RENAULT MAGNUM

While most attention was, as usual, focused on the cab, the Renault AE range, as first introduced, boasted a pretty impressive mechanical specification too. Renault’s B18 triple-countershaft, range-change and splitter gearbox provided 18 forward speeds, all except crawler having synchromesh engagement. Some drivers felt that having so many ratios was unnecessary, especially in the most powerful AE500 as there was ample power to skip shift a lot of the time.

The rear axle on 4x2 and 6x2 models was RVI’s own P1345 hypoid double-reduction unit with hub reduction. The rear bogie on 6x4 models was the type 1540 with single-reduction axles, the foremost incorporating a cross-axle