AMERICAN LORRY ORDERS.
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According to our American contemporary, "The Commercial Vehicle," 75,000 lorries and passenger cars have been ordered to date by the American Government. Four lorries, including the class AA, A, B and TT, form the cargo lorry programme. The TT vehicle, of which official announcement of adoption was made on the 25th July, is a four-wheel drive type desigmed by the Engineering Ordnance Department. Several models have been completed and tested. This vehicle was designed in reply to a request from General Pershing, who stated that the vehicles then in use in France were not satisfactory. The TT vehicle is especially suitable for hauling large guns over rough country. The Ford passenger chassis, following the request of the American Expeditionary Forces, has been adopted as a standard chassis for use in the army 'as a passenger car, light ambulance, light van and so forth. There are now 3000 Ford ambulances in use in France, and this number will soon be increased to 8000.
The Ford Motor Co. is working on an order for 5000 light delivery vehicles, production of which began on 22nd July at the rate o11200 perliday. The principal reasons for the wider use of the Ford are the ease of repairing, cheapness of operation, large production and the extremely low initial cost, and the fact " that it can be used where many other passenger cars cannot." The otheri two types of passenger cars tested and selected arc the Dodge chassis and the Cadillac chassis.
The AA vehicle,Twhich is the G.M.C. g-ton model, was decided upon because of its low petrol consumption and its light weight. The principal change from the regular model is a superior spring development needed because this model is to be used not_only for cargoes,but as a heavy ambulance also. Seven thousand five hundred of these vehicles are being ordered from various factories.
The Class A lorry, which is the White 14-ton vehicle with some changes, was selected after tests of many commercial vehicles in all conditions of weather and load. It was adopted, according to the Motor Transport Service, because of lower petrol and oil consumption, more
satisfactory performance both in Mexico and France, high speed work with pneumatic tyres and the low cost of spare parts. The Class A vehicle is to be used for staff observation, reconnaissance and as a high-speed lorry. One of the principal reasons for retaining the Class B model, originally known as the Liberty lorry, says the Motor% Transport Service, is its maintenance. Eighteen thousand of these vehicles have been ordered. The cost of this vehicle is less than that of any other commercial vehicles of the same capacity. The Class B vehicle has given satisfactory service over a test of 15,000 miles. It was found to have greater strength, more power," more ability, and to be better qualified to tackle running over rough roads.
In rejecting many vehicles under test the Motor Transport Service states that the rejections were in.no way reflections on the commercial value of these vehicles. A. majority of these were made for city work, and consequently could not be expected to do exceptionally heavy, rough work as required in France.