1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164 
Support services
Page 102
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
for the user Continued
Mr S. C. Lomas. of H. Lomas Ltd, Handforth, Wilmslow, whose company is a well-known builder of ambulances, said he found the Body Code useful. "We've always used mounting brackets, not U-bolts. With minor exceptions the Body Code is in line with our previous practice and we're glad to use it."
Mr John Muschamp, managing director of Coachwork Conversions Ltd. Caine, Lancs, said his policy was to stick rigidly to manufacturer-approved body-mounting systems. Some large bodybuilders, he thought, had tended to disregard manufacturers' views in the past. "Sometimes, a body builder can gain a competitive advantage -for example by leaving an inadequate body-height over the rear wheels, putting their customer at risk. The Ford Code is a good idea because it ensures that customers buying a vehicle built under the code know that sound engineering principles have been applied."
A new series of meetings between Ford engineers and bodybuilders is anticipated in 1972.
Control Confidence
I was shown the various types of Ford Contract Confidence maintenance schemes used by local fleet operators when I visited Candor Ltd, of Colchester. Service manager Mr A. A. BarraII showed me the well-maintained documentary control system, and I was interested to learn of the close interest of the local DoE engineers in the maintenance standards adhered to in relation to the varying types of work of operators.
There are four basic types of contract covering routine servicing, routine inspections, routine servicing and inspection and the comprehensive routine servicing, inspection and repairs. The Contract Confidence schemes are designed to put the operator's mind at rest about his onerous legal responsibilities. Having talked to a number of local customers of 'Candor Ltd I've little doubt that they feel that their vehicle maintenance is in good hands.
Mr J. Collie, a West Bergholt builder operating a new 0550, reckoned that his full maintenance and repair contract was costing him less than £3 a week for an annual mileage of around 12,000. He could not accurately compare costs with his new Ford because the previous vehicle was 10 years' old and he recalled a £125 bill to get it plated.
Mr Geoff Churcher, transport manager of Betts and Company, part of the Courtaulds Group, said his seven D 800 units and a Ford Transit were on a Ford servicing contract. Trailer maintenance was not a problem as his staff could undertake this but the other vehicles were efficiently looked after by Candor Motors.
The 12 vans operated in the Colchester area by United Biscuits Ltd are regularly serviced at Candor Motors on contract terms. Mr Douglas Carter, United Biscuits fleet engineer for the southern half of the country, said he was happy with the standard of service given. His company had similar contracts with a number of Ford truck specialist dealers since it would be quite uneconomic to establish companyowned maintenance centres for relatively small locally based fleets. Mr Carter's only criticism referred to the apparent difficulty in getting certain spares for his vehicles based in South Wales.
One of the most useful Ford user services is the Ford Care system which provides participating operators with instant credit nationwide for emergency repairs or regular service from any of the specialist dealers offering these facilities. Mr Barra!! at Candor Motors thought the scheme a great boon and wished more operators would take advantage of it. For a nominal payment operators are supplied with credit cards together with an instruction book and directory. The convenience to drivers, who no longer have to make those difficult late night phone calls and need not carry large sums of money, needs no emphasis.
Reviewing the progress of Contract Confidence, Mr Alec Smith, Ford's service merchandising manager, said that about 150 Ford specialist truck dealers were now operating schemes. Some operators with mixed fleets were participating. The major response had come from the small operators. Between 200 and 300 major fleet users found the system helpful. Altogether some 3250 operators with more than 10,000 vehicles were relieved from worry.
PSV work
Mr Smith confirmed that in most areas DoE enginee liaised closely with Ford dealer service managers. The ri lationship was the better for being at "arm's length" — unlil the direct impact of a factory inspector in industry. Son' Ford dealers specialized in psv work and this was a re service in some areas.
In the vital field of vehicle testing, experience so far showE less than 5 per cent of failures with vehicles submitted und Ford Contract schemes. "If any dealers had slipped up ar caused embarrassment to operators we would have heard Of course, the workshop capacity available varies fro dealer to dealer. Most dealers, said Alec Smith, were too bu: with service and inspection work to operate full maintenam and repair contracts. Purchasers of new vehicles are natural given preference when it is possible to sign up for an allcontract. Dealers would not wisely undertake such responsibility for vehicles engaged in rough off-the-ro tipping work and some other types of intensive operations.