Ох уж эти американские сказки. Есть хоть одно фото на авто?
Да какое фото. Больше 170 000 маленьких грузовиков, автобусов и пожарных машин. До сих пор покупаются и продаются. Двихок ходит миллион 200 тысяч миль и имеет экономичность современых турблжизелей...
Ну сэру Рикардо поверите? Покупка и полное уничтожение всей интелектуальной собственности под наблюдением.
The Rootes TS4 represent the pinnacle of achievement in high-speed diesel engine design from the mid to late 1960's and even today, 200 hp and 465 ft lb.'s of torque from a 287 cubic inch diesel engine together with exceptional reliability, fuel efficiency and longevity is a remarkable achievement.
Had the TS4 made it to production, they were intended to replace the legendary Rootes TS3 opposed piston diesel engine in Commer trucks from the early 1970's onwards, however Rootes Group's deteriorating financial position in the 1960's saw American automotive giant, Chrysler taking full control of the group in 1967, and this take-over brought about the demise of the Rootes TS4 project.
In addition to the Rootes take-over, Chrysler had also invested millions of pounds in a UK joint venture with Cummins to produce new diesel engines (the disastrous Cummins VALE V6 and V8) and had lucrative supplier agreements in place with Perkins for the supply of their 6.354 inline six cylinder and new 185 hp 510 cubic inch V8 diesel engines.
When Chrysler's Management became aware of the prototype Rootes TS4's extraordinary horsepower, torque, Power to weight ratio, reliability, fuel efficiency and low manufacturing cost, they realized there was nothing they (or other engine manufacturers) could offer that came remotely close to matching the Rootes TS4's thoroughbred qualities.
Chrysler knew they would not sell Dodge / Commer heavy trucks with their new Cummins VALE V6 or V8 (or Perkins V8) engines fitted if the TS4 became a production option, so Chrysler's management of the day decided to terminate the TS4 project to safeguard their investment with Cummins and Perkins.
As a result, all Rootes TS4 prototype engines, parts, dies, patterns, plans, drawings, test records, photo's and fuel injection equipment were ordered to be scrapped under strict supervision by Chryslers management.
The actions of Chrysler’s management were profoundly unacceptable to Diesel Engineering Division personnel and key managers thankfully managed to save four prototype TS4 engines from destruction.
Three engines were eventually gifted to significant UK museums and the fourth engine (OE 65) was located by Chryslers Engine Development Department at Coventry.
Because the special pre-production C.A.V rotary/DPA pumps for the TS4 prototypes's had already been scrapped, C.A.V (now Delphi) provided a pre-production TS4 spec inline F.I pump to Chrysler that was also modified to Diesel Engineering Division's military specifications as a multi-fuel pump (enabling the engine to run on diesel, petrol, kerosene / jet fuel).
The inline pump was untidily adapted to the engine by Chrysler and the engine was run up on an engine dynamometer to insure correct horsepower and torque outputs were being achieved. To add insult to injury, OE 65 was then adapted to a generator to provide stand-by power in the Coventry factory in the event of winter power cuts!
With the generator requirement completed (and with less than 1,000 hours running completed), Chrysler once again consigned OE 65 to be scrapped.
Remarkably, OE 65 was rescued once again (by a former Diesel Engineering Division manager) and the engine was coated internally and externally with a paraffin based wax sealer to prevent corrosion and it went into storage.
It was then acquired by an engine design and development company in 1982 where it sat unused in their warehouse on its mobile engine trolley for over 20 years.
