Commercials Eclipse Cars at Italian Show
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FROM the interest point of view, the commercial section at the recent 10th Italian International Motor Show, at Milan, completely overshadowed the private-car exhibition.
It exemplified the progress that has been made by Italy in encouraging the use of " national " fuels. Commercial motors were displayed on 46 stands. Among the well-known foreign exhibitors were Mercedes-Benz, Humboldt-Deutz, Bussing-N.A.G., Ford and Renault.
Among the Italian makers, Fiat was one of the biggest exhibitors, showing a complete range of vehicles, from the little 500 c.c. delivery van to huge sixwheelers. Practically all the vehicles were oilers, but gas-producer chassis also are available, as well as a standard
model designed for the use of methane Lancia vehicles were shown with twostroke oil engines. A new chassis which created considerable interest was the 3R0 model, having a five-cylindered 0.875-litre 95 b.h.p. four-stroke oil engine and an eight-speed gearbox. This model is particularly suitable for colonial work.
The Show revealed a high standard Of workmanship in bodybuilding, and some interesting ideas in trailers, in" eluding independent suspension. Italian coachbuilders are turning their atten
tion towards lightweight construction.
As the Show emphasized, the tendency in Italy is to use home-produced fuel and to rely almost completely on the oil engine, when other " national " types of power are unsuitable. A section of the exhibition was devoted to home-produced fuel.
Pirelli exhibited, for the first time, an example of Italian synthetic rubber.