FOR the second time in six months a leading American vehicle manufacturing firm has announced that it is to fit Perkins diesel engines as standard equipment in trucks for the U.S. market. The Dodge truck division of the Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, state that six-cylinder. direct-injection. 120-b.h.p. (SAE) Perkins 6.354 engines will be available this spring in medium-duty trucks designed for city and suburban use.

This follows the anouncement last August that the White Motor Company, of Cleveland, is fitting the 6.354 in the White Compact range.

Mr. P. N. Buckminster, Dodge assistant general manager, announcing in Detroit the introduction of the Perkins engines, said: "The 6.354 engine is ideal for truck operators in the local, .short-haul delivery field. It is designed specifically to provide outstanding performance and maximum fuel economy in city and suburban delivery service, involving.sta rtand-stop driving.

"We have had a very close association with Perkins for several years through our British truck building operatioti, and thousands of Perkins diesels are being used in our trucks throughout the British Commonwealth, Europe and the Far East," added Mr. Buckminster. "Perkins products have proved widely acceptable and enjoy an outstanding reputation around the world. We feel certain they will be as popular with American truck operators as they have been in the overseas market."

Among the many advantages which Dodge say operators of the new diesel trucks will gain are the lower cost of diesel fuel in most States, a low initial purchase price compared with conventional diesel units, and outstanding fuel economy of 12 to 17 m.p.g. In pick-op and delivery service.

The 6.354 will be available in Dodge D500 and C500 models with gross vehicle weights of 19,500 lb., and in C600 and D600 trucks which have 22.000-lb. g.v.w. The compact size and weight of the Perkins unit will enable it to be installed in the same basic chassis as a petrol engine, which will facilitate repowering of existing models.