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21e Se ine
Page 44
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Internationale du Car
by Gibb Grace and Martin Hayes
Pictures by Dick Ross
Europe's newest buses
and coaches meet at Nice BRITISH OPERATORS can learn plenty from last week's Semaine du Car held at Nice. As well as important new models from Mercedes and Fiat there was a profusion of new ideas in evidence in every field of passenger carrying vehicles.
Premiere awards in the four-part rally which is an integral part of the event went to Mercedes and to Kassbohrer-Setra. But the only British vehicle in the rally — a Leyland National built to French specification — did well and won two major prizes.
Vehicles displayed at Nice showed how European and UK thinking in design terms — particularly for super luxury coaches — have diverged. High-floor coaches with every conceivable luxury fitting are common and appear to be gaining ground from the impressive-looking but rather impractical double-deckers from the German manufacturers.
Surprisingly, American influence still seems strong, with several designs featuring step-down rooflines of the type beloved across the Atlantic.
In city buses unrivalled comparisons 2ould be made between the German WV standard bus, represented by Mercedes, Setra and Ikarus, the British concept in the Leyland National and the home grown Saviem and Berliet models.
There was also a class for small vehicles for use at airports and for serving hotels and so on. This produced some interesting vehicles in the "midi" category including a new model from Saviem.
Mercedes showed for the first time its Mercedes 0.307 inter-city model. Developed from many of the basic components of the well-known 0.305 city bus this newcomer scored top marks in one of the most important sections of the rally. It was helped by its silenced and cleaned-up 407-series engine.
Fiat created most interest with its Rally 73 model. Though dubbed a styling exercise the project had clearly cost a great deal of money and seems destined for eventual production. The vehicle has an unconventional interior with three rows of individual seats.
Nice '73 could be the last of these international events, however. Rising costs are deterring possible host cities and no venue in France seems likely for 1975.