Leyland Freighter

Manufacturer:	Leyland Trucks
Class:	Commercial vehicle
Production period:	1982 to 1994
Model:	Freighter Leyland, DAF 50 / DAF 50
Engines:	Leyland 400 Series 160 HP  Cummins Engine B Series Diesel Engine180 hp  210 hp
Power:	118-155 kW
Perm. Total weight:	11-17 t

The Leyland Freighter was a truck built by Leyland Trucks and later DAF from the 1980s to the mid 1990s.

History

In 1982, the Leyland Freighter debuted alongside the Leyland Cruiser. The Freighter was also developed as part of British Leyland Motor Corporation's commercial vehicle modernization initiative, based on the T45 Project. The Freighter succeeded the Leyland Boxer and Leyland Clydesdale model series, which were based on a design from the 1960s. The Leyland Freighter became the Leyland DAF 50 in 1990, after Leyland Motors and DAF (Automobiles) merged to form Leyland DAF. In Commonwealth of Nations countries, it was sold as the DAF 50. The replacement DAF 65/75 was introduced in 1994.

The Freighter was available with the same driver's cab in standard execution or as a double cabin with sleeping facilities as the Leyland Cruiser. Both had basically the same cab as the other products of the T45 project Leyland Roadtrain and Leyland Constructor , but a bit smaller and not available with a high roof. The Freighter was like the Cruiser only with rear axle drive ( drive formula 4 × 2) available, with box body or as a chassis for bodies. Its model program role was in the fast-growing sector up to 17 tons total weight. He thus rounded off the offer below the Roadtrain and above the Leyland Super Gfrom. The Freighter had taken over from the boxer and Clydesdale the chassis , in modified form with rear axles of Maudslay or Albion , the latter with hub reduction gearbox. The drive was provided by the Leyland 400 diesel engine with or without turbocharger with a maximum of 160 hp, whose power was transmitted via a 6-speed manual transmission from Turner . The brake system was taken from the previous models, but the heaviest model had the front of the braking system of the Roadtrain.

Leyland's 400 engine, seemed outdated because the basic design of this engine series came from the 1960s. Leyland was therefore under pressure. After the Leyland Roadrunner already with the Cummins Engine B series diesel engine was available, there was this with higher power from 1987 in the Freighter. As with the Roadrunner, Leyland saved Cummins Engine by producing castings and other parts needed for engine construction, with a lower purchase price per unit for the Freighter. Initially, a maximum power of 180 hp was possible. Since the Turner transmission was not suitable for the higher performance, now the 6-speed manual transmission ZF 600 had been installed.

Through the merger with Leyland DAF , the Freighter became the Leyland DAF 50 in the UK and export markets outside of continental Europe during 1990 , where it was renamed DAF 50 . This was followed by a slightly different front, modernized interior, better quality and ride comfort. The Cummins engine was now available with intercooler with 210 hp. In 1994, production ceased and the model was replaced by the DAF 65/75 .