NEW BRITISH CARS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 268, 10 August 1945, Page 9

NEW BRITISH CARS

Improvements Reported (By Telegraph — Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) . (Received August 9, 11.50 p.m.t LONDON. August 9. With the restoration of the basic petrol ration and the return of Hie cars to the roads of Britain there is increasing interest in the new cars, tlie first of which arc out. .Many show little outward difference from the last pre-war models, but a number of modifications and improvements have been made. Jigs and machine tools that, were prepared for the 194 b cars, which never reached the production stage, have been adapted to produce more refinements. For instance, the specifications of the new Hillman Minx afford an example of the way cars have been improved. There is a “swaybar” coupling the rear shockabsorber arms to improve stability on corners or badly-cambered roads; there is a bell-shaped dog with helical grooves which will pick up pegs on the starting handle even if it is out of alignment; there is a neat, practical jacking arrangement to prevent grovelling in the dirt when changing the wheel: and there is a compression increase which improves petrol consumption ami performance. Cars of new design may lie ready toward tlie end of next year. It is expected they will be different from tlie current, models and will embody all Hie experience and metallurgical knowledge that the manufacturers have gained in their war work.