CARS BUILT TO SPECIFICATION

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 166, 16 July 1920, Page 2

CARS BUILT TO SPECIFICATION

OUTCOME OF MASS PRODUCTION.

There was a time in the development of the bicycle when component makers were as busy as manufacturers of the complete bicycles, and discriminating cyclists had their machines built to ordei? and to their own specifications. Will such a state of things ever happen in the motor-car market? There are now in England and America manufacturers of components of every part necessary for the construction of motor vehicles, gome firms specialise in engines only; other specialise in gear-boxes, others in back axles, others in pressed iiaSmes, others in radiators. In fact, it is possible to buy components :;nd erect complete cars without manufacturing any unit of importance. Some of the best-known American cars imported into this country are assembled cars, the various units bping manufactured by. different component manufacturers. There is nothing bad about tins method of car -manufacture. Indeed, some Oi these cars can be made and sold at a price below that at which a car completely manufactured by one firm could be supplied, and since the various components are generally made on mass production lines and to interchangeable j«g work, tho results from the workmanship and material point of view are as good as could be got in the works of the manufacturer of the complete car. The assembling of known ;u;d proved components allows of the small n.anufacturer giving good value and highclass work and varying the design and general arrangements to suit a wide field of buyers and users.