MOTORING NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 39, 16 February 1938, Page 12

MOTORING NOTES

The 1938 Sfudebaker A Surprising Car

The Studebaker is a car that needs no introduction to the experienced motorist. To anyone who has had no previous experience of these cars, a ride in one is a revelation in a number of 'vyays. First, although perhaps least noticeable, is the absence of “wind roar” round the body of the car at all speeds. This is indeed a step forward, as all cars up to the present have been more or less bad offenders in this direction. On entering the car another point is noticed by even the least observant. This is the fact that the front seat is a genuine “three seater. ” Also plain is the absence of any “hump” in the floor to clear the gearbox. A little ingenuity on the part of someone resulted in the gearbox being set on its side. A point worth lingering over is the ease with which the doors can be “pressed 5 ’ shut. Starting the car is as simple an operation as could be wished for. To make this as fool proof as possible an automatic choke is provided and its efficiency was demonstrated when the motor started on the first turn after standing for twenty-four hours. To reach and maintain the correct heat in the motor, a thermostat is provided. A number of points are very noticeable when the car is taken on the road The gear-charge is, of course, synchro mesh, very effective inasmuch as thi actual change is fasetr than in any other car tested previously. The steer ing is interesting, having what is known as a ‘‘Dual Ratio” steering box. This makes the car uniformly easy to manoeuvre sit all speeds, as simple in a tight parking place as on the open road. There is an apparent contradiction in this car is the fact that although the gear-change is so easy and simple and yet the motor is powerful enough to take the car up most hills touching the lever. Handling the car on the road is as light and as easy as could be wished. Cornering is reminiscent of an English sports car, but with the advantage of a ride that is like a limousine. To a motorist that wants a quality class car in a medium price class, the Studebaker would be indeed hard to beat. Attention to detail has obviously been of importance when designing the car and considerably more coul«f be written about it if space would permit. The best thing to do is to see the car for yourself.

make all body fittings as nearly flush as possible—these are among the important things to be looked for on the 1938 American models. Advance information indicates that, with one exception, there will be nothing startling in the way of appearance changes, although the frontal appearftnee has been altered on almost every make. Jugc . via Motor-minded. \ViLi a view to popularising motor ing in Jugoslavia the Government is to abolish thci luxury tax on private cars and will reduce the import tax from 30 per cent. ;o 15 per cent, ad valorem. i?etrol taxes aro to be reduced provided locally produced grain spirit is admixed. £200,000,000 for Roads? Expenditure of £200,000,000 on special through roads, plans to be prepared at once : this was the burden of an important resolution carried at a conference in Manchester (England) of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce. No Jess a person than the Prime Min ister was the guest of honour at the dinner of the conference. The resolution is expected to have a big effect. £IO,OOO Miles for £9O. Two 19-year-old students recently returned to London from a trip in a second-hand car through Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa, which occupied ten weeks, during which they covered ten thousand miles. Three broken springs and a few punctures were the only breakdowns which they experienced. The estimated cost of their holiday was £45 each. Compulsory Insurance. In the next session of the British Parliament a new Bill is to be introduced amending the law in relation to compulsory (third party) insurance. It will incorporate certain of the recommendations! of the Board of Trade De partmental Committee. One of these is that no insurer shall undertake compul sory insurance business without a license issued by the Board of Trade. The other important recommendation is that a c antral frnd should be set up. but it is understood that this is still under consideration. Sinister Threat. Speaking at a conference of the National Chamber of Commerce at Chester (England) recently the British Minister of Transpo t spoke in a despairing mood of the growth of road transport and his fears as to the position 15 years ahead. Government neglect to adopt a sound road policy has led the Minister to make this doleful admission : “It is absolutely essential to regulate the number of vehicles on the road, or there will be no place or anyone at all.”