Automoviles Utilitarios SA PTV 400 Luxe : 1960

Automoviles Utilitarios SA (AUSA) began with the PTV 250 in 1956. As time went on, the public demanded better performance in terms of speed and acceleration with a higher lever of comfort.

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Because of this, AUSA developed a much improved version, the PTV 400 Luxe and this is the only one that exists.

It had design and technology all its own. The PTV 400 Luxe had newly developed engine with two 396cc cylinders and a twin-lobe compressor which was an absolute innovation in Spain at the time (even though it seems that Mercedes-Benz had used it in the thirties).

It was a much better vehicle that the PTV 250, ingeniously and cleverly conceived, with features comparable to the Seat 600, as it ran more sweetly and was design to be reliable and last.

It could have been a technically competitive vehicle, but manufacturing it would have required a long test period, as well as techniques and resources that AUSA did not have at the time.

The new model incorporated the advances made in much more expensive vehicles – imported ones, of course – like the compressor in the engine, which made it possible to use unmixed petrol and improved performance, it had four-wheel independent suspension and four gears.

Additional features included
• a two/three seater body with folding canvas top
• 12-inch sheet metal wheel rims with 520x12 tires
• Rack Steering
• Independent front suspension with hydraulic shock-absorbers
• hydraulically activated drum brakes in four wheels
• Single-hull bodywork of manually punched sheet metal
• 2 cylinder, two-stroke petrol engine mounted transversally at the back
• stroke diameter 66x58mm
• capacity 396.83cc
• compression ratio 6.5:1
• 19hp at 4500 rpm
• 22mm Tacho carburator
• Tacho two-lobe rotary compressor pressure greased with pump under the bonnet
• Independent rear suspension with floating semi-axels, elastic joints and hydraulic shock absorbers
• Clutch with multiple discs bathed in oil
• Transmission with rear-wheel drive, four gears plus reverse
• Tubular Maccano welded steel chasis

(source: AUSA)

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