THE ALBION VIKING COACH FOR 1927.
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A Lengthened Wheelbase Allows of the Expansion of the Seating Accommodation to 20 Passengers.
TBE first complete demonstration model of the 1927 Albion Viking all-weather coach is now rapidly approaching completion, and it will then be shown to a number of prominent users of Albions and others throughout the country. The chassio is the well-known 30-60 h.p. fourcylindered model 26 which was described in thee columns about 15 months ago, but an addition has been made to the range which at that time embraced an 11-ft. 3-in. wheelbase, a 14-ft. wheelbase, a 14-ft. 4-in, wheelbase and a 16-ft. wheelbase. The 14-ft. wheelbase, model was designed for an 18-pas= senger motor coach, and it is in this model that the chief alterations are observable, for the 1927 chassis will be 15 ft. at the Wheelbase, and without any cramping of space or legroom 20 seats 'can be provided, two seating plans being laid down as standard and being reproduced with these notes.
The frame has been lowered somewhat, so that with full load the height of the frame above ground and behind the .rear axle is 2 ft. 3 ins. ; at the point where it is upswept over the back axle it is but 2 ft. 51 ins., whilst forward of the rear axle the frame height is only 1 ft. 111 ins. The length from the rear of the dash to the end of the frame is 18 ft. 2 ins.; the overall length is 22 ft. 4 ins. (a slight bulbosity of the body behind the end of the frame must be added to this) ; the wheel track front is 5 ft. 41 ins. and rear 5 ft. 2 ins.; the ground clearance is 111 ins, to the rear axle and 7 ins, under it; the frame is splayed out at the rear from 32i ins. to 45i ins, in order to provide a convenient space to carry the spare wheel.
Severe conditions of working have
been provided for, the flow of the cooling ,water being assisted by a pump, whilst the special Viking design of radiator gives ample ,cooling surface. The power is transmitted through a single-plate clutch, a fourspeed gearbox and an underslung worm drive.
The normal brake equipment includes a transmission brake operated by the foot and hand brakes acting on drums on the rear wheels. At an extra charge front-wheel brakes interconnected with the foot brake can be fitted, and for this purpose the front axle is of a strengthened design to withstand the strains set up by front-wheel braking. The vehicle is equipped with a mileage recorder and full electric lighting set and electric horn, whilst frontwheel brakes, electric starter, mechanical tyre pump and speedometer are included in the list of atras.
The petrol tank has a capacity of 23 gallons and is carried at the rear, the filling orifice being directed towards the off side and being stayed to the frame.
The bodywork is offered in two styles, one with an entrance beside the driver and a central passage through the first three . rows of seats, the wheel-arch difficulty being overcome by centring a three-passenger seat so as to clear the wheel arches. At the rear is a row of four seats. The driver's seat accommodates one passenger. The seats ar?, of the semi-bucket type.
The other style of bodywork has a door on the near side to each row of seats and to the rear compartment, each long row seating four passengers. Two passengers are accommodated beside the driver and two on armchair seats which cover the wheel arches. There is a doorway to the driver's seat on the off side.
In both models running-boards are provided on each side and domed wings are fitted at front and rear. The lines of the tapering bonnet fair up quite gracefully with those of the scuttle dash and the body. The spring cushions and squabs are upholstered in best-quality hand-buffed hide.