LOVELY CARS BUT NOT FOR BRITISH BUYERS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25934, 14 October 1949, Page 6

LOVELY CARS BUT NOT FOR BRITISH BUYERS

"INFURIA TING”

[From NEVILE WEBBER, London Correspondent of "The Press”}

London, September 30.—For the visitor with a tew hundred or a tew thousand pounds of hard currency the present thirty-fourth International Motor Show at Earls Court must be an exciting but tantalising experience. There is so much of beauty and of quality to choose from. But for the covetous hundreds of thousands of British would-be motorists it is only tantalising. In fact, as one irate man from Richmond said to me: “It’s damned infuriating, sir.’’ This man. like hundreds more at the exhibition, told me that he had first registered for a new car in 1946. but to-day he is still being given the same depressing hews —“perhaps next year.*’ Thousands who inquired at the stands for the first time were given sad answers of possible deliveries in three or four years. Of course this bleak news is not new to British citizens, who have been watching the best and loveliest of their own products go abroad ever since the war. Few New Models Although there are many beautiful and highly performed cars on display, there is nothing sensational. No iet engines, no steam engines, no really cheap cars. There are only two entirely new models by popular British firms, and only another seven in the higher priced and rarer makes. Mainly because of the high production costs involved in new models, most of the popular brands —Ford. Vauxhall. Morris. Standard. Singer. Austin. Riley, and Wolseley—are showing cars that are basically the same as last year, but with improvements and modifications. The Triumph and Rover The two entirely new cars of the show are the Triumph 10 h.p. and the Rover 75. The Triumph (list price £370) is designed to seat four adults in comfort. has a maximum speed of 78 m.p.h. and a fuel consumption of 24 m.p.g. at 40 m.p.h It is distinctive for its “knife edge” styling, lone a feature of the best British coachbuilding. Talk of the show is the Rover 75. which has abandoned the traditional Rover styling and radiator for a smooth “going both ways” look. It has a very high performance, and foreign buyers were taking a keen interest in it at £865. The Austin A 90 Great public interest *also centred in the Austin A 90 Atlantic sports saloon, list priced at £695. The holder of 63 American stock car records, its flowing lines, judiciously brightened with chromium, were much admired. It was effectively displayed on a revolving stand, with half the car cut

I away and replaced by perspex. Tt , was the only car in the show with an . opening rear window’. I The cheapest car was the Ford Anglia 8 h.p. at £242, and the dearies; a Rolls Royce Silver Wraith at £3900 or, with purchase tax, £6068. The Sports Cars While there was great interest in 'the luxury cars (Rolls Royce. Daimler and Bentley), which cannot be matched in the United States, most | Americans gathered round the famous ■ British sports cars. Because of their | lovely lines, sparkling performance, ! and devalued price, there was a | stream of inquiries for the M.G., Riley, Jaguar (a; 133 m.p.h. the fastest proi duction car in the world). Sunbeam ■ Talbot, Lea Francis, Jowett Javelin i (which, with a German-designed tubular rigid frame is expected to recapture many speed trophies for Britain). Healey, Lagcnda. and A.C. The fastest sports car was a Fraser Nash. 2 feet 11$ inches high, capable of 140 m.p.h. and costing £2500. Dignified Beauty Although the influence of American streamlining cannot be denied in British cars, the grace and dignity of British conchbuilding are still supreme in the luxury and sports models. Interesting contrasts were provided by the American cars—on display for prestige cnly—with their great size, flamboyant streamlining, and glittering chromium. Among the interesting foreign cars was the Fiat four-seater station waggon. with a speed of 60 m.p.h. and peti rol consumption of 56 m.p.g.. and the i little Renaults, still with their rear I engine. They were unpriced, but are I expected to provide British cars with some competition. Amphibian Trailer Among the dozens of luxurious trailers, ranging in price from £290 to £1750, I noticed an amphibian "Duck,” which can be towed anywhere or used as a houseboat with an outboard motor. A good buy at £450. At £895 Ihe “Ambassador" caravan was a big draw. It is designed as a modern flat and has a bathroom, fully equipped kitchen, and lounge which divides into two bedrooms to sleep four. It is 22 feet long. 8 feet 6 inches high, and can be towed by a 14 h.p. car. , , The “Gadgets’ Among the "gadgets" was a television set for rear seat passengers, a petrol-saving device which flashed a light when the accelerator was too far depressed, an anti-dazzle mirror ali lowing the driver to tip a switch to get dimmed vision, and equipment I under the wipers for spraying and I cleaning dirty windscreens.