Spain's expanding vehicle industry on
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show at Barcelona by Robert Richards • Spain is making strides and building up a considerable export market in commercial vehicles.
Evidence of this was seen at the Barcelona International Salon, held in conjunction with the FISITA conference from May 19 to 25. The show attracted 1,048 exhibiting concerns of which 692 were Spanish. Among the "foreign" exhibitors were 88 from the United Kingdom.
The largest stand in a big display of lorries, autobuses and delivery vans was that of Pegaso—as was to be expected of Spain's principal producer of commercial vehicles. Pegaso last year built 7,790 lorries and 1,866 autobuses and has a 1968 target of 10,000.
Four new types were introduced by Pegaso at the show: one was a 33-ton gross dumper and the others were coaches.
The new Pegaso coaches have been designed to fill a need in the concern's range. Two of these are the 5031 and 5031-L which have 170 bhp rear-mounted engines. A ZF eight-speed synchromesh gearbox is used. The footbrake has independent circuits for the front and rear wheels and the longer version—the 5031-L —has 15 rows of four seats, resulting in a total of 60 places. The model 5031 is 211 4in shorter and has a few slight differences, which also give it a smaller turning circle11.3 metres against 12 metres. The engine in both is the 9103/2, 10.170 litre which gives its maximum output at 2,000 rpm. Power steering is standard.
The other new model in the Pegaso coach stable is the 6030-NA. This is an improved version of a well-known model with separate chassis, air suspension and epicyclic gearbox. The horizontal engine is now of 185 bhp. The power steering is hydraulic, as on the other models, and it has air brakes with independent circuits for the front and rear axles with MGM spring brakes.
Also on the Pegaso stand was the turbocharged diesel engine, model No. 9109, of 260 bhp. This has a capacity of 10,518 c.c., and cylinders of 120mm diameter bore and 155mm stroke; total weight is 1,5781b.
Across the gangway from the Pegaso stand was that of Barreiros, which also had additions to its established range. One of these was the Axor 9000, which gives a cargo and container load of nine tons. The engine is the B-24 four cylinder, 6.786 litre which gives 115 bhp at 2,200 rpm. The gearbox is the David Brown 552, with two-speed splitter giving 10 forward speeds and two reverse. Attention has been paid to driver-comfort and the wide curved windscreen gives good visibility.
Another new Barreiros was the Sacta 70, the first seven-tonner which the firm has produced. This uses the A-90 six-cylinder engine giving 90 bhp at 2,400 rpm. The gearbox is the David Brown 542, giving 10 forward and two reverse gears. Total loaded weight is 10.25 tons.
The name for Austin in Spain is SAVA —Sociedad Anonima Vehiculos Automoviles—and BMC now produces the 221 in Spain based on a 30cwt chassis with a 22 litre diesel unit but with a cab to suit Spanish requirements. This firm also had a very large stand in Barcelona, which it shared with Berliet.
An interesting lightweight was the Siata 2.850 van. This has just been introduced from the factory in Tarragona and is manufactured in three versions—the Minivan, Combi and Multiple—selling at about £600. Loading is facilitated by the large side doors (3ft by 3ft 9in.) as well as one in the rear. The driver has very good visibility and, being easily manoeuvrable, it makes a useful delivery vehicle. The engine used is a Seat 600 c.c.
An aspect of Spanish individuality is seen in the large number of coachwork concerns giving different treatments to the various Pegaso models. One of these firms is Hugas of Barcelona, which showed its inter-urban bus, with a special front window; it has won many orders because of the added visibility.