Engine Designed In Christchurch

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30630, 22 December 1964, Page 18

Engine Designed In Christchurch

Mr C. G. Martin, consulting engineer to the manfacturers of the Gnat, J. Cameron Lewis and Company, Ltd., said that a two-stroke engine with automatic transmission had been designed for the all-purpose vehicle in Christchurch, and that it was technically possible to produce it in this country. “We have looked into the possibility of making an engine here, and we have settled on a design,” said Mr (Martin. “The first engine we have in mind would be an advanced rotary valve light alloy two-stroke of about nine horsepower, with an integral automatic transmission, and equipped for hand or electric starting.

“If we make engines in New Zealand they would of course be for export as well as the local market, and therefore the industry would require no artificial protection.”

I Over two years he had ' checked every engine in this i power range wdiich he knew of in the world, but none was i ideal for the requirements. The Villiers and Honda enIgines at present being used (for the Gnat represented the | best compromise, but w’ere I not exactly what was wanted. |'The vehicle could be improved considerably with an I engine which was exactly suited to it,” said Mr Martin. The new engine would also [have energy -transf er type [ ignition, making it as easy to start as a four-stroke.

Brake units had been imported from a number of overseas countries, said Mr Martin, but none was satisfactory in sand and mud. “We have now developed our own disc brake unit in Christchurch.