HASTINGS CAR SALES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 18 August 1934, Page 13

HASTINGS CAR SALES

Optimism Among tbe Dea'ers

Healthy Demand Evident

That the motor industry in Hastings is recovering its equilibrium and is now almost at the pre-depression stage as far as sales of new cars are concerned is the opinion formed after a talk with representatives of five of the leading garages in Hastings. It is quite reasonable to assume that the same conditions apply in other parts of the country, in which case it can truly 1)e said that “tilings are looking up’’ generally. Sales of motor vehicles in the town have been so satisfactory of late that more than one salesman was prompted to remark that the firm had not experienced such good business in the past four or five years, while another summed up the position by saying that he had no complaints, which, after all, is a confession that very few business men would make, no matter how prosperous trade happened to be.

Among the reasons given for the brighter business as far as this district la concerned was that in the farming community the farmers were beginning to reap the benefit of the good season •Inch they experienced a few months •go. As ono informant remarked- “ Producers ar e only now realising that they have money from their sales in the summer months.” Then again the strike in San Francisco prevented the importation of cars to New Zealand, for about two months, until a week or two ago, since which time practically all the cars available have been sold Also the conversion of tne dollar is now in favour of purchasers in this country and tends to a certain extent to offset the unfavourable exenange rate. Another important factor is that many motor manufacturers, especially in the United States, concentrated for some time on the manufacture of entirely new models, which entailed the rear rangement of their works. Thus there was a period during which cars were not manufactured, with the result that for a time there were to a certain ex tent no cars imported into the Dorninfoil. MANY NEW FEATURES. That the recent models have been worth waiting for is seen after only a cursory look at a number of those which have come to Hastings. Not only are they of an entirely new design and of smarter appearance, but the many modern and unconventional features incorporated promise to maka 1931 a milestone in the world’s motor ing history and to usher in a new era in the motor industry. An interesting point discovered as a result of the conversations with the various dealers was that there was now an unmistakable trend toward the bigger car. Whereas during tho past three or four years the very small model was favoured with a great majority of the car sales, to-day thj demand for the “baby” car has declined. One firm which deals in expensive cars as well as the small typo said that while a number of tho big cars had been sold recently there was no demand at all lor the small kind. In all instances the bigger car was monopolising the sales, and it appears that tbe motoring public is once more to revert to the comfortable five passenger. In brief, motorists are •acnficing economy for comfort. Except for cars manufactured by one particular factory, all of the latest models boast a number of similar improvements. Included in these arc synchro-mesh gears, tree-wheeling, automatic clutch, floating power, indfc pendent knee-action front-wheel springing, no-draught ventilation, stream-lined bodies, improved braking, roomier bodies. Together these fea tures are said to provide greatly improved performance and general economy. In two makes of cars the manufacturer has gone even further and what is known as the “airflow” car has come into existence. This car, besides having a number of the abovementioned features, is also attributed with having special qualities peculiar to its design. MORE MEN EMPLOYED. Tn conversation with one salesman in Hastings tho writer was informed that his firm had sold eight £4OO cars m the past three weeks and eight £5OO cars in three months, besides one expensive truck and a number of secondhand cars. The salesman said th:;t business was very good; so good, in tact, that whereas two months ago his firm employed only one salesman, at the present time it had five on its staff. There was a good demand for second-hand enrs ranging from £lOO to £2OO, but they had to he of good quality. As far as the light car was concerned, the popularity with which it was favoured twelve months ago had declined and there was only a very moderate demand for that type of car now. Of course, there was alwavs the person who wanted that kind, but in his opinion the larger car was coming into its own again; and what was

more it was coming to stay. The many improvements on the latest models made them a revelation to the motor driver. The ear of to-day was a wonderful machine. The informant graphically summarised the great advance made in the motor industry in the production of the latest machines when he said: “The old cars are like riding in a horse and cart when compared with the latest models.”

“The best winter we have experienced for the past five years,” was the manner in which another representative described the business of his firm during the last tew months. His firm dealt more with the expensive type of car and was not agent for any small models. There was a good demand for the bigger car and the firm had had very good sales of late. The strike in San Francisco had delayed the importation of their models by seven weeks. However, the public had realised that the new cars were worth waiting for and sales had been quite regular over the past few weeks. It was becoming increasingly difficult to sell the secondhand car, the main reason being that the recent models were so ultra-modern that the car of a year or two ago appeared out of date in comparison with them. He did not think there was the same demand for the very small car at the present time as there was some time ago. His firm’s best sales were with the £4OO car, which, he thought, was thi popular price with the public, taken as a whole. But the firm had also had good sales with cars in the £609 and £7OO class. There were many wonderful improvements on the new model cars. Not the least among these was the air wheel, which he considered as great an advance over the balloon tyre as the balloon was over the high pressure. BEST SEASON EXPERIENCED. Sales totalling £lBOO during the past week were experienced by another wellknown firm. The informant said that it was the best season his firm had had since it had been in operation. There was a good demand for the bigger car and they had taken orders for quite a number of cars of tho £6OO and £7OO class. As far as the trade in small cars was concerned, it had disappeared altogether, for the present at any rate. Trucks were, also selling well, his garage having sold threo amounting to £lOOO in the past week or so. Another phase of the motor industry which had been favoured by increased business of late was the repair department. Their mechanics were being kept very busy, not only in small jobs, for recently a number of complete overhauls had been done. This was quite unusual. He concluded his remarks by saying that he had no complaints whatsoever with business. Another representative of a firm which deals more with the £350 class of car, said that business cei ainly better than it had been for a number of winters past. The present was not a good season for selling cars, but his firm had transacted good business. The firm had been fortunate in having had a good supply of cars all through the year, and although sales had fallen off during the past two months compared with what they were in the summer, demand was still keen. Asked if there was any demand for the open style of car nowadays, he replied that there was practically none. Now and again there was an occasional inquiry, but not sufficient to warrant the importation of any open cars. The only type of open car inquired after was the three-seater. Trucks also were selling quite well, his firm having sold a satisfactory number in recent months.

A dealer in both American and English cars of practically tbe same price, between £3OO and £4OO, said that during the past few weeks the ultramodern American car had completely swamped the market. The latest American car had so many new features. notably front-wheel suspension that it had had a” immediate appeal to the motoring public. There was at present a craze for this ultra-modern car from America, but he thought that when the craze had passed the English car would come into its own again, at least to a certain extent. As far as his firm’s trade was concerned, sales were a good deal better than they were at this time last year.