OLYMPIC MOTOR SHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 12 (Supplement)

OLYMPIC MOTOR SHOW.

BRITAIN'S BID FOR TRADE. ADVANCE ON AMERICA. (DV OCR BRITISH CORRESPONDENT, j Sot within a golden colour schomo of •inking magnificence and glittering bonoutli a thousand lights, the International Motor Exhibition held tho stage as London's premier attraction from Octobor 8, to 17. Tho world's motor manufacturers have sent their best to Olympia to be displayed besido tho British product, but it is tho latter which has received tho palm. The 1928 Olympia Motor Show revealed ♦.lint the niade-in-Kngland article is intrinsically the best value and that an increasing proportion of British cars is suitable to " colonial'' conditions. And with the steady improvement of these conditions tho time must be coming when American sales round the Empire will t'eccdo as rapidly as they have in Britain. Britain's Increasing Output. Within tho last, year your correspondent has driven British cars from end to end of Europe and over roads as 'founderous as any in New Zealand. 'I hoy stood up to this endurance test nobly, revealing no mechanical or constructional disabilities, line judges, therefore, that with tho British factories working on quantity production methods, turning out a good article more cheaply each year, tho Dominion's patriotic desire to " luiy British" is about to Fie satisfied. In 1927 Britain produced 157.000 motor cars and 52.000 commercial vehicles, factory programmes for 1929 provide for a vast increase in production and the fact, that interests the overseas buyer is (hat a large proportion of this output is a typo of vehicle which is capable ot standing up to colonial conditions. Tho following facts demonstrate this

20 per cent, more of the cars will have pump water circulation. 15 per cent, more will have six cylinders. 40 per cent more will liave coil ignition. An additional 12 per cent., will have a rear petrol tank. Besides tlrs there is an increase in the number of British cars with light wire wheels, half elliptic springs, disc dutches and spiral bevels for tho final drive. New Developments. So much for tho main constructional fen turns. It is the same as regards details, for a stand-to-stand inspection at Olympic shows little that would bo repugnant to the iNew Zealand motoiist. Here are sonio of tho developments in the 1928 car: Tho rigid body except with tho large production firms, has given place to tho fabric construction. Many of these are " Sunshine" saloons, that is to say, the whole of the top of the body may l>e slid back in a simple operational movement. Tho old-fashioned running board-oum-valance has disappeared and the bodv door now descends to the running board. Manufacturers are certainly concentrating on comfort, and are attaining this by providing more leg-room in tho small British models, and they are adding labour-saving dovices as well, together with rear trunks as part of tho equip; nient, and bumpers. Tho British wellbaso rim is a great advance on anything America can offer, and American competition is being met also by some makers who have increased their wheel-base and the ground clearance. In short, tho whole tendency is toward improving the "breed" and, at the same time, reducing the price. There is one car, a British six-cylmder, with fabric saloon and sliding roof, no more expensive than its American rival, and. there are cars priced far below the American limit. Revival of Sporting Car.

The 19*28 Exhibition is remarkable for tho number of new models and for a peculiar revival of tho sporting type of car. At first sight one is impressed by tho predominance of cars of between 7 h.p.and 12 h.p. and one might judge that these are under-powered. The truth is that the word "horsep6wer" as rated for automobiles has lost its significance and now-a-duys implies only a relation to taxation. Some of the " baby" cars, may havo their limitations in seating capacity, but in speed and road performance they are fully grown up. A typical 7 h.p. car ■will have a four-cylinder water-cooled engine with a capacity of 750 c.c., but the engine will-develop up to 10 h.p. and 15 h.p. and this by reason of its aluminium pistons and well-balanced parts. The advance in metallurgy enables the latter to be made extremely light and yet possess a considerable margin of safety. Of primary interest to tho Dominion motorist, however, is tho car in tho 12-16 h.p. class with six-cylinder engine. A typical example of this will have a wheel base of Bft. 9in. and a 4ft. 2in. track. It will cover 30 miles to the gallon and the speedometer will "clock" 50 miles without unduly stressing tho engine. „ Your correspondent visited the machinery exhibition a few weeks previously and dill not fail to be impressed by the truly wonderful machine tools by which the modern motor car is made. With these tools and with tho extraordinary tough steels now at their disposal tho manufacturer is able to save weight in a way never before possible. This is whv America is now following the British light car lead and making her components smaller and with a less extravagant use of materials.

Cars are better to-day than they were a year ago. Tho manufacturer, having mado his engine moro silent, _ notes the noise of tho gear-box and tins .receives his attention. By the same process of evolution ho embodies more skill in hi:? roach-work, and les3 wood, and in the find result obtains a better speed with less fuel consumption.