Neat New Economy Van
Page 35
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'T ECHNICAL unorthodoxy is cam1 bined with smart appearance in the Little Horse 31-cwt. van, a new product of Jam Motors, Ltd., 292 Worton Road, Isleworth, Middx. Production will soon be running at 20 vehicles a week: The chassis comprises a series of lengthwise steel channel-section members and lateral tubular members. Where stresses are imposed by the suspension units and the payload, the chassis .is welded together; elsewhere it is brazed.
The load platform, the floor of the driving compartment and the bonnet sides are of steel sheet riveted to the chassis. The remainder of the bodywork is Of light-alloy framing with panelling of similar material, and some exterior framing in Parana pine. • The engine and transmission, together with the battery and other components, are disposed as a unit front of the rear axle on rubber mountings. The -engine is an Excelsior Talisman twincylindercd two-stroke unit of 250 c.c. arid is mounted so that the in-line cylinders arc horizontal, with the heads to the front. Beneath the cylinders is an air scoop to assist cooling. The sparking plugs have immersible caps.
Engine power is transmitted to the Burman three-speed gearbox by. three V-ropes . of .Fenner pitch-line pattern. The clutch is a Burman heavy-duty. 6-in. multiple-plate unit.
The sealed differential takes its drive from the gearbox by chain, and transmits it to the live swinging axle shafts through Layrub couplings:. .A
• 1 emote-control gear lever is mounted on the floor of the cab.
A special feature is the Siba Dynastart device which combines the functions of dynamo a n ci starter motor. Varley compressed-plate batteries. are fitted. The 41-gal. petrol tank and the spare wheel are
mounted a n r the bonnet.
Wheels are mounted On swinging arms stabilized by Ciirling tubular units of motorcycle pattern but of heavy-duty construction, incorporating coil springs and dampers, These Units are individually adjustable for the amount of deflection desired according to surface conditions.
The wheels are 12 in. in diameter and Dunlop 20 by 4 tyres are fitted. Girling hydraulic brakes, with two leading shoes at the front, are fitted.
A binnacle mounted above the steering column, and clearly visible through the two-spoke steering wheel, contains the speedometer and various controls.
The Little Horse weighs under 5 cwt, 3 qr. unladen, With a.31-cwt. load and driver, .40 per cent, of the weight is imposed on the front wheels and .60 per cent. on the rear. The rear loading platform is 3 ft, 3 in. long and 3 ft. 5 in. wide. The roof is 2 ft. 5 in. above the floor. Body space is 37 cu. ft.
When the rear door, which is hinged at the top, is opened, a loading aperture 2 ft. high, 3 ft.. 9 in. wide at the bottom and 3 ft. 3 in. wide at the top is revealed. Loading height unladen is 2 ft. 2 in.
The price of the Little Horse is £350 4s. with purchase tax, extras being a spare wheel (£6), a passenger's seat (£6) and a tool kit (£1. 5s.). Exceptional economy is claimed for the vehicle, 65 m.p.g. being stated as an average fuel-consumption rate. Maximum speed claimed is 48 m.p.h.
A representative of Tire Commercial Motor who drove a Little Horse this week was impressed mainly by the gyroscopic stability afforded by the suspension. Despite the diminutive engine, there was sufficient power to ascend a fairly long 1-in-4 gradient and the vehicle pulled away smoothly in top gear from 8 m.p.h. Bodywork finish was of a good order and the noise.from the air-cooled unit was slight.