Light-alloy Bodywork for Special Uses
Page 49
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A N unusual feature of a light-alloy
I,150-cu.-ft pantechnicon body milt on a Kafrier Gamecock chassis by Wm, Collett and Sons, Ltd., 9-17 delbourne Street, Gloucester, is a fullvidth cab, a modification which has leen introduced without essentially Itering the frontal appearance of the tandard cab.
The body weight, at I61cwt., has nabled the unladen weight of the ehicle to be kept down to 2 tons 9 cwt. It is expected that the weight f a modified body of the same capacity, • hich is now under construction, will e only 15 cwt.
The full-width cab was necessitated by stipulation of the operators, Messrs. traite and Son, 31-33 Barton Street, dloucester, that seating should be rovided for four persons. This has en provided by a bench seat. Two mtilators have been incorporated in .e front panels, and interior fittings elude a heater.
Built above the wheel-arches to a :ight of 3 ft. the floor gives freedom Dm obstruction for loading, which is cilitated by a dropped rear frame ving a step height of 15 in. A strongly tilt tailboard with a height of 4 ft. is ted with Ferodo non-skid treads to ovide a walk-up ramp.
The main structural and bracing ,mhers of the body are of extruded D-hat section, and the panel rails tween the uprights are of Z section. le protection slats are double-swaged. The framework is bolted together by th-tensile bolts with aero-type lock; nuts. The panels are of 18 g. .terial and are attached to the frame pop rivets. The design of the ucture is such that the domed roof panels are lightly stressed. The igueil and grooved timber floor is iported on a 3-in, channel-section lerframe. Supplied by Taylor's Crypt House Motors, Ltd., London Road, Gloucester, the chassis has a wheelbase of 11 ft. 9 in. and is fitted with 29-in. by 7-in. tyres.
Another interesting alloy van body built on a Gamecock chassis by the same bodybuilders weighs only 12 cwt., giving the vehicle an unladen weight belosti 2 tons 18 cwt. It is fitted with light-alloy roller shutters on both sides and at the rear, and is lined with aluminium lo the waist rail.
An unusual detail is that the detachable wheel covers are fitted flush with the sides. , Ventilation is provided by two Flomatic units mounted in the roof.
In support of the claim that bodies of light-alloy construction are easily repaired, a representative of the concern states that two roof panels, accidentally damaged by contact with a
roof girder before the vehicle left the works, were replaced in 15 man-hours. This vehicle is used to carry mineral waters.
The attractive appearance of the vehicle represents an asset particularly valuable in this class of work. Light body weight combines with the economy offered by the 4.75-litre six-cylindered engine of the Gamecock.