Marathon report
Page 74
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Whilst not denying that it is good to see an enthusiastic report on a new British made vehicle, I feel that the wrong impression is given by your Technical Editor when he states (CM August 31) that the performance range lie restarts on 1 in 5 and top speed of 66 mph) is greater than any 32-tonner previously tested.
It is only two months since you published a report of a 32-ton outfit that was capable of 63 mph with easy restarts on a 1 in 5 in first and reverse. A 1 in 4 gradient was climbed in first gear, and about two years ago an earlier model of this make achieved restarts on a 1 in 4 coupled with a top speed of over 60 mph. When one considers that this was achieved with naturally aspirated engines of 220 hp or less, and that the current list price is E1000 less than the Marathon, only one further comment is necessary: ''Foden forever".
I had better declare my interest — as sales manager of a Foden distributor!
JOHN OR MANDY, Vehicle Sales Manager, L. G. Perfect (Engineering) Ltd, Great Yarmouth. The Technical Editor writes: "The proof of the pudding will, as always, be in the eating. The Rolls-Royce Eagle 220-engined Foden with the wide-spread eight-speed box runs the Marathon very close in this respect, but I think the Marathon would show a better performance over our operational trial route. Performance in the terms referred to depends On horsepower and gear ratio spread. The Marathon with 273 installed bhp and a gearbox spread of 11.85 to 1 should better the Foden with 214 installed bhp and a gearbox spread of 15.9 to 1." — Ed.)