MOTOR-CAR DESIGN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26887, 13 November 1952, Page 6

MOTOR-CAR DESIGN

Sir,—Contrary to the claims of some correspondents, Britain has contributed very few of the refinements found in the modern stock car. Most of these were developed and used in America before (in some cases several years) being adopted by the British. I refer to the electric self-starter, single dry plate clutch, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, coil independent front suspension, hypoid differential, coil ignition, high compression, light-weight pistons, all-steel body, vacuum spark control, automatic voltage regulator, steering column change (with orthodox gearbox), thin wall bearings, sealed beam headlamps, flat and curved safety glass, automatic overdrive, disc brakes, and now automatic transmissions described in "Motor” by Mr Reid Railton, famous British designer, as a great American lead which Britain and Europe will no doubt follow "Motor” also reports several years’ Chrysler research with hemispherical and other type combustion chambers —Yours, etc., HYDRAMATIC. November 12, 1952.

Sir, —European manufacturers differ from your correspondents over American equipment. They use quite a lot of it. G.M front suspension has been adopted in principle by Mercedes. Rolls, Austin. Fiat and others. First to use overhead camshaft and hemispherical heads was Welch (American) in 1904. Some American developments, followed by European makers are: synchromesh, self-starter, hypoid drive, steel bodies, lead composition bearings. Timkem bearings, unit engine and gearbox, 8-slot gearshift, battery lighting and ignition, automatic spark, envelope bodies, mass production, standardised parts, and automatic transmission. In the thirties two American production cars actually anticipated European racing practice. Marmon had a wet steel sleeved o.h.v. VIC engine in light alloy. Cadillac produced, from 1930 to 1940, an o.h.v. VIC using welded chassis and coil-wishbone front suspension. Later these features appeared on Grand Prix cars. Chrysler disc brakes went into production in 1949.—Yours, etc., HUB CAP.

November 12. 1952. K ["Hub Cap” may briefly reply; otherwise, this correspondence is closed. —Ed., “The Press.”]