Crane Fruehauf buys Imperial
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• Crane Fruehauf Trailers Ltd. has extended its coverage of the goods vehicle market by taking over Imperial Coachbuilders (Basildon) Ltd. This latest CF acquisition represents an important move into standardized van bodywork.
Imperial will continue to operate under its present name, and Mr Harry Cooke remains as managing director. In common with other bodybuilders, the company has been in difficulties recently owing to non-availability of chassis from Ford and as a result 30 men were laid off several weeks ago, including two of the management team.
Van bodies based on Transit chassis-cabs make up a significant part of Imperial's business. Ford approval on a new Imperial integral parcel van design has been granted recently.
Planning permission has been given for an extension of Imperial's works at Bentalls, Basildon, enabling production to be stepped-up significantly at the present site.