MODIFIED FORDS

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32640, 23 June 1971, Page 13

MODIFIED FORDS

In countries where cars are marketed in fierce competition, manufacturers offer a tremendous variety of makes, models and specifications offering intending purchasers a specific model for different motoring requirements. Because of import restrictions, New Zealand motorists get less choice—unless they belong to the minority holding overseas funds. Manufacturers have been forced to bring in standard Family saloons in order to cater for the majority. This has left the enthusiastic motorist with little choice, unless money was no object to him. Many keen drivers modified their own cars with the assistance of the flourishing speed shops, but they immediately "lost” the manufacturers* guarantee, and “gained” a supply of surplus standard parts which proved difficult to sell. John W. Andrew and

Sons, Ltd, the Auckland Ford dealers, with the assistance of their performance consultant, Ray Stone, devised a scheme to produce moderately priced performance cars complete with a guarantee.

The Escort and the Cortina were chosen as the models most suited for modification. Although many of the parts available were Ford performance equipment, and therefore fully proven, months of development work was required to make sure every item worked as well as, if not better than fac-tory-made cars.

The company can now modify new cars before delivery, or they can modify cars already in use. The cost of modification is offset by a trade-in allowance, which offers reasonable prices for most of the exchanged equipment, and a guarantee is offered on every car. The "Superford” models

offer improved acceleration, cornering, ride, braking, gear changing, hill climbing and towing. In Canterbury, the company best-known for its work in modifying new and used Fords is Palmer and Doak, Ltd, which has produced such cars for several years. The company’s modified models became particularly well-known with the introduction of its Cortina GT-engined Anglias several years ago.

Russian car production

Although the Russian vehicle industry is geared mainly to the production of pucks, efforts are now being made to increase car production, the Novosti press agency reports.

The Moskvitch plant in Moscow is now producing a new model, efforts are being made to improve the quality of cars, and new developments such as fuel injection are being investigated.

By the end of 1975, by which time several vehicle plants will have been rebuilt, the Soviet Union’s out put of buses is planned to nave increased by 50 per cent, and car output is planned to be five times the 1965 figure at one million a year. '