AN INTERESTING CONVERTIBLE BODY.
Page 50
Page 51
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Available as a Private Car and, on Occasion, Useful for Transporting Small Livestock to or from Market.
THE expense of running two cars, nowadays, constitutes to the business man of moderate means an item of considerable moment and often it proves prohibitive ; usually business requirements are considered first, and when funds will only run to one vehicle that invariably takes the form of a van, or something of a similar type. The personal experience of Mr. Edward Tatty, of Penarth, led him to evolve a doublepurpose body, which is now the subject of a patent. For anyone who resides in the country, and makes periodic visits to market for the purpose of buying or selling small cattle, pigs, sheep, etc., or even dead meat, the cost of the journey and the transport of the -produce often cuts into the available profits to such an extent that the dealer decides that it is better to do without a car altogether and to use a commercial vehicle only, and yet the comparatively small amount of use to which such a vehicle would be put makes it really an expensive and not very pleasurable acquisition.
To meet the dual demands of business rind pleasure Mr. Tutty has evolved a type cf body which, whilst it does not possess unpleasing lines, nevertheless has the advantage of being able to accommodate quite a fair amount of
stock. The body as at present constructed is only a rough outline of the idea, lint we are assured by Mr. Tutty that its usefulness is extraordinary.
The conversion has been effected in a 12 h.p. Austin touring car, where the back panel has been entirely removed and an extension—following the main lines of the body—added until it reaches t:ie rear end of the chassis frame above the spring anchorage. On the particular car in question a rough saloon top has been added, and the hood contour has been left in its original position, but the hack part is fitted with three binged doors, one opening upwards and the other two opening outwards, the structure being such that an open-ended bridge is obtained.
Now, the back part of the extension to the body is also hinged, likewise decking to the extension, and as the dimensions are suitable arranged decking can he raised to close in the end exposed by the opening of the hinged pieces to the back of the head; thus, with the back seat removed, a space is available into which we are assured seven or eight live sheep, ten porkers, or some half-dozen milk churns may be placed.
Inside the body and inimediately to the rear of the front seat a springloaded roller blind of American cloth is arranged so that the cloth can be unwound to protect the interior of the car, whilst the sides of the body have detachable pieces of upholstery so that in this respect, too, the interior can be
kept quite clean. As mentioned previously, the rear of the body is hinged in order that the livestock can be loaded easily, yet the whole of the alteration has not interfered with the usefulness of the luggage grid. The floor space available even in such a comparatively small car as the Austin 12 is 5 ft by 3 ft. 6 ins., the weight-carrying capacity is in the 'region of 8 cwt. and the price amoximately £100. The joint patentees are Messrs: Tutty and Tott, Penarth.