Earlier we talked about the Renault G-series trucks, and mentioned the Belliers that were merged by Renault. This brand is an old friend, shaanxi automobile predecessor Yan'an brand truck and Hongyan truck have introduced bellier technology. The big guy we're talking about today is from Belier, which is the T100-N2 6×6 oil field truck known as the Desert Giant.
As a company founded in 1899, Bellier can be said to have a bumpy fate. Headquartered on the outskirts of Lyon, France, Vénissieux has grown very smoothly and is already a major automaker covering passenger cars, commercial vehicles and military vehicles. However, it was nationalized in the five years from 1944 to 1949, and then merged with Citroën in 1967. After a few years of stability, it was sold to Renault in 1974 and merged with Sawim in the process of consolidation in 1978, and the new company no longer used the Bellier brand from 1980.
Beliere's logo
Bellier T100 on poster in 1957
Bellier used to be really good, and the original T100 model was built from scratch by the company in ten months. It is said that France entered the Algerian desert early in search of oil, and it was not until the late 1950s that it finally found a large oil field. Excited oil companies desperately needed a model that could adapt to the local desert, and Bellier went all out for the project, starting development in January 1957 and launching the T100 in October, but unfortunately this car did not help Bellier expand the market.
As a super heavy truck with taller tires than a person, no matter what the shape, this big man looks very intimidating. The first three T100s were all long-headed trucks, and the later N4s were changed to flat-headed trucks. It is said that in order to design the most suitable model at that time, the T100 first found tires that adapted to the local desert, and then developed them backwards. After finding the tires, design the chassis, and finally choose the engine that fits the chassis.
The cab of the vehicle is slightly narrower than the body, giving way to the width of the tires on both sides. There is a staircase behind the cab to the roof, which has a small platform with a guardrail on each side, and an outdoor unit with air conditioning in the cab in the middle. The air filter system is on both sides of the front of the cab, and directly in front of it is the oversized engine compartment for the 2.5-ton Cummins V12 diesel engine. On the grille directly in front of the front of the car are Bellier's logo and text logo, and the number 700 represents the engine power of 700 horsepower.
Cummins V12 diesel engine
Bellier did not have a suitable engine at the time, initially using a 24-liter Cummins V12 diesel engine with a maximum power of 600 horsepower. Optimised in 1959 to 700 hp, the volume was increased to 28 litres, the camshafts were redesigned with two turbochargers.
Because the cab is too high above the ground, personnel can only reach the platform on the outside of the cab through the straight ladder on both sides, and then open the door from the platform to enter the car. The straight ladder is located behind the wide front wheels, and the top platform is the same width as the wheels and has a metal guardrail.
In fact, the interior of the cab is not spacious, and it uses a sofa-style seat with a 1+2 layout. The master's single seat is adjustable, and there is a small rearview window in the middle of the rear panel of the cab. Two-spoke, one-line steering wheel with petal-shaped instrument panel. The main instrument panel is a symmetrical layout of 2 large tables + 1 small meter, and various functional indicators are above it. There is a separate gauge area on the left and above the steering wheel, with three small tables on the left and only one on the top. The steering column of the steering wheel is fully integrated into the front panel, the floor is tilted upwards, and the passenger legroom is not spacious.
Close-up of the dashboard
Cab back panel
The vehicle was initially equipped with an 8-speed ANF 9HM8DS transmission with a pneumatic clutch. In 1961, it was replaced with the American Clark R1400 FS transmission with hydraulic coupling, which has four forward gears and four reverse gears, and the maximum speed can reach 60 kilometers per hour after changing the gearbox. Multiple differentials facilitate power transmission, with multiple leaf spring suspension and Messier disc brakes at the front and rear.
Drivetrain
Front suspension
Rear suspension
With a body size of 13.32 meters, a width of 4.96 meters and a height of 4.43 meters, the Bellier T100-N2 weighs 60 tons empty and 100 tons fully loaded. The vehicle carried two 950-litre fuel tanks, the towing weight of the winch behind the cab was 45 tons, and the steel cable was 75 meters long.
Bellier T100-N4
Later Bellier T100-N4 flat-head models had 102 tons of empty cars and 190 tons of full loads. The T100 is a steel monster, and anyone who can use it to change a motorhome is invincible. I don't know what you want to say after reading it, welcome to leave a message, build a building, and complain.