THE Reliant Motor Co. Ltd. today announces a new version
Page 59
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
of its threewheeled 5cwt van called the Supervan III which is powered by a larger engine than that used hitherto. This engine is a bored out version of its predecessor, the bore size having been increased by 0.19in. The result is a power increase of 3.5 bhp. The only other alteration to the engine has been in the distributor and oil pump drive mechanism. In the past the Reliant has been out of step with the majority of the other petrol engine makers in that the distributor--and therefore the oil pump—has rotated in an anti-clockwise direction. Driving gears on the common shaft to these two components have now been redesigned to make the drive clockwise, bringing the Reliant into line with other makers and therefore making distributor parts more easily come by.
The Reliant engine is a four-cylinder overhead-valve unit with light alloy block and cylinder head. It has bore and stroke dimensions 2.3 Sin and 2.4in respectively in its latest form, making it almost "square". Push-fit wet liners are used, sealed at the bottom of the water jacket with rubber rings. A reliable gas-tight joint is ensured between block and head by the use of a specially developed gasket, and by having 12 studs arranged so that there are virtually four surrounding each cylinder. Because of the need to keep weight to the minimum (licensing weight for a three-wheeler must not exceed 8cwt) the engine complete scales only 821b—there are no counterbalance weights on the crankshaft and only three main bearings are used.
The design of the chassis and body of the Supervan III remains unchanged. The main chassis members are formed from top-hat channel-section material with a closing-strip welded to the open side. There are five cross-members weld
ed into position and the main frames are cranked up over the rear axle and angled up at the front end to accept the anchored end of the front suspension spring. The engine drives through a 6.25in clutch and a four-speed gearbox, which has synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and 4th ratios, then through a single-piece propeller shaft to a semi-floating spiralbevel rear axle.
Suspension is by a coil-sprung swinging arm at the front wheel and by orthodox semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear axle. Hydraulic telescopic dampers are fitted at all three points. Girling leading-and-trailing-shoe hydraulic brakes are used at all wheels.
The bodywork of the Supervan III is wholly glass-reinforced plastics. It comprises an inner and outer skin moulded in suitable sections and bonded together. The price of the vehicle in standard form and painted in primer is £437 10s.