above the floor level and made it difficult to slide boxes in from the rear.
The spare wheel is stowed inside, and rounded wheel arches are made to look less imposing by the surrounding trim. A low roof line makes it necessary to bend almost double to position the load in front of the wheel arches.
Forward vision over a sloping bonnet is excellent, but the interior mirror needs to be mounted lower down to accommodate changes in suspension attitude.
The bonnet opens from the front. The engine, radiator, brake master cylinder, servo, battery, heater and windscreen wash leave plenty of room to get at individual components.
Rear shock absorbe mounted at 450 work well w anti-roll bars fitted front and n but are ineffective in restricti vertical movement. The resuli a soft ride which is at tin' rather like floating.
Similarly to its estate car cot terpart, the Cheyenne equipped with carpet and clo faced seats. I had to hunt for 1 fore and aft slide lever local close to the door sill, but or operated it enabled the seat be moved back to give comfc able leg room.