60-m.p.h. Coach for Less than £100
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OR less than £100 a standard I A.E.C. Reliance coach may be modified for economical operation on motorways at average speeds of about 60 m.p.h.
The running of the vehicle on normal roads is in no way affected, so that, it is claimed, a modified Reliance is particularly 'suitable for the long-distance operator who has to do normal and motorway work with the same vehicle.
This was demonstrated last week when a fully laden Reliance of the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., which had already covered more than 75,000 miles in service, travelled 46 miles of MI in 45 minutes.
Modifications to the chassis included the fitting of a 4.08-to-l-ratio rear axle instead of the normal 4.7-to-l-ratio unit. The governed speed of the A11470 engine was raised from 2,000 r.p.m. to 2,200 r.p.m. (Both modifications are now standard A.E.C. options) Theoretically the new engine-axle combination gives a maximum speed of 61.6 m.p.h., compared with 53.6 m.p.h. available when the 4.7-to-l-ratio axle is used. In practice this figure was increased by about 71 per cent, by governor run-up.
On the MI the coach cruised comfortably at 62 m.p.h. A maximum speed of 65.5 m.p.h. was recorded over a measured mile, and the minimum speed on gradients dropped to only 59 m.p.h. Acceleration between 30-60 m.p.h. took 34 seconds. No change had been made to the standard five-speed gearbox.
The coach had a Weymarm Fanfare 41-seat body and weighed 6 tons 12 cwt. unladen. Thirty-three gallons of fuel were used running over 531 miles between Stockport and the southern end of the Ml, producing an average consumption rate of 16.1 m.p.g.
Mr. J. Hollands, chief engineer of the North Western company, told The Commercial Motor that a similar figure was obtained from standard Reliance coaches on express services.
Goodyear 9.00-20 3T nylon tyres with standard volume treads were used on the Reliance. Pressure increases on the 53-mile run down the motorway were from 95-115 p.s.i. on the front and 65-75 p.s.i. at the rear.
£4,716 DEFICIENCY
A DEFICIENCY estimated at £4,716 1-1, was admitted by a former haulier, John E. Allen, Blundell Avenue, Grimsby, when he appeared at Boston bankruptcy court last week. He stated that when he was operating from Swaton, Lines, he ran two lorries being obtained under hirepurchase agreements, and financed by different companies. His liabilities were now £5,501 and assets £785.
The examination was adjourned for three months.