NEW CLEARWAY VAN RANGE
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ANEW range of vans is announced today by the Ford Motor Co. Ltd. They have been given the name Clearway, and Ford is to produce the chassiswindshield unit only. A range of bodies by eight bodybuilders is currently offered. Most of these are integral vans but also included" are refrigerated, insulated and Luton vans, and there are also mobile shops, milk floats and an 18-seat personnel carrier. Three basic chassis are made with capacities of 1-5, 2 and 3 tons, and these have maximum g.v.w.s of 9,375, 11,000 and 13,640 lb respectively. The bodybuilders who have already designed bodies are: Booker Motor Bodies Ltd., Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, Devon; Garner Motors Ltd., Windmill Road, Sunbury on Thames, Middx; John Gibson and Son Ltd., Jameson Place, Leith, Edinburgh; Holmes (Preston) Ltd., Homalloy Works, Blackpool Road, Preston; Palmer Coachbuilder Ltd., Western Works, Hanworth, Micklx; Silverdale Motor Bodies Ltd., York Road, Birmingham, 28; Smith's Delivery Vehicles, Ltd., Gateshead-onTyne, 11; B. Walker and Son Ltd., Gammons Lane, Watford, Herts; Martin Walter Ltd., Tile Kiln Lane, Folkestone, Kent. The Clearway is based on the lowframe Thames Trader normal-control chassis but a special front end similar in appearance to the forward-control Trader is fitted to give increased load space behind the driver and improved forward visibility. The front end incorporates step wells at both sides for easy access to load area and driver's seat, and has a reinforced plastics forward dome and front panels. The chassis allows bodies giving good access to be built—on a Garner body shown by Ford the floor was flat from front to rear with only shallow wheelboxes and the unladen floor height was 2 ft. 10-5 in. The height of the step wells is I ft, 3 in. and the front end is designed specially for sliding doors, the width depending on the body maker.
Mechanical components used in the range are common with existing Trader models. Alternative engines are offered; the Ford 198-cu.-in, (3.26-litre) petrol which produces 73 b.h.p. gross at 3,000 r.p.m. and the Ford 220-cu.-in. (3-611 litre) diesel with a maximum output of 70 b.h.p. at 2,500 r.p.m. In both cases the drive is through an II-in.-diameter clutch to a four-speed synchromesh gearbox with ratios of 6-398, 3-092, 1.686 and 1 to 1. Reverse gear ratio is 7-903 to 1.
On all three capacity of chassis alternative rear axle ratios of 4.22 and 4-625 to 1 are available but on the 3-tanner an Eaton 13802 series two-speed axle with ratios of 4-50/6-25 to 1 is an option. Semi-elliptic leaf springs are fitted all round, there being no difference between those on the 1-5and 2-tonners but on the 3-ton version stronger springs are fitted at the front and rear. The steering layout gives a kerb to kerb turning circle of 43-5 ft.
Braking is by a Lockheed hydraulically operated vacuum-assisted system. Total brake lining area on the 1-5and 2-tonner is 290 sq. in. and 330 cu. in. on the 3tonner. Each model has the same design of frame. The size of the main longitudinals is 8-6 in. deep by 2-7 in. wide and 0.192 in. thick. Five crossmernbers are • riveted in place and the frame width is 2 ft. 10 in.
The only respect in which all three models differ is tyres. The 1.5 tanner has 7.00-16 (6-ply) front and 7-50-16 steel cord single rears, the 2-tonner 6.50-16 (8ply) all round with dual rears, and the 3-tanner 7.50-16 (8-ply) all round, again with dual rears. Alternatives available are 7.50-16, steel cord all round with single rears or 6-50-16 (8-ply) all round with dual rears on the 1.5-tonner, 6-50-16 steel cord with dual rears on the 2-tonner, and 7-00-16, steel cord with dual rears on the 3-tonner.
One of the models offered, by Smith's Delivery Vehicles, is a Clearway-based version of this company's Coldtrader refrigerated van which is now being put into line production. The body has polyurethane insulation foam in situ and as well as a version for deep-freeze food distribution there will be a higher temperature (35-40°F) model for dairy products and the like.