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ment being possible. The Type 343 coaches from Heuliez, Menarani and Orlandi have similar luggage capacity and illustrate the latest body designs in France and Italy; the Heuliez in particular has very clean, attractive lines.
A new coach body featured by Pegaso of Spain is strikingly different from the other new designs having a greater front overhang and pronounced slope to the windscreen. This 6046 is equipped to full luxury standards with 33 seats instead of the 47 possible in the body (overall length is 10.28 metres) and air conditioning is employed. The 6046 has a 10.17 litre 170 bhp diesel at the rear driving through a six-speed overdrive gearbox and suspension is by a leafand air-spring system.
It is a surprise to see the French Willeme company represented at Paris on the Volvo stand; it also surprised some Volvo personnel! Until recently Willeme had used AEC engines and components in trucks but after having some "difficulties" stopped manufacturing vehicles. Now discussions appear to be going on with Volvo, and the Willeme normal-control 6 X 4 tipper chassis for 26 tons is shown with a Volvo 270 bhp diesel and Fuller 13-speed gearbox. There were conflicting statements from people on the stand but Volvo France appear to consider an agreement would have benefits which would involve Willeme using Swedish engines and possibly extending to future assembly of Volvo designs in France. Obviously negotiations are at an early stage.
For the first time, the Bussing BS19 and 20 tractive units are seen with the tilt cab introduced by the German company earlier this year for these models. General design is unchanged, the chassis being available with 270 bhp naturally aspirated or 320 bhp turbocharged diesel engines and sixor 12-speed gearboxes.
And this is the first time that Hino trucks from Japan have been featured at the Paris Show. A French company called SEGAR is hoping to sell these trucks and plans to start delivery in the middle of next year. There are two exhibits, a KL for 9 tons gross with 120 bhp engine and a KB for 17.5 tons with a 175 bhp engine.
There are a number of interesting small vehicles at Paris, particularly two with plastics bodies. Citroen shows an open "pick-up" design which has been marketed for about 18 months and Amault a new model using Renault 4 components and available as an open vehicle or with covered cab and/or canvas tilt. In both cases there are examples as fire-service vehicles.
France has a number of companies specializing in conversions of one sort or another. One of them is Sinpar which shows examples of vehicles it has converted to four-wheel drive. There are a couple of medium-weight Saviems and a Renault 4 but more interesting to British'eyes is a Ford Transit 4 x 4. And there is also a special medium-weight frontwheel-drive low-loading six-wheeler with independent front suspension and Saviem (MAN) cab and other units.