New Three-wheeled Van
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A THREE-WHEELED van of 25 It Cu. ft. capacity, to be known as the Gordon, is being built by Vernons Industries, Ltd., Valley Road. Bidston, Wirral, Cheshire. The fuel-consumption rate is claimed to be 75-80 m.p.g. The price, including purchase tax, is £275 19s. 7d.
A central tube forms the main chassis member and all three wheels are independently suspended. A bottom-link motorcycle-type front fork is fitted, with Metalastik bonded-rubber bushes as the suspension media, whilst coil springs control the two rear wheels, which are mounted on trailing links located at each end of a tubular swaged crossmember. The wheels are of 15-in, diameter and the tyre section is 5.20 in.
Power is provided by a Villiers fan
cooled 197 c.c. two-stroke engine mounted on the off side and transmission is by a three-speed-and-reverse gearbox through chain to the off-side rear wheel.
The body is constructed in three portions. The front part is fabricated from light alloy, the centre section— the driving compartment—from Zintec, a rustproof zinc-coated steelsheet, and the rear portion again from light alloy. The cab, fitted with a bench seat to accommodate a passenger as well as the driver, has a roll hood and transparent side curtains. The body of the van is all-metal and has a horizontal rear door.
Deliveries of the Gordon are expieted to begin shortly from the Bidston works.