LONDON’S GREAT MOTOR SHOW

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 53, 26 November 1928, Page 10

LONDON’S GREAT MOTOR SHOW

1 • BRITAIN STILL LEADING IN LIGHT CARS Dominion Special Service. London, October 17. The Motor Exhibition of 1928 is an assured success, for there is no slackening in the interest in motoring by the general public, and the firms exhibiting continue to offer increased value and more attractive products. Possibly the most notable improvement is to be found in body-work, where we find a marked development in better finish, greater comfort, and a wider use of safety glass. The colour schemes also are gayer and in much better taste. The boom in light sixcylinder cars which began two years ago shows no signs of abatement, while many makers, including the old-estab-lished firm of Lanchester, are producing eight-cylinder models. The price of these luxury vehicles is so modest that actually we are well below prewar prices in motor values. At the other end of the scale we have perfect miniature cars at not much more than £lOO. They have a wonderful performance and do incredibly long distances on a gallon of petrol. Probably there is no other country in the world that turns out such numbers of these juniors as Great Britain, although there are signs that Continental firms are waking up to the fact that they are being left behind.

While comparatively few stands exhibit chassis without bodies, there are a number of British firms showing engines by themselves, or engines in section. The policy is greatly appreciated by critical or knowing members of the public. One Continental firm shows a fine striped chassis consisting of a single tubular frame for which both strength and lightness are claimed. Whatever its merits, it looks a fine piece of engineering. The new car which changes its gear itself rightly claimed a vast amount of attention; the extra cost of this device ranges from £3O to £5O, according to the model. Front-wheel drive is standardised, and there are new and modified forms of suspension, all of which have something to recommend them. In this category may be placed pneumatic upholstery, which is very restful over a long run. The interest shown by women in motoring is very evident from the great number of girls and elderly ladies at Olympia. The younger generatiou gather round the sports saloons and racing cars, while the dowagers sample the latest Rolls Royce or other high-powered coach. It is greatly to be hoped that the talk of discontinuing this popular international exhibition has no solid foundation, and that the Olympia Motor Show may continue to delight the public for many a year to come.