AGRICULTURAL TRANSPORT
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TRANSPORT for agriculture will feature prominently in next week's issue of "The I Commercial Motor". A preview of velecles and equipment at the Royal Show will be accompanied by articles on agricultural transport problems and practice, trends in livestock carriage and aspects of costing relevant to haulage in the agricultural field. Regular features and wide news coverage will be included in the issue, on sale next Friday at the usual price of Is. 3d.
Three-wheeled Vespas for U.K.
THREE WHEELED 1 Vespa commercial vehicles are being introduced into the U.K. by B.C.S. Commercial Vehicles Ltd., of Blyth, Northumberland, recently appointed sole concessionaires by the manufacturers, Piaggio and Co. of Genoa, Italy. Two models are immediately available, one with a 50-cu.-ft, capacity van body, the other with a pick-up body for which a canvas tilt is available. Both have a payload capacity of 9 cwt.
The Vespa Commercial 175 models, the name by which the vehicles are known, are based on Vespa scooters and have cabs with forward-hinged doors, a seat for two persons, rubber floor mats, and a good size windscreen. A heater, windscreen washer, flashing indicators and an electric as well as a hand starter are fitted as standard. The scooter front end is used with the handlebars inside the cab and all controls as on the scooter— gear change and throttle by handgrips and clutch and front wheel brake by hand levers. The rear-wheel brakes are pedal operated.
The single-cylinder 169-7 c.c. (10-372 in.) two-stroke petrol engine develops 7.6 h.p. and four forward and reverse gears are provided. The reverse gear operates on a differential which splits the drive to shafts, final drive being by roller chains., Front wheel suspension is by variable-rate coil springs and double-acting hydraulic shock absorber, whilst at the rear there are torsion bars and friction-type dampers on swinging wheel brackets. Tyres are 4.50-8 in. and a spare-wheel is an optional fitting. The rear wheel track is 3 ft. 6.67 in., whilst the wheelbase is 5 ft. 8.14 in.
Price of the Vespa Commercial 175 with a van body is £395, the pick-up costing £20 less. The canvas tilt for use with the pick-up adds £12 10s. to the price of that model. Other models which will be offered in the U.K. shortly include one with a dumper-type body and an articulated vehicle with a 14-cwt. capacity.
Progress
I N the annual report of The Institute of the Motor Industry for the year ended March 31 last, it was shown that the Institute's finances had steadily consolidated during the year. Total membership at March 31 was 6,659, compared with 6,298 a year previously. This increase was achieved largely by the number of young men joining after passing the associate membership examination.
Israeli Tyres for U.K.
AWIDE range of tyre products manufactured in Israel by Samson Tire and Rubber Co. Ltd., of Petah Tiqwa, near Tel Aviv, is to be imported into Britain through the newly appointed distributors, Oakthorpe Motor Co. Ltd., North Circular Road, Palmers Green, London, N.I3. The tyres cover the scooter, motorcycle, passenger car, truck, bus and tractor fields, and the tread patterns are similar to those employed by Samson's parent company, the American U.S.-General concern.
The Samson company was formed in 1950, and now exports tyres to about 36 different countries. The types being imported into Britain come in 16 main designs, and are of rayon or nylon construction. Over 500 sizes will be handled, the commercial vehicle models ranging in size from 7-00-15 to 12.00-24. The normal types of giant tyre are the C.A., which has a normal five-rib tread; the P.C.A., which has an extra-heavy tread; the R.H., for general duties; the D.S.T., for onor off-highway use; the C.L.S., with cross lugs for long mileage; the A.R.L.. with cleated tread for onor offthe-road work; and the N.D., for universal off-theroad usage.
Prices are the same as those of equivalent British tyres. A chain of dealers will be established.
TWO NEW GULF OILS rAA NEW multigrade oil—New Gulfpride Single-G—is to be marketed by Gulf Oil (Great Britain) Ltd., and at the same time a single grade version is being introduced; this is called New Gulfpride Motor oil. The new multigrade oil is claimed to have greatly improved viscosity characteristics, to give easy cold starting but sufficient " body " to withstand high-temperature motorway conditions. Engine life is said to be lengthened by properties which combat sludge formation, varnish build-up and rusting.
SEVEN-TON SECURITY VANS
rOSTMIG nearly £4,000 each, three of these Austin 7-ton diesel-engined armoured vans (left) are being introduced by Security Express Ltd., mainly for carrying coin to the clearing banks; they can carry a crew of five.
The chassis have five-speed gearboxes, Eaton two-speed axles and power-assisted steering. The vehicles, 21 ft. long and 10 ft. 4 in. high, have bodies built by West Surrey Industries Ltd. with four skins of panelling extending over the roof and driving cab, and all glass is specially laminated and strengthened. The vans incorporate "unique and unusual" security devices and are said to be the heaviest security vehicles in the U.K.