Copyright 2008 by Brandon Cope
 

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Generic Cliffhanger and WWII civilian cars and trucks

This is a collection of generic civilian vehicles that might be encountered before and during the war (especially in unoccupied countries).

The cost for each vehicle is double it's design cost, to bring it closer to real-world numbers. If the vehicle quality rules on p.VE204 are used, they should modify this (doubled) cost. Maintainence numbers are based on (undoubled) design cost.

All of the vehicles below use heavy wheels, although historically they mostly used standard wheels (the panel van being the main exception). Rather than create new chassis with the smaller motive subassemblies, this was ignored. Purists may wish to multiply wheel HP by 2/3 to represent smaller wheels if desired.

All vehicles carry a short range radio reciever.

Running boards: Many cars and some trucks of the era were equipped wsith running boards. These were thin steps inder the doors to allow easier entrance and exit from the vehicle. They can also be used fo carry one standing rider on each side. Use the Riders And High Gs rule on p.W150, but on a failure by any amount the rider falls off.

Bench seats: Most vehicles, rather than having individual seats for the occupants, had a single padded bench that ran the width of the vehicle. An extra person could be crammed into a ftont or back seat, at noticable discomfort (an extra person in the front seat should impost at least a -2 penalty for the driver). Two-seat convertibles were more likely to have individual seats.

Family Sedan

This car can carry four people comfortably or five people somewhat uncomfortably. This car is loosely based on the 1938 Nash sedan. The sedan uses 2.4 gallons of fuel per hour at routine usage.

Subassemblies: Small Wheeled chassis +3, four Heavy Wheels +1.
Powertrain: 53-kW gas engine with 53-kW wheeled transmission and 21-gallon standard fuel tank; 4,000-kWs batteries
Occupancy: 1 CS, 4 PS.  Cargo: 3.

Armor
Body: 2/3

Statistics
Size: 15'x6'x6' Payload : 0.7 tons Lwt: 2.1 tons
Volume: 36 Maint.:  336 hours Price: $700

HT: 11.
HP: 125 [body], 23 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 81
 aAccel: 4
 aDecel: 10 aMR: 0.75 aSR: 4
 Moderate Ground Pressure. 1/4 Off-Road Speed.

Design Notes
Three passenger stations (the rear seat) were allocated only 4 VSP each.

Small delivery van

This two seat van is useful for transporting small amounts (80 cf/1,600 lbs) of intercity cargo. It uses 1.7 gallons per hour.

Subassemblies: Small Wheeled chassis +3, four heavy wheels +1.
Powertrain: 37-kW gas engine with 37-kW wheeled transmission and 21-gallon standard fuel tank; 4,000-kWs batteries
Occupancy: 1 CS, 1 PS. Cargo: 16.

Armor
Body: 2/3

Statistics
Size: 15'x6'x7' Payload : 1.36 tons Lwt: 2.63 tons
Volume: 36 Maint.:  370 hours Price: $600

HT: 10
HP: 125 [body], 23 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 60
 aAccel: 3
 aDecel: 10 aMR: 0.75 aSR: 4
High Ground Pressure. 1/6 Off-Road Speed.

Variants
An ambulance would be similar, replacing the cargo with a stretcher pallet, a third crew station (medic) and 3 VSP of medical supplies. The basic design could also be used ro represent a hearse.

A pickup would carry double the caro in an exposed bed. Loaded weight is 3.4 tons, speed 53 mph and HT 9.


Coupe

This is a small car for two people, roughly based on the 1937 Bantam Coupe.  It uses 1.1 gph.

Subassemblies: Very Small Wheeled chassis +2, four Heavy Wheels +1.
Powertrain: 24-kW gas engine with 24-kW wheeled transmission and 12-gallon standard fuel tank; 4,000-kWs batteries
Occupancy: 1 CS, 1 PS.  Cargo: 2.

Armor
Body: 2/3

Statistics
Size: 12'x4'x5' Payload : 0.4 tons Lwt: 1.23 tons
Volume: 18
 Maint.:  430 hours Price: $450

HT: 12
HP: 85 [body], 14 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 71
 aAccel: 4
 aDecel: 10 aMR: 0.75 aSR: 4
Moderate Ground Pressure. 1/4 Off-Road Speed.


Sportscar

Similar to the coupe, but with a convertible top and higher performance engine. Fuel usage is 4.5 gph.

Subassemblies: Very Small Wheeled chassis +2, four Heavy Wheels +1.
Powertrain: 100-kW gas engine with 100-kW wheeled transmission and 15-gallon standard fuel tank; 4,000-kWs batteries
Occupancy: 1 CS, 1 PS (both with ragtop option).  Cargo: 3.

Armor
Body: 2/3

Statistics
Size: 12'x4'x4' Payload : 0.4 tons Lwt: 1.54 tons
Volume: 18
 Maint.:  325 hours Price: $780

HT: 11
HP: 85 [body], 14 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 129
 aAccel: 6
 aDecel: 10 aMR: 0.75 aSR: 4
High Ground Pressure. 1/6 Off-Road Speed.

Panel van

This is a medium delivery truck. or for cargo hauls between close cities. Fuel usage is 2.5 gph.

Subassemblies: Standard Wheeled chassis +3, six Heavy Wheels +2.
Powertrain: 55-kW gas engine with 55-kW wheeled transmission and 24-gallon standard fuel tank; 4,000-kWs batteries
Occupancy: 1 CS, 1 PS.  Cargo: 30.

Armor
Body: 2/3

Statistics
Size: 18'x6'x8' Payload : 1.77 tons Lwt: 3.34 tons
Volume: 54
 Maint.:  337 hours Price: $700

HT: 10
HP: 165 [body], 19 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 65
 aAccel: 3
 aDecel: 10 aMR: 0.75 aSR: 4
High Ground Pressure. 1/6 Off-Road Speed.

Design Notes
The cargo area was commonly wood paneled, while the rest of the truck was steel.

Variants
A flatbed version would carry double the cargo. Weight is 4.84 tons, speed 54 mph and HT 8.