Perkins Option on Thames 15-cwt.
Page 37
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ALL models in the Thames 15-cwt. range are now obtainable with a Perkins Four 99 diesel engine as a factory option in place of the standard petrol engine. The price of any of the models is increased by approximately £125 with the fitting of the Perkins.
Road test results obtained with a Thames 10/12-cwt. van fitted with a Perkins Four 99 engine (converted by H. and J. Quick, Ltd., Ford dealers, of Manchester) were given in The Commercial Motor of December 5, 1958. Fuel consumption figures on these tests. when fully laden, were non-stop 48 m.p.g. and four stops per mile 27.5 m.p.g. Acceleration through gears from 0-30 m.p.h. was 11 seconds.
Comparable figures obtained when testing a standard Thames 15-cwt. van (reported in The Commercial Motor on February 26, 1960) were, 27 m.p.g. nonstop and 19.5 m.p.g. four stops per mile, both when fully laden. Acceleration time from 0-30 m.p.h. through the gears on this vehicle was 10.5 seconds.
A direct comparison of fuel consumption performance on the two tests can be made using the figures for part-load runs, where the gross weight of the two vehicles was virtually the same. In these. the diesel-engined version returned figures of 51.3 m.p.g. for the non-stop run and 30.6 m.p.g. for the four-stopsper-mile run, against 31 m.p.g. and 20.5 m.p.g. respectively for the petrolengined model_
Scott's Unlikely to Get Full Grant
THE previously adjourned application I by Alexander Scott (Contractors), Ltd., of Glasgow, to add four rigids and eight artics to their A licence, was resumed before the Scottish Licensing Authority, Mr. W. F. Quin, at Glasgow. on Tuesday.
Schedules were produced showing January and February availabilities, but in cross examination it was agreed that these figures covered extremely limited periods, and for British Railways, objecting, it was claimed that no evidence had been given justifying an application of such magnitude. Mr. Quin deferred his decision but agreed that the figure did not justify a quantity such as was asked.
BRAKE CHANGES ON TRADERS
THE Hydrovac braking system which is currently fitted to Thames Trader 5and 7-ton models with straight frames IS to be fitted to other models in the Trader range.
It will now be standard equipment on the 3and 4-ton straight-frame chassis, the 3-. 4and 5-ton low-frame chassis and the short-wheelbase tractive unit. At the same time the brake lining area on the 4-ton models is increased from 342 sq. in. to 186 sq. in., on the 5-ton lowframe model from 362 sq. in. to 436 sq. in. and on the tractive unit from 386 sq, in. to 480 sq. in.