THE LIGHT CAR

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 18

THE LIGHT CAR

WILL AMERICA TAKE IT UP?

The prophetic note sounded by Sir William Letts, president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd., of London, England, in a recent interview, has raised a storm of discussion which may have a decided influence, on the type of.small, light car manufactured in America in tho near future. It is of sufficient interest to attract the close attention of everyone who is connected with the American motor-car industry.

In it he cites the development of the European type small car ,as built in England and France, and applies the results of this car performance and economy to American requirements. It is well known that the major production of cars in Europe at tho present time is confined to vehicles with short wheelbase, narrow tread, powerful and highly efficient motors with small bore and long stroke, and that these small cars sell at prices which are fully twice those asked for even larger-sized cars made in the United States.

. His close knowledge of American road 'conditions leads him to the conclusion that the narrow tread and small body. of the European type car will never find favour in America nor in tho other countries where highly efficient motor construction, appearance, comfort, and economy are all wanted_ in the same car. His knowledge of American manufacturing, methods also leads him to the conclusion that the price for a car favouring the European design will not be out of line with present American prices.

Briefly digested, his opinions cover the following very pertinent points. The liuropean manufacturer, building in far less quantities than large American producers, has been able to spend a great amount of time and effort in developing hia product. Economy and high speed are essential requirements of the European car. These are served through increased motor efficiency and highly-de-veloped chassis design.

The European amall car motor is of the high-speed type, small in high brake horse-power, the E.A.C. rating, which compares witli our S.A.E. standards, averaging from 12 h.p. to 15 h.p., with the developed horse-power ranging from 20 h.p. to 30 H.p. in the various models.

■ These motors show fuel averages up to 30 miles to the gallon of petrol, and oil consumption up to 250 miles to the quart of lubricating oil. Tlicy show car speed capacity up to 60 miles an hour. They are fairly free from vibration, and are easily capable of maintaining high road averages. They have quick acceleration ability, but their shortcoming as measured by American standards is that they require move frequent change of gear than is adapted to American ideas of how a motor should perform. Their nsual narrow tread requires too frequent reduction of speed- on turns, and their construction is generally not as sturdy for withstanding the shocks of rough roads as in the American light car.

Recent developments by American engineers have resulted in a much higher torque _than is evident in the motor performance of the European cars, and this would eliminate the necessity for changing of gears, as Sir William cites in hia prophecy.

The use of a motor developed along these lines would represent a yearly saving in fuel expense of around 30 per cent., which, in money would represent roughly the staggering total of 286,000,000 dollars a year in the U.S.A. alone.

It would show an equivalent saving in oil expense, while the value of time saving in a car which would cover the road at from 20 per cent, to'4o per cent, faster than present American small cars could scarcely be made .the matter of figures. : The short wheel-base with good steering lock would have a pronounced influence on city driving and parking cojiditions. Four-wheel brakes,are standard equipmc t on the European small cars, and would be necessary on an Amerieantrailt product, duplicating the speed and power features of the European types. The higher speed possibilities would necessitate lowering the height of the car, and this would very likely result in a much lower looking car than emanates from America at present. Such construction would not necessarily influence the amount of road clearance which would probably be taken care of by spring suspension frame construction and size of wheels and tires. The use of a standard 56-inch tread on a car with a wheel-base approximating 100 inches, should give ample'room to afford the better body dimensions than the European small cars, better seating capacity for passengers, and greater safety on road turns. A car, motored with the European type power plant would necessarily require sliding gear transmission to get the full flexibility of the engine in general use* It is a woll-known fact that American engineers have been studying the European small car for some time, and it has been expected throughout the American industry that this study will soon make . itself felt in material changes in certain phases of construction.

Lighter weight, small piston displacements, increased power developments, have been presented in steady progression,, but as yet we have not had from the t^A. anything as radical in the way oi change as have been predicted in the article by Sir William Letts. If such a .change is made, it will not be in the nature of an experiment, for it is safe to assure that the American maker, who would Start manufacturing ■would take advantage o£ proved construction, and would go after the field with mass production, thereby assuring low cost to the car buyer. Such a maker would find a ready acceptance of car with American comfort advantages combined with European performance advantages, not alone in the American domestic field, but in our own country as well, and British and French makers have already sounded the warning that manufacturers' in America are Jikcy to invade our market with a car cf this type.