Four-wheel drive' push in Brussels
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Show report by Steve Gray. Pictures by Dick Ross ALTHOUGH there is little that's completely new at the Brussels Show which opened last Wednesday (January 17), many of the exhibits have not been seen before in Belgium. The show closes on Sunday.
DAF, for example, is showing its complete range of light vehicles, derived from the Club of Four, which has been completed by the addition of the 1300 and 1500-Series, supplied with either the DAF DF615 power unit giving 93kW (125bhp) or the turbocharged version delivering 113kW (151bhp). The range now extends from 6 to 14.1 tonnes gvw (5.9 to 13.8 tons).
Also on display as a complete range of vehicles are the 2100 and 2300 models. As well as the tractive units, the 2300 is augmented by 4x2, 6x2 and 6x4 chassis fitted with either the DHU 825 engine giving 174kW (233 bhp} or the lower-rated DHU 825 unit delivering 162kW (217bhp).
The recently announced FAB 2805 is making its debut at Brussels this year. It is of -chinese-six'' configuration, as can be used in Belgium, where axle ratings are higher, with 13 tonnes allowable on the rear, at 26 tonnes gvw.
At Brussels it is shown with a massive lorry-loading crane mounted at the front, and it is this application, and others where the centre of gravity of any superstructure could affect front axle loading, for which it is intended.
Air suspension is an option on the 2800-Series, now with 13-tonne rear axles instead of, as before, being restricted to 10-tonne axles. Innovation seems to be the keynote of DAF's display, as another vehicle on the stand is the recently announced 2100 vehicle, which uses a single. steel box-girder section in place of the conventional chassis.
This is the first time a maker has carded out the work but it • closely resembles the design of the Mercedes-based Ridgeback announced two years ago at Earl's Court.
With the DAF, the fuel tank, air reservoirs and other ancillaries are mounted behind the cab along with the batteries. At the rear, a short section of normal chassis frame retains the suspension and it is linked to the conventional front chassis by the steel box girder. Beneath this runs the propshaft.
The backbone chassis design allows the bodywork to come down lower and is particularly suitable for multi-stop distribution work such as brewery drays.
In addition to the goods .commercial vehicles on its stand, OAF is also showing two new bus chassis. These are the SB 210 DKL featuring a horizontal DKL 1160 engine mounted behind the rear axle and the MB 200 DKTL.
Built for inter-urban bus operation the SB 210 has a very tight turning circle, 10m, to meet Belgium requirements. To allow a low entrance at the front, the chassis has been dropped in front of the rear axle.
The second of the chassis, the MB200 DKTL, is for coach operation. It too has a horizontally-mounted engine but it is amidships. The power unit is the DKTL 1160 producing 188kW (252bhp). Finally, also making a first appearance at Belgium is the SB 2000 DHU bus chassis. Announced at Paris, it has a vertically-mounted DHU 825 engine at the rear. DAF says it is suitable for either coach or inter-urban bus operation.
The Belgians are very much the ones with new coaches to show and Van Hool has four vehicles making their world debut. A luxury coach, the T815, is built of integral construction and has the option of Fiat, DAF or MAN engines and running gear. The integral build of the coach, from closed tube steel profiles electrically welded, permits a large through luggage compartment without the encumbrance of chassis members. There are three versions of the coach: normal, high and superhigh, with heights of 3,145mm (10.3ft), 3,295mm (10.8ft) and 3,495mm (11.5ft). To the rear, a massive boot is fitted.
Also of integral construction is Van Hool's articulated coach, the TG821. This features the, Fiat 262kW (352bhp) engine' coupled to an Allison 750 automatic transmission and has air suspension. A maximum of 80 seats can be fitted and there is a rest cabin for the driver below the floor level.
The vehicle on the stand at Belgium is to be used for tourists travelling from Amsterdam to Southern Spain. It costs an incredible 6m Belgium francs — £100,000. • Other coaches on display for the first time in Belgium are the VHF-S 315, the 750 and the AG280 articulated bus. This latter model is made entirely by Van Hool and uses an MAN 280 engine.
The Americans do very well in Belgium and there are plenty of their products on show. Two bonneted Whites, a Construcktor fitted with a mixer and a Road Boss are on the stand along with Road Commander tractive units. These all feature Cummins engines.
Mack, too, is well represented with four models. A massive Kenworth C500 is also shown with a Cummins NTE 290 power unit. GM is also featuring the Brigadier on the GM /Bedford stand and the US maker Autocar has two examples of its products, a DC10 364 and a C9364. The first has a NTCE 335 unit and the other a 290.
Cummins itself is well represented at Brussels this year. Ford has the HA4435 tractive unit fitted for the first time with the charge-cooled Cummins 370 power unit. This is the first truck application of the power unit. Another Transcontinental, an HA4432, features Cummins power and
the small Cummins Vis in
stalled in a D2418. The ubiquitous Transit is on show in many guises, including a sixwheel conversion painted in black and called 3001. This has been customised and is fitted with such luxuries as a television.
Examples of all models made by Bedford are on the Bedford /GM stands including CFs and the Chevanne. Bedford enjoys a great deal of success in Belgium, as can be seen by the numbers of its vehicles on the roads there. Another British maker to do well in Belgium is Leyland. The Terrier is one of its best sellers and examples of it are to be found on the stand. It is
the first time that the revamped -G" cab has been seen in Bel
gium, and Leyland has a rotat ing sectioned cab on display too. Clydesdales, Boxers and the Marathon make up the rest of the heavy vehicle display together with a Scammell Crusader marketed as an Amazon.
This latter vehicle will be available later in the year with the Cummins 350 power plant.
On the light vehicle side. Leyland's Sherpa is shown in several forms. The Range Rover is another good seller and is represented in several versions, including one in police trim with beacons and a rear spoiler. A six-wheel conversion by the Worcester body builder, Carmichael, is also shown.
A solitary Seddon Atkinson is the only representative of the Oldham manufacturer. It is on the stand of the importer Hocke and has the E290 Cummins engine. Curiously Hocke also handles Saviem.
Although not available for sale in the UK because of marketing agreements with MAN, the Saviem PS30 is sold in Belgium. Another Saviem, this time the HL 38, is to be seen at the Brussels Show for the first time. This features the widened "Clubcab and its low-profile looks belie the fact that it has a gvw of 38 tonnes. As one would
expect, Renault vehicles generally are well represented at Brussels and there are models of nearly every vehicle, including some in municipal guise.
Another manufacturing group in force at the show is IVECO. It has rationalised the organisation now, with OM showing vehicles in the up-to 10-tonnes range. These have water-cooled power units and range from the 300M8 through to the 1000M13. This last is shown in chassis cab form with a wheelbase of 3.587m (11.8ft).
Fiat's share of the market is those over 10 tonnes, with water-cooled engines. Two models which are making an appearance are the 1 20F 1 3 and three examples of the 140, including a tractive unit. These have the rationalised IVECO cab. One interesting feature is the side indicators which are mounted on large plinths to meet Belgian requirements, but they look particularly vulnerable. The final partner in IVECO, Magirus Deutz, also covers the over-10-tonne range, but these vehicles are all air-cooled.
Hydromechanical gearboxes are standard features of the two newly introduced Fiat six-wheel trucks, the 220F 6x2 C and the 240F (6-2P), the former of which is having its world debut at Brussels. Two engine options are available for the 240F (6 2P), one giving 191 kW (260bhp) or the other with 259kW (352bhp).
Another maker to be offering engine options is Chrysler. Two of its Dodge 300 range can now be specified with Cummins NTE 350 power units. The two vehicles involved are the 4238, TD tractive unit and the 4238. KD rigid chassis. This option is only for Europe and will not be available until June. Curiously Chrysler has not got one on show in Belgium but instead has . them with its own 11.9-litre sixcylinder power unit.
Other vehicles from the Dodge range include the 100 Series and some American Dodge B-range. At the lower end of the scale are the Simca light commercials represented by high tops, an ordinary van and a pickup.
The -Scandinavians have nothing new to show as, in Volvo's case, all new models have been introduced. However there are detail changes to the N12 heavy-duty series, including lower interior noise levels and an improved engine. These are not sold in the UK however. Scania has introduced a new cab mounting as an optional extra on tractive units. It features coil springs with telescopic dampers in the centre. Scania says that this will reduce the effects of cab nod with semi-trailers.
As in the UK, the Japanese are making their mark in Belgium. Small vans from Honda and Daihatsu are on display at Brussels but probably the biggest challenge is in the 4x4 market. Toyota is showing numerous examples of the Land Cruiser, both in open and closed form. Another new all-wheeldrive vehicle from this maker is a Hi-Lux 4WD pick-up truck.
Daihatsu is there in force, too, and its newly announced diesel version of this small vehicle is making its Belgian debut. Yet more Jap fourwheel-drive vehicles are displayed on the Subaru stand. The Americans, too, are going into the 4x4 field in Belgium, with a Bronco on the Ford stand. This go-anywhere vehicle is shown in customised form.
In addition to being a coach body maker, Van Hool is also a body-builder. It is showing a tipping semi-trailer which is built of alloy — a new departure for Europe. The trailer frame itself is made from steel though. The use of alloy gives the body a payload advantage, something even the Belgians are going for now.
A massive tipping semitrailer made by STAS is also on show at Brussels and features Telehoist tipping gear. However the quality of welding leaves something to be desired on the body.
Tasker is showing a skeletal semi-trailer specially designed for the European 4m (13.1ft) height restriction,