TWO AUSTIN MODELS FOR LIGHT LOADS.
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A Neat Car, Especially Equipped for Commercial Travellers, and a Fast Van. for 21-cwt. Loads, Are Included in the New Programme.
I T WAS with great interest that we recently inspected examples of the new Austin light commercial vehicles, one model of which is built to meet the requirements of the coMmercial traveller, and the other, which is a light van, for the tradesman or o•ther.user who desires a speedy and reliable vehicle at• a reasonable price, The Austin Seven chassis has already had a severe testing in all parts oi the country, and has emerged triumphant. This chassis being used for the two new vdhicles, these must not be looked upon as being in any way of an experimental nature.
They are of particular interest as being the smallest vehicles of the type yet placed on the market. In the case of the van, this has a capacity of approximately 30 cubic ft., the permissible load being 21 cwt, in addition to the driver, whilst the traveller's car has a Capacity of approximately 18 cubic ft.-, with a box at the side of the driver giving an additional 4 cubic ft., making a total of 22 cubic ft., and a permissible
load of 2 cwt., apart from the driver. Both • vehicles are priced at. .E180, at which figure they represent .extremelY good value for money, especially in view of the factthat the equipment supplied is very complete, including, as it does, dynamo electric lighting, spare wheel and tyre, etc. These vehicles show a considerable advance in many ways over the side-ear. Complete protection is provided for the driver, the load is more evenly distributed over the wheels,and the driving stresses on the mechanism are _• adequately met.Rapid means are provided foe changing the wheels in case of punctures, whilst the car-type steering and control enable the vehicles to be driven continuously without thefatigue is apt to occur on motorcycle combinations,
As regards the .van, this has a body of the all-metal type, with large double doors opening at the rear to almost the full width of the body. The Toad-carrying part of the body is extended forward to the left of the driver so that he sits in a kind of recess. In addition, the lower portion is carried right up to the dash and is provided with a lid, so that access to the hox thus formed is Ob• tained either through this lid or from the rear. Small packages can be kept in this forward portion of the body, and thus it is not essential to open the rear doors; long articles can also be carried. A Very large measure of. protection is afforded by the deep windscreen, and this, with a canopy of waterproof material and side curtains with large windows, makes the machine practically waterproof. The windscreen at the off side is so arranged that it opens with the door.
The -body extends over the wheel arches to each side, and the.leading line is reduced by providing a dome-shaped metal covering in the floor over the centre of the axle. Theeweight of the
complete vehicle is 3 cwt. •
In the case of the traveller's car, the main body is also Of the all-metal type, but it has a light detachable top covered with, leather cloth. Normally; there is a passenger's 'seat at. the left of the driver' but, if required, this can be preplace-d by a box for ,carrying addittienal samples. Small double doors are provided at the rear of the 'detachable upper partioe of the body, the-interior of which is fitted with light shelves for the necessary samples.
Complete. weather protection is afferclecl the driver by means of a folding waterproof canopy extending to the windscreen, and side curtains opening with thO doors, as in the case of the van. Ventilation is obtained by making the 'upper -half of the windscreen adjustable. in this car the driver's seat. is adjustable and detachable.
Bath vehicles have an overall length of 8 ft, 10 ins,,, an overall width of 3 ft. 10 ins., a wheelbase of 6 ft. 3 ins., and a track of 3 ft. 4 ins. The weight of the traveller's car is "i& cwt.
l'he Austin Seven chassis, although so • email, bristles ' with ingenious mechanical features, arid includes many points' in'ehassis design which have not yet been' adopted . an eiar more expensive chassis. This applies particularly to the four-wheel braking, in which the foot brake acts on the rear wheels and the hand brake on the front wheels; both
brakes are 'compensated and instantly adjustable.
As regards the rest of the chassis, the power unit is a. four-cylinder monoblare with a water-nooled: detachable head, an.d. a bore and-. stroke'ef 2.2 ins.
end 3 in.s, respectively, giving an ll.A.C. rating of 7.8 tape; and a b.h.p. of 10.5 at 2,400 r.p.m. The oil is circulated by pump, whilst the the'rm6-siphonie system is employed for circulating the cooling water. Ignition is attended to by a
H.-T. magneto, and carburation by an instrument of Zenith make. An unusual feature is the fitting of roller bearings to the crankshaft, Power is conveyed through -a singleplate clutch to a geaebox providing three, forward speeds and a reverse, and built up as a unit with, the engine. The gear satins are : 5 to 1, 9 to 1, and 10 to 1, reverse being 21 to 1. Behind the gearbox is a short ea-rdais shaft connected to a propeller shaft. enclosed in a tubular barque member. The front end of this torque tube is carried in a spherical housing supported by a cross--member at the hack of the frame,, and the final drive is by helical bevel gearing.
An Thseetion forging is employed for the front axle, and the springing for this axle is by a single semi-elliptic cross-spring. The steering gear is of the worm and segment type, provision being made for taking up wear.
The detachable wire wheels are fitted with 26-in, by 3-in, non-skid tyres. Changing of the wheels is facilitated in a. simple and practical manner. It is necessary to unscrew only the three locking nuts of each wheel for a short distance and to withdraw the Wheel, slightly, at the same time rotating it in a forward direction, the bolt holes being conneeted by stets to large holes which will clear the nuts, the wheel can then, he drawn off. Slipping cannot occur when the nuts are screwed up, as a coned collar under each nut butts closely into its bolt hole.
Controls for the magneto and carburetter are provided on the steering wheel, and storage capacity for 4 gallon.s of fuel is provided by the petrol tank.