CAR HOODS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 August 1926, Page 14

CAR HOODS.

Those who remember the early days of motoring will easily recall the elementary hoods and other devices incorporated in ears for the protection of tjie passengers from weather and dust (Sydney; Morning Herald). The latter was a serious problem, which study of the air currents caused l bv the passage of the vehicle eliminated to a great degree; but there were many uncomfortable days in store for motorists before the present easily handled, and effective, hoods and side curtain® were evolved. The earliest cars, in fact, sometimes had no weather protection in the way of hoods at all. The. first real advance in weather protection seen in Australia was tho incorporation of the “Cape cart” hood, from whvh the modern “one-man” hood was evolved. This new hood was

a wonderful talking ixiiiit with the salesman of about 17 years ago, and it certainly was a great improvement on the lumbering and inefficient types previously in use. To-day, thanks mainlv to the influence of designers in England, where the vagaries of the climate have called for special attention to this question, the hoods arc lighter, stronger, more efficient, and easily handled by one man, or, in many cases, by a lady; while the latest English cars have side curtains which are as near perfection as can be imagined Constructed on rigid steel frames, they can be erected or dismounted in a very short time; they fit firmly right up to the top of the hood, and really do exclude rain or wind; they are provided with a proper receptacle in which they can be stowed without folding or other ill-usage which would scratch their window

panels, and, if necessary, they can be erected as a wind screen when the hood itself is lowered. Some British makes of cars go even farther, and provide a double flap at the edge of the hood into which the tops of the side curtains tit.

With permanently enclosed ears, of course the weather protection in the majority of cases is perfection while the place of side-curtains is taken by sliding glass windows, which can be wound up to any height required, 01 stowed safe 1 v out of sight in the door and hoclv panels. There is also a type of open', or semi-open, body on the. market which is of French origin, in which the glass side-curtains fold away into .compartments in the doors, and another which has its side-curtains on rollers in the hood. This latter type is an American production, and has attained great popularity.