Low Floor Height Use of the A.V. chassis enables a
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floor height at the rear of only 1 ft. 8 in. to be obtained. Interior length of the body is 10 ft. 4 in., width 6 ft. 1 in., and height 5 ft. 10 in. The two rear doors are hung on piano-type hinges, and, when opened, reveal an .aperture 5 ft. 1 in. wide. A folding step may be let down at the rear.
: On the bulkhead at the front of the . . . , . . .
main compartment there IS an attendant's folding seat, , below Which on each side are vents for two Smiths heaters. There is a fresh-air intake at cant-rail level on each side of the body, the ducts leading to shuttered apertures on the bulkhead. When these are closed, the air passes down trunk ing to the heaters. .
Four half-drop. windows are provided for the .rear compartment; the panels being of purdah glass. In an 'emergency, the front off-side window can be unfastened from the inside of the vehicle and dropped so that the occupants may escape.
In the double-skinned roof are tom windows, each consisting of two sheets of glass with a space between. In this sPace there is a row of electric lamps.
Dimensions of the cab are generous. The driver's seat is a Chapman product and behind it there is space for the carriage of a folding wheel-chair. Behind the passenger's seat, which has a fore-and-aft adjustment, is the battery box. The spare wheel is accommodated laterally in the cab on the near side.
The front doors are also hung on piano-type hinges and open for more than 90°. Thereare recessed foot wells for ease of entry. The complete vehicle is built to a high specification, as is notable by the provision of hardware of good quality and composition flooring in the rear.
The bulkhead is double-skinned and lined with heat and sound insulation material up to waist level, and there is a wide sliding window at convenient height for the occupants of the cab to see into the tear. A third heater unit is mounted in the cab, chiefly for use as a windscreen demister.
Various combinations of stretchers and other equipment can be carried, according to operators' specification, and there is provision for carrying Novox resuscitation apparatus, oxygen cylinders and blood-transfusion bottles. There is generous locker accommodation at the front of the main compartment, including a glass fronted morphia cabinet. .
The unladen weight of the all-metal vehicle, equipped with two stretchers, is 2 tons 9 cwt. In the course of a demonstration run in a petrol-engined version of this vehicle, a representative of . The commercial Motor was favourably impressed with its quiet running and -comfortable riding
qualities, also the good visibility afforded the driver through the deep V-type windscreen.
The chassis has a wheelbase of 8 ft. 9 in., a turning circle of 35 ft. and 7-in. minimum ground clearance. The engine drives through a four-speed gearbox to ti hypoid differential, arranged on a Dc Dion layout. Tubeless tyres, size 7.00 by 16 8-ply rating, are fitted. Brakes are of 12-in, diameter and 2i-in wide, providing a total facing area of 207 sq. in.
These new designs represent a significant venture by the Hooper concern, who have been long established in the field of high-quality coachwork for private cars. In recent years they have turned their attention to the requirements of goods and other operators, and have produced a number of bodies mainly of the boxvan type or for the carriage of goods at low temepratures, together with some special mobile showroom outfits and sales vehicles.