MOTOR TRADE ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 12 (Supplement)

MOTOR TRADE ITEMS.

Germany is buying British motor cars. A transaction with the Star Engineering Co., Ltd., is interesting from the point of view of: values. ' A Star car which is priced at £850 fetches 460,000,000,000 marks in Germany. Another one, at £600 costs the purchaser in the Fatherland 300,000,000,000 marks. These two cars, purchased bv one agent, therefore, cost 750,000,000,000 marks. It makes one see stars! An immense new assembly building, duplicating the present structure in sire, is announced by Dodge of Detroit. U.S.A., as the principal unit of their 1923 expansion programme. The building is six storeys, with a floor space of more than 500,000 square feet, and cost 5.000,000 dollars. It will be devoted entirely to the production of a'l-steel bodies, and the manufacturers are also aiming at turning out 1000 cars a day. The first single eight cylinder Packard to arrive in the Dominion was landed this week. Its many new features have already been described in these columns. The upholsterv is in grey Spanish leather with coach work to match. The single eight Packard has a wheel base of 143 inches and has a phenomenal dash of speed. The producers claim that it is their masterpiece. This high-grade production is now on view at Messrs. Dexter Motors, Ltd. and will no doubt be the subject of much attention from local motorists. Road illumination has been given particular attention by the Packard engineers, who have produced a three-fold system which enables the driver to select the illumination required by a wide varietv of conditions. The first, is a, complete "system of "marker" and parking lights.- 'The second plan gives a wide zone of diffused illumination and is sufficient to permit of driving with safety up to 25 miles per hour. The third plan is for high speeds and for use on unfrequented roads, in this instance the powerful head-lights shoot the beams straight ahead. | To shoot 220 rabbits from a motor car |in 1 hour 45 minutes was a rccent ! achievement of Mr. W. S. Miller as the result of a wager. It was the outcome of a discussion among a number of sportsmen, by v\hich Mr. Miller was to shoot 200 rabbits inside two hours without getting out of his Chandler car. It was duly arranged that those interested should accompany him and within a short run of the city the above bag.was secured. To shoot two rabbits per minute from a catis admittedly smart work, and Mr. Miller is quite prepared to make another demonstration. The shooting was done in a paddock in the evening, and the ear was equipped with the best lighting system. » - Use of large section low-inflated tyres, known as " balloon " ..or " doughnut," tyres, assures better control of motorcars so equipped and promotes safe driv- | ing, says George H. Kublin, chief enj gineer of the Moon Motor Car Company. I Balloon tyres have a much larger road surface than ordinary tyres; consequently ' in slowing up or stopping, balloon tyres | have a better grip on the road, resulting I in greater responsiveness and more efficient brake action. Skidding is practically eliminated. It was because balloon tyres meant safer driving as well as more comfortable riding that the Moon Motor Car Company decided to adopt them as standard equipment on one model and offer them optional on all other models, says Kublin. The 1924 model Oakland has arrived, and coincident with the adoption of four wheel brakes the producers have brought out an entirely new car. An L-head engine having a Ricardo typo combustion chamber has been adopted. New mechani cal units are found throughout, including an emergency brake operating on the tail shaft. All controls have been removed from the„ dash and are now located in a single unit at the,. of the steering column. A glass panel on the daah encloses the ammeter, oil pressure and gasoline gauges, with interior, illumination. The bodies are of the renowned Fisher manufacture and are wider and deeper. The blue " satin" finish gives the car a most distinctive appearance. . The local agonts, Messrs. Skeates and White, Ltd., have landed two models —sports touring five seater and sports roadster 2-3 seater.