THE TREND OF DESIGN.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18140, 1 August 1924, Page 5

THE TREND OF DESIGN.

FOUR.CYLINDERS PREDOMINATE. Aji analysis of the various cars in the all British motor show reveals to some extent the trend in the design of motor vehicles (states the Melbourne "Age"). The overhead valve has not made tho advance which wns expected of it. Of 52 types of motor-ear shown, 23 have overhead valves, 27 have the orthodox poppets, and two only are equipped with sleeve valves. In the heavy vehicle section, in which 21 different types are displayed, all 21 are equipped with the orthodox typo of poppets. Magneto ignition still holds the field among British cars. Of the 52 ears previously mentioned, only C are equipped with battery ignition The rest rely on the magneto. This is not ex-' traordinary, perhaps, when it is remembered that in war tiine Britain i'oiind herself without ntagnetoes, and had to set about manufacturing tbeai. The boost given at that time to tho British magneto has had tho effect of keeping attention from battery ignitiou. It is interesting to note that none of the heavy vehicles uses battery ignition. Another interesting fact is the growth in favour of the four-speed gear box. Not so long ago three speeds forward was the standard. In the present instance, out of 76 motor vehicles, 23 have three speeds and 48 four speeds. Fashions do not change in wheels a great deal. Tho last innovation, the disc wheel, has not driven all the other wheels from the arena, but it has made fail- progress. The. stecl-apoked wheel is still first favourite among British cars. Out of 50 cars shown, 27 have steel, 13 disc, and 10 wire wheels. The four-cylinder inachino is still first favourite with manufacturers, and therefore with the motoring public. Of o"2 cars shown, 42 have four cylinders and 10 six. The preponderance of fours may perhaps be explained in part by the' fact that Britain is to-day concentrating on the manufacture of tho light car, and that type of vehicle requires no more than four cylinders. There arc no very marked changes in motor-cycle design. The one-cylinder machine does not seem to have lost its popularity. It is represented by 26 types, Whereas the two-cylinder machines number only 31. There nro no fours. Ono novelty is the abolition of the top portion of tho motor-cycle frame, and tho substitution therefor Of the petrol tank.