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LARGE-CAPACITY PERSONNEL CARRIERS •

26th November 1965
Page 38
Page 38, 26th November 1965 — LARGE-CAPACITY PERSONNEL CARRIERS •
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!SING welded construction with standard-size steel pressings, Cravens Homalloy %-..‘ Ltd., Sheffield, are now producing personnel carriers in various designs to 'accommodate from 15 to 27 passengers. The range is intended to provide for he field not fully covered by smaller personnel carriers of the mini-bus type and already a substantial number has been sold in the export market. The factory is now ready to meet more fully the home demand.

The pressed steel body is a logical' development from the van produced in this manner which was successfully launched by Cravens Homalloy Ltd. last year. The chassis employed is naturally the governing factor in the matter of passenger capacity, among the designs readily available there being types suitable for the Leyland 90, the Ford Transit, Bedford VAS and Austin/Morris FO K40. The bodywork's robust construction will undoubtedly make a strong appeal for use in large industrial complexes or on remote development sites, and generally for carrying employees to distant locations.

Vehicles have already been supplied to, or are on order by, civil engineering contractors, chemical manufacturers, steel makers and local authorities. For export purposes bodies can be supplied complete or can be shipped in sections for local erection.

On 2-ton Chassis A good example of the. layout is provided by the Type SI 1 on a Leyland 2-ton chassis with 11 ft. 3 in. wheelbase, as shown in the accompanying illustration. In this case the overall length is 18 ft. 9 in., overall width 7 ft. 1 in. and overall height when laden 7 ft. 51 in. Internally the length is 12 ft. 11 in., width 6 ft. 7 in. and height at the centre line 4 ft. 11 in. To provide for 20 passengers, one is seated in the cab, the others being accommodated by means of four forward-facing double seats and one centre-facing double seat on the offside, plus three forward-facing and one centrefacing double, also a single facing forward, on the nearside.

An alternative arrangement is to have longitudinal seats for nine passengers on the offside and eight on the nearside, also with one in the cab, giving a total of 18. To allow access to the passenger compartment from the cab various modifications have been introduced which make it possible to walk straight through into the saloon on the nearside. At the rear there are double doors, with check arms and a folding rear step.

The floor is built up on 31 in. channel members with 20 swg side floor panels and a centre floor panel made from in. resin-bonded plywood with fin, hardwood runners. Body side panels are in 20 swg sheet steel, reinforced with 18 swg top-hat members and a 16 swg cant rail. The mounting of the skirt panels is such that they are easily removed in the event of damage. The roof comprises 20 swg sections, these having transverse swages and being reinforced with tubular roof sticks. The sections are seam welded to the drip channel in the cant rail. Shaped pressings are used for the rear corners and these too have detachable skirt sections.

In each cab door there are standard drop glasses and pivot ventilators. With the exception of one window aperture on each side, which has a sliding halfpanel, fixed glasses are fitted throughout the saloon. The interior is finished in sandalwood paint which matches the cab.

Special For Honduras Of special interest are eight vehicles bound for Honduras, part of an order placed by the export sales department of Leyland Motors Ltd. (Light Commercial Vehicles Division), The specification in this case includes an easy access forward entrance with jack-knife, doors manually operated by the driver. There is additional ventilation by means of full depth half-sliding window and roof extractors; the exhaust pipe is carried up to roof height at the rear of the vehicle and a radio with two speakers is incorporated. A high-capacity roof rack with exterior access ladder is to be provided. Inside the saloon there is a bench seat at the rear, below which a boot is located giving accommodation for 14 cu. ft, of luggage. Access is through the two rear doors which also serve as emergency exists.

The prototype of the company's 27-28seater bus, mounted on a Bedford VAS chassis, is now nearing completion, Here again welded steel pressing construction is employed. With a wheelbase of 13 ft. Kin, there is an overall length of 23 ft. 1 in., width of 7 ft. 6 in, and laden height of 8 ft. 9 in. Internal height in the centre of the saloon is 5 ft. 11 in. Rear overhang is 6 ft. 1 in. and front overhang 3 ft. 2 in., the front entrance being located immediately behind the axle, with an emergency door opposite on the offside. A two-panel folding entrance door, passenger operated, is fitted.

As in the standard personnel carriers, tubular-framed bus seats are used, with cushioned upholstery and PVC trimming. Interior panelling below waist level is plywood covered by leather cloth.

A.T.

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Locations: Austin, Sheffield

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