85 CITROEN/ BE RLIET

22nd September 1972, Page 120

22nd September 1972

Page 120

Page 120, 22nd September 1972 — 85 CITROEN/ BE RLIET

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Citroen Cars Ltd, Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks.

Citroen makes its debut at this year's Show and together with Berliet whom it represents in the UK has five vehicles on display. The smallest. the Citroen Ami 8 7+-cwt van, has two normal doors and a top-hinged tail gate. The engine is a 602cc flat twin four-stroke air-cooled petrol engine which produces 35 bhp and drives through a four-speed gearbox via constant velocity joints to the front wheels. Independent suspension is used on all wheels and the whole van only has four greasing points.

Citroen's well-known OS series is represented by an ambulance conversion on a D estate car. The conversion is carried out by Currus Ambulances in France and is known as the model 240 CD; it is offered with 020 or D21 (108 or 115 bhp) engines and of course uses the unique DS hydropneumatic suspension. This suspension is extremely smooth at all speeds and has excellent selflevelling and anti-dive characteristics making for safe, comfortable patient transit. The length behind the driver's cabin is 8ft 5in, the width 5ft 1in and height 5ft 1in and the vehicle is fully fitted out with a basin with running water, and has serum and oxygen equipment. A large range of special fittings is available on request. Two rear flashing blue lights are synchronized with a roof light and together with an illuminated ambulance comprise standard equipment.

The remaining Citroen exhibit is the van version of the GS model. 1015 and 1222cc engines are available which develop 61 and 65.5 bhp respectively. Payload including driver is 8.7cwt for both models. This model also has hydropneumatic suspension and frontwheel drive.

Two Berliet models are on show — the large two-axle tractive unit is the model TB 300. Gross train weight of this model is 35 metric tons and so could be plated in the UK at 34.5 tons. The engine is a Berliet 12.76-litre VS direct injection diesel which produces 280 bhp (DIN net) at 2500 rpm. The gearbox is an eight-speed all synchromesh design. Wheelbase is 10ft Sin and the kingpin may be positioned between 4 and 19in ahead of the rear axle. Chassis kerb weight complete with fifth-wheel and rear wings is 6.85 tons. Front overhang is 4ft 11 in and overall length is 18ft 8in giving a distance between back of the cab and centre-line of the rear axle of 8ft Sin.

Model GBH 12 6 x 4 is a normal control heavy-duty tipper chassis which has an in-line 12-litre six-cylinder engine; output is 234 bhp (net DIN). Kerb weight of the chassis cab is 8.2 tons and the design gross vehicle weight is 25.4 tons.