More Power and Space in New Van
Page 44
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ANEW Commer Cob with an overhead-valve petrol engine, improved styling and greater body length is announced today by Commer Cars, Ltd., Luton. The -increased body space is particularly noticeable in respect of leg room in the cab. The basic price is £420, with £64 15s. 4d purchase tax, a total increase of £31 16s. 8d. over the cost of the previous side-valve-engined model.
The new engine is basically similar to that used, in the Hillman Minx Special car. It is a 1.39-litre four-cylindered unit with gross and net power outputs of 43 b.h.p. and 40 b.h.p. respectively at 4,000 r.p.m. The net torque output is 66.4 lb.-ft., developed at 1,600 r.p,m. The unit formerly fitted developed 37.5 b.h.p. and 55.5 lb.-ft. torque.
The compression ratio is now 7 to 1, making the engine suitable for use with premium-grade petrol. The Zenith downdraught carburetter has a pancake-type air cleaner and the fuel tank has a capacity of 64 gal.
Floor-mounted Gear Lever
Synchromesh engagement is provided for the upper three forward ratios of the four-speed gearbox. The lever is mounted on the floor and cranked to bring the knob reasonably close to the steering-wheel rim. The spiral-bevel rear axle has a reduction ratio of 4.778 to 1.
The van is of all-steel integral construction and the body capacity is 47 cu. ft., with 15 cu. ft. additional space alongside the driver when the optional passenger seat is not fitted. Compared. with the earlier model the floor space is 5 in. longer (4 ft. 91 in.), whilst the interior height (2 ft. 111 in.) is 4 in. greater. The door aperture has been increased by IIin. to 2 ft. 64 in., and an additional 2 in. in the door aperture width makes the new figure 3 ft. 1 in.
Wheelbase has been extended by 2 in. to 7 ft. 2 in., and the overall 'length is 34 in. greater-12 ft. 54 in. The overall width is less: 5 ft. 01 in. compared with 5 ft. 31 in. Much of the benefit of the increase in wheelbase has been bestowed upon the driver. The seat-adjustment range remains the same at 4 in., but the shortest distance between the steering wheel rim and the squab. which used to he 94 in., is now 104 in.
Similarly, the seat height is now 14 in. higher, which, combined with the more pronounced slope of the bonnet, gives better forward visibility. Headroom has been decreased by 2 in. to 3 ft. 1 in.
In general styling the front end of the van closely resembles. the current Hillman Minx cars and the latest type of radiator grille is used. The body is not, in general outline, greatly different from the previous model, a single rear door being ,retained, but the fluting it the front wings and cab doors is continued to behind the rear wheels, thereby greatly improving the general appearance, The cab door locks are of the pressbutton type with finger-grip lugs instead of conventional handles.
Front suspension is similar to that employed on current Minx cars and consists of unequallength wishbones and coil springs. The wheels are carried on stub arms attached to the upper and lower wishbones by ball joints. which act as steering swivels. An anti-roll bar is fitted and a threepiece track rod is used.
Conventional semi-elliptic rear springs are employed in conjunction with lever dampers. Telescopic dampers, 1 (Ica ted inside the coil springs, are used at the front.,
The new Cob is suitable for a gross laden weight of 264 cwt. and its unladen kerb weight is 184 cwt. This means that when carrying a driver alone a payload of 64 cwt. can be carried, which is reduced to about 5 cwt. with a passenger.
Tubeless tyres are fitted, the standard size being, as before. 5.00-15 in. (4 ply). Nevertheless, the unladen loading height is 1 in. lower, being 254 in.
The Commercial Motor has tried the new van and it is certainly more comfortable and lively to drive than its predecessor. The gearbox permits smooth and fast changes, particularly as the gearlever travel is small and its action direct.
Various , fuel tests made show that when fully laden it is possible, with careful driving, to obtain figures in the region of 37-38 m.p.g.. but when driving in a style normally adopted by deliveryvan drivers, the consumption becomes similar to that of the Express, a road-test report of which was published in The Commercial Motor on March 15. 1957.