Copyright 2008, 2009 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. Maintenence numbers are based on (undoubled) design cost.

All vehicles carry a short range radio receiver.

Running boards: Many cars and some trucks of the era were equipped wsith running boards. These were narrow steps under the doors to allow easier entrance and exit from the vehicle. They can also be used to 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 front or back seat, at noticable discomfort (an extra person in the front seat should impost at least a -2 penalty for the driver). Exceptions include the coupe and sportscar.

Sedan

This car can carry four people comfortably or five people somewhat uncomfortably. Police cars and military staff cars (on the home front) would use the same stats. The sedan uses 2.3 gallons of fuel per hour at routine usage.

Subassemblies: Small Wheeled chassis with civilian option +3, four Standard Wheels +1.
Powertrain: 52-kW gas engine with 52-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: 12'x5'x5' Payload : 0.7 tons Lwt: 1.64 tons
Volume: 36 Maint.:  358 hours Price: $600

HT: 9
HP: 65 [body], 7 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 90
 gAccel: 5
 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.75 gSR: 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 1.4 gallons per hour.

Subassemblies: Small Wheeled chassis with civilian option +3, four standard wheels +1.
Powertrain: 31-kW gas engine with 31-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: 12'x6'x6' Payload : 1.36 tons Lwt: 2.18 tons
Volume: 36 Maint.:  408 hours Price: $480

HT: 8
HP: 65 [body], 7 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 60
 gAccel: 3
 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.75 gSR: 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 to represent a hearse.

A pickup would carry double the caro in an exposed bed. Loaded weight is 2.98 tons, speed 52 mph and HT 7. Pickups tend to not be as stable as a car due to the center of gravity being closer to the front; gSR 3 if  the load over the rear axle is less than 800 lbs and gSR 2 if less than 400 lbs.

Coupe

This is a small car for two people.  It uses 1.4 gph.

Subassemblies: Very Small Wheeled chassis with civilian option +2, four Standard Wheels +1.
Powertrain: 31-kW gas engine with 31-kW wheeled transmission and 12-gallon standard fuel tank; 4,000-kWs batteries
Occupancy: 1 CS, 1 PS.  Cargo: 3.

Armor
Body: 2/3

Statistics
Size: 10'x4'x5' Payload : 0.4 tons Lwt: 0.99 tons
Volume: 18
 Maint.:  442 hours Price: $410

HT: 9.
HP: 40 [body], 4 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 89
 gAccel: 4
 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.75 gSR: 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 3.6 gph.

Subassemblies: Very Small Wheeled chassis with civilian option +2, four Standard Wheels +1.
Powertrain: 80-kW gas engine with 80-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: 10'x4'x4' Payload : 0.4 tons Lwt: 1.2 tons
Volume: 18
 Maint.:  357 hours Price: $630

HT: 8
HP: 40 [body], 4 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 131
 gAccel: 7
 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.75 gSR: 4
High Ground Pressure. 1/6 Off-Road Speed.

Panel van

This is a medium delivery truck 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
 gAccel: 3
 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.75 gSR: 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.

Small Bus

This is a small bus used for in-city routes or trips between small rural communities. For long distance travel, passenger luggage is normally carried tied to a rack on the body top. There is a door on the side opposite the driver and one rear door (normally only used in emergencies). Fuel usage is 3.75 gph.

Subassemblies: Medium Wheeled chassis +4, six Heavy Wheels +3.
Powertrain: 85-kW gas engine with 85-kW wheeled transmission and 90-gallon standard fuel tank; 4,000-kWs batteries
Occupancy: 1 CS, 20 PS.  Cargo: 10.

Armor
Body: 2/3

Statistics
Size: 20'x9'x10' Payload : 2.87 tons Lwt: 6.14 tons
Volume: 150
 Maint.:  177 hours Price: $2,550

HT: 10
HP: 330 [body], 37 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 60
 gAccel: 3
 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.75 gSR: 4
High Ground Pressure. 1/6 Off-Road Speed.

Design Notes
Passengers are cramped with only 4 VSP each; the "missing" passenger space is used to represent the aisle running down the middle of the bus. The aisle space could, if required, be used for five passengers seated on the floor or ten standing (or for extra cargo space).

Limousine

This represents a basic luxury passenger car, with plenty of extra space for the passengers. The second "crewman", often omitted, serves as backup driver and in some cases may be a bodyguard for one or more passengers. For very important passengers, one or two passengers might also be bodyguards. Fuel usage is 2.25 gph.

Subassemblies: Standard Wheeled chassis +3, Medium Weapon Superstructure n/a, four standard wheels +1.
Powertrain: 50-kW gas engine with 50-kW wheeled transmission and 21-gallon standard fuel tank; 4,000-kWs batteries
Occupancy: 2 CS, 4 PS.  Cargo: 7.5.

Armor
Body: 2/3

Equipment
Body: 7 VSP trunk, 0.5 VSP wet bar

Statistics
Size: 15'x5'x5' Payload : 1.04 tons Lwt: 2.28 tons
Volume: 50
 Maint.:  325 hours Price: $760

HT: 10
HP: 120 [body], 14 [each wheel]
 
 
gSpeed: 75
 gAccel: 4
 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.75 gSR: 4
High Ground Pressure. 1/6 Off-Road Speed.

Design Notes
Each passenger was given 7 VSP of space. The chassis cost, weight and HPs were divided by two to bring it in line with other civilian cars. The design required more space than the standard wheeled chassis provided, while the next larger chassis was simply too large. The solution was to add a small subassemply (with it's cost, weight and HPs also divided by two). This added space is "blended" with the chassis and is not considered a separate structure for combat purposes.

Almost all limos will be of higher quality and thus more expensive.