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european scene
Page 53
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by Bill Godwin 0 Romania scorns the diesel
WHILE LICENSING agreements with Western European manufacturers have enabled some Eastern Bloc countries — notably Hungary and Jugoslavia — to keep pace with current commercial vehicle technology, Romania's continued allegiance to the petrol engine reflects an industry strangely inhibited in spite of, or perhaps because of, the country's economic background in which oil production plays a leading part. These thoughts were prompted by the appearance in London of some Romanian haulage ,vehicles carrying furniture and equipment for new diplomatic premises. Their dated look closely resembles Russian styling, The Bucegi SR-115 articulated vehicle has a single-axle semi-trailer with pressed-steel dropsides and a "covered wagon"-type of tilt. The normal control tractive unit with a very spartan cab is fitted with a V8 petrol engine developing 140 DIN-hp at 3600 rpm. The 16-ton-gvw combination is suitable for a 10-ton payload.
The latest Romanian development is the Bucegi 7 BA-I NL in which the power unit is mounted well ahead of the front axle. The unusual low-slung semi-forward control cab itself projects considerably from the front of the chassis. An articulated vehicle based on a similar tractive unit is rated at 18.5 tons gvw.
0 Turkish delight from Tamworth!
WHEN the first Turkish-built car, the Anadol, left the production line towards the end of 1966 the foundation was laid for a successful partnership between Otosan Sanayi A.S. of Istanbul and the Reliant Motor Co. Ltd. of Tamworth. Over six years have now elapsed and the Reliance technical collaboration package deal under which about 6000 vehicles, including a car-derived pick-up truck, are now built annually has fully met the objective that the finished product should incorporate as much local content, labour and materials as possible.
Plans to step up production to a rate of 10,000 a year by early 1974 are reflected in the recent ,E1 million order for 9000 sets of parts and components to be supplied from the UK. This represents a value almost twice as large as last year's order. The 1.3-litre engine, gearbox and rear axle of the glass-fibre bodied Anadol pick-up are all supplied by Ford of Britain.
Another Reliant cv enterprise in Turkey is the production of grp cabs for Ford D-type chassis. Under a similar "package deal" contract Reliant TW 9 three-wheel pick-ups continue to be manufactured in Greece. The TW 9, for a 16cwt payload, built near Athens at the rate of 15 per week is fitted with a Triumph 1150 cc engine.
ID French freeze
THE GROWTH of temperature-controlled transport of perishables between France and other European countries has been accompanied by a dramatic rise in the number of units employed by French operators. Since 1967 the total number of vehicles has risen from 7198 to 19,447 while the payload factor has increased by 107 per cent from 45,710 tonnes to 94,580 tonnes.
The apparent disparity between the larger number of units on the road and the payload arises from the introduction of distribution units, all of relatively small capacity. By far the larger proportion (77.8 per cent) of vehicles is in "own-account" operation although, conversely, the average payload capacity of vehicles in "commercial haulage" is very much higher — 9.8 tonnes against 3.5 tonnes.
LI Jap cv infiltrate via Switzerland
THE COMBINATION of Swiss economic stability and high engineering standards continues to attract those sectors of the Japanese motor industry seeking an entry to European markets.
A few months ago I reported the assembly of Hino vehicles by a relatively Obscure Swiss manufacturer and now FBW another of the country's chassis builders, has signed an agreement with the Mitsubishi Motor Corporation, of Tokyo, to cover technical co-operation in the development of commercial vehicles as well as the introduction of certain MMC models to complement the Swiss firm's "madetomeasure" programme.
Through a 1971 trade agreement with the Chrysler Corporation of the USA Mitsubishi has already been able to increase its share in overseas light vehicle and car markets although the presentation planned for next year's Geneva Show of goods vehicles up to 14 tons gvw will be a European premiere for the marque.
Among vehicles likely to be included in the FBW — associated promotion are the Mitsubishi Fuso T 651 E 8-tonner powered by a 4.9-litre diesel engine of 122 bhp, the normal control Fuso T 330 with an 8.5-litre 160 bhp diesel engine and a gvw of 14 tons, and the Fuso T 811 tractive unit fitted with a 13.2-litre engine developing 250 bhp.
Mitsubishi specialities which will not be seen in Europe include a range of rear-engined psv, a petrol-engined rear dump truck and a "self-loading" 6 x 2 truck with an integral jacking system,behind the cab to raise the front of the vehicle so that the rear of the load platform becomes a run-on ramp.