MOTOR-CAR SALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

MOTOR-CAR SALES.

ONE-THIRD TO AUCKLAND. New car sales in New Zealand during the first four mouths of this year averaged in excess of 1600 a month, tho total for tho period being 6479. In tho orrcsponding four months of 1920 sales totalled 4319. Tho increaso this year is just 50 per cent., but tho Auckland provinco has enjoyed an augmentation above tho Dominion average, the figure for the four months being 60 per cent, above last year's aggregato for four months. The Auckland provinco is now absorbing more than onethird of tho new cars put on tho roads in tho Dominion. Thero has recently been an improvement in tho distribution, servico and publicity organisation of car agencies in this provinco and tho impression created has no doubt had its influence in raising tho Auckland quota. Auckland province is not easy to handlo from tho dealer's point of view and there aro still many areas which appear to be molorised considerably below their resources. Following are details of tho provincial car sales in the first four months oi' each year:— 11)20 1023 Xo. No. Auckland .. .. *2171 lIIC.I Wellington . . . . 1 I*o Canterbury . . . . > I(lT'i Ot.mo . . .. i)8o Jhiwko's Buy .. -l-it 28:1 Taranaki . . . . -JO!> > Southland . . . . Jit "mi Nelson . . . . I'o Oil Marlborough . . 7!> NVestland .. .57 '25 01711 43L1) An analysis of the motor register gives interesting details of tho individual sales of the we 11-kuown cars. Of tho 6479 sold in tho four months all but 102 havo been classified according to make. Tlio., 18 dif- . ferent makes of British cars included in | tho list accounted for 974 of the sales j credited to tho 6377 cars classified. Ful- i lowing aro details:— ' Ford . . . . 1159 Vnuxhall . . 09 j Chevrolet .. 71'.'2 Standard .. ! Essex . . . . 577 Triumph • • • -•* 1 Austin . . . . r>.V2 I!eo . . . . '2l ! Whippet, .. 077 llillnian .. i Plymouth .. WW Packard .. J.i Doclko . . . . 293 Hover .. . . i:» l)i< Soto . . . . -Crl fiat . . - . •[ j Xach .. .. l'.l'-t '.J j Morris . . . . I*7 Clyno . . . . Si Buick .. .. 171 Wolstdc-y .. I; I Pontine .. ~ r>-'l Minerva .. n i Htlfjby .. .. KVS Crossley .. i> Chrysler .. til Cadillac .. Hudson .. .. 11- Bean .. .. 4 Craham-L'niKC 111 Citroen .. . • •> Durant . . . . !»'■• Swilt . . . . :! Erskine .. \eho .. .. : Oldsmobile .. *•"> Talbot .. .. Singer .. .. >2 Trojan .. Hludebnker . . 7C» Sunbeam . . 1 Willys-Knight <"•- Humber .. '2 llupmolulo . . -12 Other makes . . 102 i Oakland . . M "7~ Total four months CI.J I

OVERLOAD STARTING. Tho large, six-cylinder engines fitted to high-powered commercial chassis present a starting problem which discourages many operators from fitting sell-starters. In cold weather the load is excessive for even very large starters One British firm has obtained satisfaction by fitting two self-starters, operated simultaneously by a single switch. The starters aro arranged on opposite sides of the engine, and the pinions engage with the normal type of ling gear. Since Diesel engines have been adopted for at least two European trucks it is likely that some system of raising tho power of self-starters will bo given early and very serious consideration. OIL FROM COAL.

Conversion of solid lumpy coal into petrol or similar liquid fuel to run automobiles and aeroplane engines is a topic that has lent itself to much discussion of recent years. It is a life work of many scientists in Europe, particularly Franco and Germany. Concerning the production of motor fuel from these sources, approximately 2.5 gallons of refined motor benzol is obtained per ton of coal carbonised in by-product coke ovens. In 1923. the United Slates produced ninety-five million gallons (38,000,000 tons of coal carbonised), which was 1| per cent, of the 6,600,000,000 gallons of petrol used. In 1926, coko oven benzol amounted to 112,000.000 gallons, which was 1.02 per cent, of tho 11,000,(XX).000 gallons of petrol used. In Australia, a fair quantity of benzol is produced, but not nearly enough to meet the demand. OPEN CAR VIRTUES. Jn the early days of motoring, bcloi'e even front windscreens were standard, tho doctors used to write of (lie enormous physical benefit derived from tho rush •of wind iu tho face. One to protect the eyes v. if 11 goggles, and for flic rest enjoy tho wind. Then speed increased, anil the windscreen become a necessity. The speed furl her increased, and the passengers in the back seats suffered from back draught, and screens for back seats were invented. Tho rush of wind, which certainly did no harm and probably did good, was overcome. With the saloon car, motoring can hardly bo considered an open-air pastime. But for tho rush of wind wo liavo in too many cases exhaust fumes and insidious and unconquerable draughts. In severe weather or exceptionally rainy weather closed ciys are not only reasonable, but justified, but in normal weather, and for pleasure motoring, ono cannot help thinking that tho luxury is dearly bought.