Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30406, 3 April 1964, Page 9

Auto Gossip

by

Blockages In the heavy traffic on the Main South road last Monday, many blockages were caused by old cars driving in the middle of the road at very low speeds, in at least one case down to 25 miles an hour. Long lines of traffic would bank up behind the obstruction, and passing would be made impossible by the heavy traffic in the opposite direction. There are three answers to this sort of problem, apart from putting decrepit cars off the road, and these are a four-lane highway, a minimum speed limit, or crawler lanes. Crawler Lane These crawler lanes are in use in many parts of the North Island, and are an excellent idea. They confer some of the advantages of a multi-lane road without the expense. Every few miles the road is widened to provide an extra lane, and all slow traffic must use this. Thus, faster traffic is able to overtake in safety even though other traffic is coming in the opposite direction. This speeds traffic, and lessens the chance of a driver becoming impatient and attempting a risky overtaking. Everlasting The problem of how to protect motor-vehicle bodies against corrosion is one which has been bothering the industry for years, and with the increased use of salt on icy roads in Europe and America it is becoming a greater problem each year. One answer was shown recently in London —a ' Ford Thunderbird with

A.J.P.

the body made entirely of stainless steel. The body had a satin finish, and looked as though it was painted silvergrey from a distance, and the makers said it would last anything up to 100 years and still look new. The only difficulty was the price—it cost £lO,OOO to build. Protection Although the corrosion problem is not as serious in New Zealand as it is overseas, it still exists. There are many things the motorists can do to prevent corrosion, and among them are undersealing and spraying on of one of the aerosol rust-preventives now on the market. These should be applied to the car floor, under the carpets, and also to the floor of the boot, where rust can often be found on older cars. The bottom edges of doors and wings are a danger point, and underseal or fluid can be used on these. A regular inspection of the car for rust is essential, and any corrosion should be dealt with immediately. Washer Fluid Once again the question has arisen of what to put in windscreen washer reservoirs to make the contents more effective. Water by itself will not shift traffic film and the deposit left by diesel fumes; detergents block the valves and may damage the paintwork, methylated spirits prevents the solution freezing but smears the screen. At present I am using a few ounces of vinegar in the water, certainly it removes traffic film excellently, but it remains to be seen whether It will block or corrode the valves.