Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30235, 13 September 1963, Page 11

Auto Gossip

by

A.J.P.

TAPED The overseas habit of decorating cars with racing chequer tape has spread to New Zealand, and it is becoming quite common to see older vehicles, in particular, dressed up in this manner. Some owners go even further and paint white or coloured stripes down the centre-line of the vehicle. This is done to the most unlikely cars: recently I saw a Chrysler, vintage about 1928, with racing stripes. TOY ANIMALS Another craze just spreading to New Zealand from overseas is for toy animals. Toy dogs, cats, tigers, lions, or leopards about the size of a domestic cat are arranged in relaxed position of the rear parcel shelf, staring stonily at following One I saw in the city this week, had an extra gimmick. When the brakes were applied the animal’s eyes connected to the electrical system, lit up. DRIVER COURSE Another driver improvement course is being conducted by the Christchurch City Council traffic department in the M.E.D. theatrette next Wednesday, September 18, at 8 p.m. Those wishing to attend this useful course are asked to leave their names at the traffic counter in the council building or ring 77-840, extension 23. ANNIVERSARY At the end of August it was four years since the introduction of the B.M.C. Mini. More than 662,000 of these cars have now been produced including '23.000 Mini-Cooper models. About a third of the cars have been exported, the greatest percentage of exports going to Europe. At present nearly 6000 Minis are being made each week. F.W.D. The designer of the B.M.C. Minis and 1100’s, Mr A. Issigonis, technical director of the British Motor Corporation, has predicted that within 10 years all family cars will have front wheel drive. Production of the 1100 range has now passed 110,000. and nearly 45 per cent of production is being exported. The demand from the United States is particularly heavy. By November the corporation expects to be producing 6000 Morris M.G. and Austin 1100’s each week.

WIRE-LESS One of the new British cars to be announced in a few weeks will have much of the tangle of wiring usually found behind the dashboard replaced by a printed circuit. It is claimed the printed circuit will last the life of the car without deteriorating. JAGUAR SALES In the last two years sales of Jaguar cars in Common Market countries have increased by 106 per cent.