BRITISH AND AMERICAN CARS.

Evening Star, Issue 19352, 11 September 1926, Page 10

BRITISH AND AMERICAN CARS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In reply to your leader, ‘Motor Car War,’ you say that “ circumstances impel the comment . . As for the motor traders being hostile to the local industry of body-building and to Empire trade, that docs not follow at all. What really is the case is that, power for power, weight for weight, money value for money value, the American car is to the English car as the English car is to a wheelbarrow. Why is this so? During the war 1 had opportunities of meeting English makers of cars, and they all told me that the New Zealand market for cars is so small compared with the Home market that they could not afford to make cars-of a kind and price that we would buy. Then, again, the model of English car that will stand up to the work and road surface here is built and priced for a certain class of buyer, 'they take it for granted that,the man who buys such a car is in such a position financially that he will not care whether his car weighs one ton or two tons, and will not worry about what the cost of running may be. As regards the retail price of cars, of a typo and power equal to the popular American makes, ono of the foremost dealers in cars in London told me that the class of people they sell to rarely pay for these cars for a year or two years after they take delivery, and that the traders would not dream of sending a bill or asking for the money, but they charge such a price for the vehicles that they can afford this style of doing “ business.” Wliat is the body-builder to do if he cannot get a chassis to build on? Look around at what ho turns out when ho does get one. On the score of weight alone, I have not seen a Now Zealandmade body that is not fax heavier than an imported one. As regards price, I took a chassis to a builder who charged more to build the body than the chassis cost originally, and it was bought when prices were at the peak. The upholstery material I supplied myself, and the firm charged a shade under £4 per yard for putting it in the body. For painting, go anywhere and ask a price for a first-class job, and get knocked silly. There is no hope of the motor car buying public backing up the Government buying British cars; they are out to get value for their money. And anyone who has seen British workmen building cars knows that if he wants to keep his money in the Empire he will have to pay for the loafing at the works.—l am, etc., Motorist. September 10.