OPTIMISM LACKING AT EARLS COURT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29673, 17 November 1961, Page 13

OPTIMISM LACKING AT EARLS COURT

ISpeciaUu written for -The Preet" by R. CARR)

LONDON. When the doors were X closed for the last time at • the forty-sixth international 2 motor exhibition at Earls ~ Court, motor manufacturers 2 in Great Britain found 2 little real encouragement for - the prospect of sales in 1962 X Although American dealers besieged the Jaguar company with orders for the new E-type sports car and the brilliant new Mark X, moat of the British companies found a chill wind with far more serious consequences than they might have envisaged. The British motor industry is not only hard pressed to find markets; it is being frustrated and crippled by strikes and labour disputes ■which appear in the daily newspapers with alarming constancy. The major companies have shown their confidence in the future with ambitious plans for the coming year, although serious pruning and reconsiderations are already in hand. The British Motor Corporation, the Rootes Group (who will produce a new baby Hillman at Renfrewshire) and Vauxhall are planning new factories, and the Ferguson Research Organisation gives promise of early developments with a saloon car on the four-wheel-drive principle. Yet unless the British companies can solve their labour problems and take up the challenge for more radical and eyecatching design developments. the prospects are • grim indeed. - Many of the models which 2 appeared for the first time . at this year’s show are • simply variants on a famil--2 iar theme, and the number • of technical developments 2 were scarce. Disc brakes . appeared on a greater num- • ber of cars and the power 2 and capacity of engines once • more increased. The num- ; ber of greasing points on - the cars showed a significant *• decrease, and it seems that X before long regular greas- ' ing will be a thing of the 2 past. Automatic uransmis- - sions continue to grow in “ popularity in spite of the 2 protests from the motoring - “purists,” and have pene--2 trated even to the smaller . cars. £ Common Market 2 Looking at the show in 2 the light of Britain's in ten - - tion to join the European X Common Market, there can - again be little optimism. If • Britain does join, the motor X industry will lose the 30 per - cent, protective Unfit at presX ent imposed on foreign - vehicles, and the challenge - from Volkswagen, Renault,

Fiat, and other European companies with cheaper production costs would be overwhelming. Certainly West Germany continues to outstrip every other country in Europe in the rate of growth of its motor industry. Britain’s greatest setback last year was in America, where the new compact models pushed small British cars into the background. This year the prospect is again bad, apart from Jaguar’s bright example. In the first six months of 1961, the United States took only 9428 British vehicles, compared with 102.916 in the same period of 1960. Canada's interest dropped from 59.931 vehicles to 25.957. According to “The Times.” New Zealand was the third largest export market for the first part of this year, taking 13,919 vehicles. Now, with Australia imposing credit restrictions and New Zealand labouring under an adverse balance of payments. South Africa cutting import licences and Canada likely to deprive British cars of 10 per cent of the 17j per cent, of the tariff protection they have held over their European competitors, where can there be optimism? Jaguar Jaguar's E-type and Mark X models provided a badlyneeded boost to sagging sales achievements at the motor show, and it was to this company’s stand that the thousands of visitors flocked each day with the greatest eagerness. On a revolving stand, the sparkling new Mark X attracted a 12-deep throng from morning to night, and the Etype was so low that it was lost in the crowd—the visitor’s first sight of its whereabouts was a chance glimpse of white paintwork through an almost inpenetrable throng In the vast building which houses the motor show, visitors of many nationalities inspected and test drove the latest British models. The models ranged from the bargain Ford Popular (£363 basic) to the Rolls-Royce Phantom limousines by H. J. Mulliner and Park Ward (£7050 basic). The Mark X Jaguar has the same 3.8 litre S-type engine which powers the E-type, and develops 265 b.h.p. It is only slightly larger than the outdated Mark IX, but is much lower and sleeker. With independent rear suspension and disc brakes on all wheels and a very high standard of interior finish, it represents outstanding value at £1640 basic. The British Ford Company, now entirely owned by its American parent, showed the

Consul 315 Classic, already seen in New Zealand, and a new and very smart hard-top two-seater, known as the Capri. Zephyr and Zodiac models remain unchanged, apart from more attractive trim. The Bootes Group, which earlier this year announced the Singer Vogue, has reduced the prices of its popular Hillman in an endeavour to gain greater sales, and has also introduced a new Super Minx. The British Motor Corporation introduced a crop of interesting variants to its existing range, and great interest was taken in the Mini-Cooper and Austin Seven-Cooper. At £465 basic, these Cooper versions are £75 dearer than the standard models, and they should be very popular among those motorists who require or enjoy a sparkling performance. Morris The. Morris Minor 1000, which has evergreen popularity and is into its second million, has been given slight detail improvements for the coming year, including blinking indicators. The Riley Elf and the Wolseley Hornet are close cousins to the Austin Seven and Mini-Minor, but have modified rear-ends and grilles. The Wolseley will sell far £460 basic and the Riley for £475. The popular little A4O now enters its Mark H stage, having its rear axle set back to give more leg-room in the back seat. A new grille incorporates the blinking indicators. All the middle-sized B.M.C. models—the Austin A6O Cambridge, M.G. Mark TV, Riley 4/72, and Wolseley 16/60 have the more powerful 1622 c.c. B.M.C. engine. All these cars have increased wheelbase and track. Similarly, the former 3-litre Westminster A 99 becomes the AHO, and the big Wolseley the 6/110. They have modified porting and camshafts to deliver greater power. Triumph The Triumph TR 4 sports car is a great improvement on its predecessor, and should maintain the prestige which British sports cars hold abroad. Early model Triumphs were doubtful on corners, but this new model is a very sound car in all respects. Vauxhall have improved the Victor with a new body design—longer, lower and wider, the 1508 c.c. engine has been made more powerful and only four lubrication points on the car require service every 12,000 miles. A new VX4/90 has been introduced, sharing the same basic shape and style as the Victor, but the engine has been more highly developed Velox and Crests models remain unchanged, and disc brakes at the front are now optional.