MOTOR IMPORTING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 28, 27 October 1917, Page 3

MOTOR IMPORTING

BUICK CARS

One of tho industries ihat has grown Immensely in New Zealand since- the ucginning of the war is tho importing of motor-cars. Tho reason, the industry litis increased in importance is that the call of war has lieen answered by so many men that tho few who are left have much more to do, much more ground to cover, and to many the daily round nowadays would not bo possible without means of quick transit. Jteans of quick trausit, of course, points to motorcars. Nothing 60 suitable is .known; nothing so suitable is in sight. Motorcars "have filled a great want in Now Zealand during theso days of war, and as the conflict is protracted and men. continue to leave the land, tho importance of the motor grows and grows.

Ono of tho big concerns which has made a worthy effort to do its part toward keeping Now Zealand well supplied with first-class motor-cars is the firm which turns out tho well-known Buick make. Like other big motor com•panies, tho makers of tho Buick cars havo their headquarters in America. The New Zealand agencies have dono their best To meet tho requirements of tho peoplo of the country, and tho makers have done their utmost to supply whatever demands were made unon. their factories. In Wellington there is, in addition to tho retail Buick agency, a Buick wholesale distributing depot. For five years -fr,om 1912 to 1917-the wholesale distributing depot was in Harris Street, but within tho last few weeks a move has been made to new premises in. Taranaki Street. These new premises have hem specially erected for the purpose to which they are being put. The familiar sign "BUICK" attracts one's attention to a largo red-brick building of rather attractive exterior. Entering, ono finds what looks like a great covered-ia court with motor-cars strewn about—not care-' lessiy or untidily strewn—but that is tho impression. The cars aro there in their various stages, ready for being made ready) 'for transportation to various parts oE the country. Some are still in tho cases, just as they have been landed from

the oveasea liners, some are being assembled, and some aro ready to take the road. One beautiful model is to make its first run out in a few hours, and that initial trip is to bo ono which will test; tho car well-r-the heavy climb and steep descent of tho llimutaka Bange", which separates Wellington from the Wairarapa. The car is destined for Mastcrton, the home of many hundreds of tine cars. Tho new wholesale depot, which, by the way, is' not far from tho retail agency (held by Messrs. Draffin and Co., Jessio Street), is a very plain, establishment inside, but a brief inspection convinces ono that it is particularly well suited to tho requirements of tho business. To begin with, the first essential is present in abundance—space; space to work in and to manipulate cars in. Overhead is gear specially imported for raising cars and parts of cars, and this facilitates operations considerably. So offectivo aro these cranes, that by pulling on. ono of tho chains a youth can with : little effort raise a car to any height desired by tho mechanic ho is assisting. la the back portion of the building there is an electric equipment to meet the requirements of the storage batteries in new cars, tart of the upper portion of the building has been put to use as a store for motor-car parts. Here, systematically shelved, arc parts that will fit all models from 1912 down io 1917, a thing worth remembering by motorists or persons intending to purchase cars. Tho now dopot is most conveniently situated. It is easily approached from all parts of tho city, and—a mattor of first importance—i 6 convenient to the wharves. Cars landed on tho Tarauaki Street Wharf can be conveyed to tho depot w'ithin a few minutes. Even from the other wharves tho distance i 6 not gfeat. To turn from tho Wellington depot to the great manufacturing works of the Buick Motor Company, at Hint, Michigan, U.S.A., is to movo from a prosperous agency to the'' headquarters of ono of tho most immense undertakings of modcm times. The Buick factory is the largest works in tho world devoted to I tho exclusive manufacture of motorI cars—tho third largest factory of any Ikind. It is the home of a factory ori ganisation that is not equalled in the j world for talent, equipment, or efficiency, ■ an organisation that produces over one [hundred thousand high-grade motor-cars I per annum. These conditions make Buick I cars possible. Every Buick car is Buiekbuilt from wheel to hood, from frame to finish; nothing but Buick industry goes into tho Buick product. Tho difference between, actually building a motorcar, and merely assembling it, is very great. It would be difficult toform a correct conception of the immensity of tho (manufacturing institution responsible for the Buick in any way except

by visiting the great works. Even then the activities are so groat and the figures concerning same so confusing that it would be hard to correctly establish its proportions except in a relative way. In 1901. the first year of tho Buick factory at Flint, there were only fifty men employed, and thirty-seven, cars were built. Since that tiino many thousands of Buick cars have boon built and tho factory has grown each year until it is now a milo in length, covers ovor IGO acres of ground, and employe an army of men—each roan a specialist on some part of the Buick. These are tho forceful facts that tell tho story of tho Buiclc success-that proclaim Buick greatness To tho entire world. There are many Buick cars in Now Zealand, and all motorists know how enthusiastically tho owners of these; ears speak of them. Both the fours and tho sixes are excellent cars. Consistent with Buick history, tho Buick Six is «ssentially a better Buiok, bringing the refinemonts and dorolopmonts of another

year's endeavour. Although the company have conscientiously striven to increase their production in answer io the evergrowing demand for Buick Sixes, not otico have they lost sight of (lie importance of making each individual Buick car intrinsically Buick in quality. Tho Buick valve-in-head motor-cars are the result of sixteen years of steady develoD-

inent, from season to season, each year adding its refinement of detail. During this timo numerous changes have been rnado in types and design, but ihe designers of tho Buick engino first sought and found truth about petrol-engine construction, and perfection of this principle is all that has been required. For motorists whoso requirements do not call for tho larger carrying capacity of the touring car, tho Buick Roadster would prove :i favourite, It is built on the same chassis as the six-cylinder touring car, being equipped with tho samo powerful valvc-in-head engine. To a man technically inclined, it speaks through performance—not as revealed in a short demonstrating ride, but from constant driving over every typo of road—through' sand, over bills, in mud, wherever

stamina and power must bo foremost. For city or country driving tho car, with its symmetry of lines and simplicity of control, will answer every demand. It is particularly adapted for use by business or professional men. On account of its light weight it is easy to handlo and economical of operation. An ample luggage compartment is provided in tho rear of. the body, as well as a large tool box located directly under tho seat cushion. While designed as a two-passen-ger roadster, by tho adoption of rightband control levers as wll as the seat being generously proportioned, threo passengers may be carried with comfort. The Buick Six touring oar is designed for general or family use. It will accommodate five adults in perfect comfort, leaving ample room in the tomieau for luggage. The engine is of tho valve-in-head type, developing 67 horsepower. Tho clutch and gear box are directly connected, making a complete enclosed unit power plant, suspended from the main frame of the chassis at three points. The rear axle is of tho gonuine full-floating ■ type, the entire weight of the car being carried on the axlo housing, relieving the driving axles of all strains and adding materially to tho factor of safety. The front axle is dropforged as well as tho integral yokes, and nil other parts subject to constant strain. The exceptional riding qualities are obtained from tho special Buick floating cantilever springs, which ore finely tempered and carefully tested. Tho maximum of tyre mileago is obtained. The petrol consumption is unusually low. This ear is equally useful for city or country use. The flexible motor carries its load at a snail's pace through congested traffic (T swiftly over the open road, extracting every atom of tho power in the petrol at any speed. The Buick Six is a car that anyone might bo proud to own. It has a multitude of uses, and its entire construction is one of rugged sturdiness that suggests its ability to withstand strenuous service over a long period of years—(Published by Arrangenwiit.)