NEW ENGLISH CAR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12075, 14 October 1933, Page 5

NEW ENGLISH CAR

INTERESTING TEST .TRIP

u OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE h . __"•

MORNING TRAVEL DELIGHTS

Viewed from the Whareratas, Gisborne and its environs present an unforgettable panorama which must appeal tremendously to every visitor. By moon or by sun the effect is wonderfully charming, but pferhaps never more iso than, in the early hours immediately after the dawn. Then, almost invariably, there is the perfect composite picture, the cloudflecked sky blending exquisitely (with the foam-dotted seas into one unbroken (whole.

Yesterday morning, through the courtesy of Messrs Bignell and Holmes, a Times reporter was enabled to enjoy a trip through to W&iroa and! return, under ideal conditions. Recently this firm land' ed several of the new light 8 h.p. English For.d saloons, which are manufactured wholly by British labor at Dagenham, Essex, England. Yesterday’s trip was made with a view to thoroughly testing the petrol consumption, speed, etc., of the latest of the famous factory’s products. Putting it briefly, it can (well be said that this model sets a new and exceptionally high standard in tho light car, field, it is not by any means of the “baby’’ type, becauso tho body space is more than ample for four persons, yet it has all tiio advantages of the miniature models, plus many of thotso found in larger machines.

Reverting to yesterday’s trip, however, it can be repeated that the weather was perfect, M when a start was made from the Post Office at 5 a.m. Mr W. Bignell was tiie very capable pilot and in the run across the flats he demonstrated the exceptionally fa s t acceleration and something of the high, speed possible. Even when travelling somewhere near the- maximum pace, there was a ’ complete absence of vibration, this being due largely to the employment of rubber .mountings in all articulations of tiie steering system and for supporting the engine. A special rubber hearing is also incorporated in the shock absorbers. Speeds up to 65 m.p.h. are obviously well within the capabilities of the car. The engine has a delightfully soft “purr”, even at tho high speeds, and give s the impression of having a remarkable reserve of power. OVER. THE HILLS Coming to tho first of the hills, the car soared upwards with the greatest K>f case and surprisingly little use was made of the secona gear which, incidentally, is of the perfectly noiseless type in operation. Most of the hills (were taken easily on “top” and the summit of the AVhareratas nvas reached in under an. hour after, leaving Gisborne. Gear changing on this model is isimplicity . itself, for the synchronised gears make errors impossible. There, is no need for double declutching or any wait between changes, the intermediate gears being of the constant mesh type. A speed of 35 m.p.h. was reached in second gear and of 20 m.p.h. in low, while another valuable feature was the entire absence of that annoying “whine”’ (which is the accompaniment of second gear (work in so many cars.

There was practically no sound of the engine when running in top, anu there was no more when Mr Bigneli changed down a step. The gear lever is placed very conveniently and everything makes for quick, easy changing. DELIGHTS OF “COASTING” Dropping down in to Morere, another important feature became noticeable, this being the suitability of the car for “coasting”, probably the most pleasing sensation in motoring. Weighing only a little over 13 cwt., it is obvious that the car, requires only very slight braking to hold it in check. That being so, of course, there is little twear on the four-wheel brakes and one can afford to indulge in the pleasure of “coasting’ ’. Some of the •* most delightful moments during yesterday’s trip iwere when the car iswooped gently down the slopes in silence broken only by the slight .soothing Mfiswisb” of the tyres. Bird songs from the bush iwere plainly audible and, with the glorious freshness of the high country air, these minutes iwere perfection indeed. nearly AN accident Close to Morere, at a very sharp bend, the inevitable “dread of the road” was encountered and it was only clever, driving by Mr Bigneli, with the car’s good steering lock and general ease of handling, that averted An accident. The other vehicle swept round the bend well over on its wrong side and Mr Bigneli, travelling downhill, swung close- m to the bank and clapped on the brakes, coming to a dead stop (within a yard or so. Had the English Ford been an inch wider, the tail of the other vehicle would have hit its right mudguard, but there l was just that inch to spare. The manner in which the car “answered the helm” was a real object lesson and indicated that it must be one of the safest possible machines for an en l" ergency. INTERESTING FIGURES Morere .was reached li hours after leaving Gisborne, Nuhaka ten minutes later and Wairoa a t 7.1 U a.m., the full- trip thus occupying 2hrs. lOmin. After a stay of just under half an hour, in Wairoa, a .start for home was made and excellent time .was again registered. Thirtyfive minutes v were . o ccui>u?d run to Nuhata, VIA minutes more to Morere,. 35 ' minutes to the summit of the Whareratas, and then minutes , for the final stage into Gisborne,. the return trip thus occupying 2 hours 18 minutes.

-Tee"return, "trip" or 137 indss finis . occupied under hours. At no stag© was the car, being pushed, nor was it more than pleasantly

•warm;’ - >• : ■ Tho time-tablo dor the full trip was as follow,s': — ' ..

5 a.m.—Left Gisborne. 5.55 Wharerata summit. 6.30. —Morere. 6.4o.—Nuhaka, ' 7 • 10.—Arrived Wairoa 7.3 f5 —Lie fit AYla.irqai. B.lo—Nuhaka. B.2o.—Morere. 8.55 — Wharerata summit 9.s3—Arrived Gisborne.

FORTY MILES PER GALLON

Undoubtedly the most astonishing feature of the trip nvas the low petr.ol consumption.. A measured amount iwais placed in the tank before departure and it was measured on arrival hack in Gisborne. Less than 3J gallons was consumed in covering 137 miles, so that the average m/il©age per gallon was approximately 40.

Actually both tho time and the m.p.g. record would have been better but for the presence of a large number of stock on the r.oad. Seven mobs of sheep and three of cattle had to bo carefully threaded through at walking pace and at one point, where the road was very narrow, there was a complete hold up through mobs of sheep and cattle meeting and occupying the full roadway. SOME OTHER '.FEATURES The car is a really handsome one, well-finished both internally and 'externally. Built in special streamline form, particular attention is given to reducing wind resistance to an absolute minimum, thereby materially increasing the mileage per gallon. It is upholstered in cloth (and the front seats are separate, that for the driver, being adjustable to any position. A wide door on either side gives access to both front and hack seats. It lias a. four-cylin-dered engine and a special lubrication system such as is found only in far more expensive ears. Throughout the construction is one of tho most rotpye and splinterless glass is used. The drums of the four-wheel brakes have special “fins” for dfs■sapating .any heat developed, thus making it impossible to overheat the brakes on the longest hills. Aitogether the car is wonderfully roomy and everything is arranged to .secure the greatest care in driving. Among the specially convenient devices in this connection is an automatic spark control. HUGE DAGENHAM WORKS The Ford Motor Works at Dageniham are one of the wonders of manufacturing England. The total cost was the astounding sum of £11,000,000, .and they constitute further evidence of the enterprise of British industry. These works were constructed with British capital, they employ British labor, they use British materials solely and consequent ly they produce a. wholly British product. The buildings themselves •are of enormous size and the whole of the manufactory is a wonderful example of complete organisation. The maximum capacity 15 1,000 cars or lorries per day and the works cover, some 110 acres of the full site of -500 acres.