One for Two
Page 60
Page 61
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
/-1 A NOVEL vehicle to do work for
which two were previously required has been designed and built by Mr. D. H, Morgan,. of Wrecclesharn, Farnham, Surrey. It has a Perkins P.6 oil engine installed vertically in the centre of the frame, as in the latest Seddon bus, and can carry nine passengers and tow up to 21 tons.
Mr. Morgan specializes in heavy recovery—the more difficult a task, the better he likes itbut as an operator of the R.A.C. get-you-home service he has to deal with many private ears. Until he built his light tender, he had to send out a big Leyland Retriever sixwheeled salvage unit which was in many leases uneconomically farge, • accompanied by a Rolls-Royce hire car n14
mountings. After removing 14 bolts and sliding the engine back n in., it to take the passengers. The new vehicle performs both functions.
Rolls-Royce car. The central engine is supported at the rear by a crossbearer and at the front on two rubber The main longitudinals came from a can be lowered into a pit. There is, lity for the driver is however, room to work on it inside the remarkable. The vehicle after the well-insulated bonnet vehicle creates great cover has been removed. The header interest wherever tank is mounted on the near side of the it goes. engine and the radiator at the front, behind the driver's scat. A short propeller shaft transmits the power from a Bedford synchromesh gearbox to the rear axle, consisting of a Bedford banjo and Morris Commercial tubes bored out in. to Lake Bedford half-shafts. The rearaxle ratio is 4.5 to I. The gearbox is controlled by steering column lever.
A Clayton Dewandrc vacuum-servo braking system is fitted. Luvax shock absorbers dampen the suspension at the front, but at the moment there are no shock absorbers at the rear. Experiments are being made with several types.
The steel body frame is welded to outriggers bolted to the main longitudinals and to 6-in, channel crossmembers at the front and rear. On each side, a shaped, welded continuous member forms the font and rear body standards and cant-rail, to which the intermediate angle-section standards are welded. Hoopsticks are welded to the uprights and connected by T-section longitudinals. T-section struts brace the body frame above the wheel-arches. A skirt-rail reinforces the structure.
Hand-beaten exterior aluminium panels are attached with screws, and the joints are covered with polished mouldings. The interior of the vehicle is lined with Rexine.
At the sear is a large luggage boot, with double doors, below which is the connection for a rigid towbar, concealed behind a hinged panel. Four passengers can be accommodated on a fall-width seat at the rear, four on occasional seats beside the engine corn
partment and one beside the driver. There is a door on each side at the rear.
The vehicle is 16 ft. 8 in. long mad 6 ft. 1 in. wide and high. The wheelbase is 11 ft. 1 in. and 9.00 by 16-in. Lyres are fitted.. Of the unladen weight of 2 tons 9 cwt., 1 ton 3 cwt. is carried on the frontaxle. This distribution affords sufficient traction on the rear wheels when towing on soft ground.
Visibility all round, but especially to the front and sides, is exceptional. This is important in a breakdown tender, the services of which are in particular demand at night and during bad weather. The vehicle is capable of over 55 m.p.h. and on a long run, Mr. Morgan says, returns 30 m.p.g. It is reasonably quiet, and !he suspension and steering are excellent.