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 
Imperial and Co chwork Lutons for Toyot
Page 43
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Luton versions of the Toyota Hi-Ace van have been announced by Imperial Coachbuilders Ltd and Coachwork Conversions Ltd. The two companies have been chosen by the Japanese manufacturer to build specialist bodies on the chassis. Toyota pick-up trucks have been available for some time.
Both Luton bodies are similar in construction to those fitted by Imperial and Coachwork to British chassis. Both are slightly smaller than the range supplied for Ford Transit /Bedford CF-type vehicles. The Imperial version has a 400 cu ft capacity while the Coachworks model is 425 cu ft. Both bodies cost £420 to which must be added £985 for the cost of the chassis. Delivery charges are included in the Coachworks price while a surcharge is payable on bodies delivered by Imperial to points outside an area within easy re ch of their Essex factory.
The introduction of "tailored" bodi s on the Toyota chassis was made last w ek in Luton. Journalists had their first opportunity of sampling the Hi-Ace c assis on a test route around the suburbs. I ne of the most attractive claims made b the Japanese company is that its vehicles ome fully equipped with no "optional" e• tras. This, policy has been proved success ul in selling private cars but it is as yet unt ed in the commercial vehicle market.
Certainly, every effort has been m e to make the Toyota cab as comforta e as possible, clearly important at this end f the van market where owner-drivers pr omMate. Standard specification inclu s a radio and an effective heater.
I found the steering commendabl light and precise with no tendency to wander. My main objection to the vehicle was that a column change is used. While I am not opposed to column changes in principle this one took me way. back to cars of the Fifties. But it is no doubt something you could learn to live with.
However, less forgivable, were the ratios. The overall gearing seemed too low and the little 1587cc engine felt very busy. But there was also a considerable gap between third and top. This was further marred by a flat spot on the vehicle I drove. But as it had only 200 miles on the clock it cannot be judged conclusively. An exclusive road test of the Hi-Ace pick-up will appear in CM next week.
The Luton versions of the Toyota will doubtless be considered by operators who favour the Leyland 250JU or Commer 2500 vans for it is in this size that the Hi-Ace competes most effectively. It will be on its reliability record — and service facilities are available at all Toyota's car outlets — that the new chassis is judged.