A New Vauxhall Comes To Life

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 100, 1 May 1935, Page 11

A New Vauxhall Comes To Life

It is very fascinating to watch a new motor-car gradually grow from an idea, and take shape. It begins as a drawing; develops into a small clay model, and then into a full-sized, Imitation car, known as a “mock-up” because it won’t work.

But a very important point, this—it has seats. And in those seats the directors, the body experts, and other people intimately connected with the new car sit. They try them .in every conceivable position. The angles of the seats are altered, the shape is altered, perhaps. Leg-room and elbow room is tested, and increased if necessary. And no one is satisfied until everything is just right. Vauxliall' designers aim at comfort, tliej’ don’t produce a chassis first, and then fit the body to it, hoping for the best. Body right, the chassis is developed. Then comos tho most important stage of all, In the experimental department

a number of actual cars arc built to the designs which have been produced by the chief -engineer and his colleagues. Theso experimental “jobs” which cost several thousand of poundsto build arc real’ cars. ,

With disguised radiators and dirty coachwork they arc driven scores of thousands of miles. Special drivers take them over at night-fall and return them each. morning with copious notes about acceleration, braking, road holding, and general performance. If any feature is ‘‘not so good” they drawspecial' attention to it. They are brutally outspoken, these drivers. It is their job. During tho daytime, the engineers get to work on tho cars in the light of these reports; they alter here, modify there, substitute a different, component there, and so on. AVhen night conics, out go the cars onco again. This is the procedure followed in the designing and perfecting of the New. 1935 Vauxhall Light Six. New features have been tried and tested. Many have boon eliminated and the good ones have been rotained. The policy of Vauxhall Motors Limited has always been one of continued advancement and development in motor ear design, and their new car certainly lives up to this tradition.