Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30271, 25 October 1963, Page 11

Auto Gossip

. by

A.J.P.

LUXURY 1100 B.M.C. have announced a Vaiiden Plas luxury version of the 1100 series. It comes complete with walnut dash, luxury seats and trim, and a miniature Vanden Plas radiator as fitted to the Princess. Price in Britain will be about £250 more than the MGIIOO. IMPROVED FORDS The Zephyr and Zodiac Fords are to include detail improvements for 1964. it has been announced in Britain. New Zodiac features include reversing lights and new bumper over-riders with rubber inserts. All Mark HI Fords will have no greasing points, and a floor-mounted gear shift will be available as an option. NO CHANGE The bigger cars jn the B.M.C. range continue unchanged for the 1964 model

year. There is still no news or even substantiation of the rumours of a V 6 built on the 1100 pattern. Such a car has been rumoured for some months and certainly seems a logical development if front wheel drive can be made to transmit the extra power. SPARES PROBLEM The import restrictions can cause considerable spares problems. A reader, who has a 1955 high-quality English car that is not uncommon in New Zealand, has completed more than 100,000 miles and the car is in the garage for a rebore. But the necessary oversize pistons cannot be had: there are none in New Zealand and no import licence for them. The agents, who are doing their best, say suitable pistons are due to be made in Auckland late this year or early next year. It seems that unless he is willing to pay £3O extra for different connecting rods to be fitted the reader will have to wait until then for his car. The agents say several other owners are in a similar predicament. This is a situation which the Government should never have allowed to arise.

BIG IRON A British magazine recently reported on a rather unusual engine found in Cornwall. It had a stroke of 120 in a bore of 90in a capacity of 12.500 litres, and a single cylinder. The answer? It was an 1892 Harvey steam engine, used in a mine in Cornwall for pumping out water and operating equipment. QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Given the weight behind them, the spokesmen of a fraternity of frustrated drivers oould influence Governments, all of which in the past have milked motorists, and neglected their interests, ever since cars began.”—From an editorial in “Autocar” referring to the need in Britain for an organisation to defend motorists.