Sayer lumps gun with new Volvo
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SAYER TRANSPORT Group of Hounslow has taken delivery of a Volvo C303 cross-country vehicle — even though Volvo has not yet decided whether the model will be marketed in the UK.
Powered by a new version of the old three-litre straight-six petrol car engine, the C303 has a fully synchronised four speed gearbox with a synchronised transfer box to low range, controlled by the ordinary gear lever.
Front and rear differentials can be locked with vacuumoperated mechanical diff locks, although there is no provision for locking a centre differential, as on the SteyrPuch Pinzgauer, for example, should both wheels on one axle be spinning.
Spur gears
The wheels are driven through spur gears at the wheel hubs making the axles much higher than the wheel centre line. Consequently, ground clearance is exceptional and. in low range, the gear reduction at the hubs means that a great deal of the shock loads in cross country use are taken off the axles and universal joints.
The axles are placed quite close to each end of the vehicle, despite the use of leaf springs, and 450 angles of approach and departure can be handled. The engine is located well back behind the front seats, and the vehicle retains an even weight distribution, loaded or empty.
The maximum load is over 38 cwt, and with 280/85 x 16 tyres, the ground pressure is extremely low, giving good results in sandy or marshy ground. We had an opportunity to subject the Sayer Transport vehicle to a short run, which took in some main road work as well as a fairly comprehen sive cross-country trial.
Steering is light but rather low-geared at over five turns from lock to lock. It becomes noticeably stiffer with fourwheel drive engaged and very heavy with the front diff locked.
Push-button
For normal road use, the vehicle is driven in rear-wheel drive high range; four-wheel drive is selected, on the move, by depressing a red button. Low range is engaged by pulling the gear lever across the gate into a selection plane, forward for low range, centre for power take-off, winch etc, and back for low range. Four wheel drive is automatically selected in high range, two wheel drive when the driver brakes at speed, obviating the risk of rear wheel lock up.
On steep gradients, loose surfaces and deep gullies the Volvo performed admirably, taking everything in its stride and never approaching a situation where it might get stuck.
Sayer paid £10,500 for the vehicle, which it will use for recovery work, personnel transport and delivery work in Yorkshire during the winter.