Little Tough ‘Un To Be Built Here

A REVOLUTIONARY new South African design and manufactured light utility vehicle is to be assembled in Swaziland. Components for the first one arrived at the Matsapha place today, and will be assembled in time for the local opening on the tenth of this month.

The vehicle, simply named TRAX, was designed by David Patterson the development director of Interstate Motor vehicle Company, and will be assembled under license in Swaziland by Mr. Geoff Gogle at his factory in Matsapha.

Only between five and eight vehicles per month will assembled at first, as these are highly specialized custom built automobiles and the standard model sells at E6,200.

The car is very definitely not aimed at the mass market, in the one plant presently in operation in South Africa only 54 vehicles have been manufactured since production began mid November last year.

David Patterson says that Interstate likes to think of themselves as the “Monteverdi of South Africa” as the TRAX is “very much an exclusive car, a gentleman’s second vehicle if you like.” Peter Monteverdi’s Swiss company makes very exclusive custom built cars for the wealthy of Europe.

The standard model is fitted with a Valiant 3.7 litre engine and automatic gearbox, suspension is wishbone plus torsion bar to the front with extra long blade springs and shock absorbers plus rubber bump stops to the rear. Other standard equipment include fully reclining bucket seats with headrests, low level windscreen wipers, a fully instrumented dash, lockable glove box, rubber mats, two jerry cans, and wide wheels fitted all terrain tire.

As the vehicles are custom built to the customer’s specifications, many variations are possible on the basic theme. There is, for instance, a version available with a 2 litre Peugeot engine, or if desired a diesel engine can be incorporated and a long wheel base chassis is available.

A special TRAX with security extras built in was on trail with the South African Police, who according to Mr. Tommy Edmond the Managing Director of Interstate, are thinking of using it to replace some of their present vehicles. A similar one was on show at the official Swaziland opening (Friday at the Swazi Inn), and offered to the Royal Swaziland Police trails.

It is intended to take things slowly at the Swaziland plant, initially only to assemble the vehicles here, but gradually to move into making as many of the components as possible locally. When Swaziland assembled TRAX have the required amount of local content it is hoped to export them from here to other African countries.

Interstate have sent press releases to about 150 magazines in thirty odd countries and are prepared to offer franchises to people interested in those countries.

Initially twelve new jobs will be created in the Swaziland plant but as things get under way properly more jobs may well be created both in the factory and in other small businesses that are making local components for the vehicles.

All the funds are being provided by the Interstate Company, but the factory was built by NIDC who rent it to Mr. Gogle.

On the right – TRAX, custom built to the customer’s specifications, but the emphasis is on toughness. A long wheel based model is available. It is also planned eventually to use components produced locally.