FLYING STANDARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 14 (Supplement)

FLYING STANDARD

Road Test

12 HORSE-POWER MODEL BEAUTY AND SMOOTHNESS Throughout the British Empire the 12 horse-powor car seems to have achieved remarkable popularity. The reason for this could bo readily understood after making a road test of the new Flying Standard Light Twelve during the week. Handling like a really big car, the 12 proved a remarkably lively and comfortable little machine that should make a wide appeal. It is misleading, perhaps, to speak of it as a little machine as it is a full five-seater. Several worth-while and unusual features are noticeable as soon as the car is entered. The twin electric windscreen wipers are operated by a large knurled knob in the centre of the dashboard. Turn to the left and the wiper starts; turn to the right and it stops. Nothing could be simpler, there being no pushing or pulling or unnecessary movements. The designers appear to have studied ease all along. The front seats are extremely easy to adjust, only the lightest pressure being necessarj' on the seat release button, the whole seat sliding effortlessly on greased tracks. By lifting a readily-accessible clasp on the steering column, the length of the column may bo adjusted over a wide range while the car is in motion. It is rather uncanny to pull the wheel up and down while spinning along at 40 miles an hour. Other points that come to mind are the leather and rubber pads in the commodious luggage trunk at the rear, provided to prevent leather suitcases from becoming scratched. The body is much more roomy than is usually expected with a 12 horse-power car and three should be able to sit in the back in complete comfort. The car tested was taken through Newmarket and Epsom to Cornwall Park and to the top of One Tree Hill. The machine had not been out of the packing case for many days and could not be driven too hard owing to the fairly stiff nature of the motor. However, speeds of 50 and 55 miles an hour were reached with ease in several places An excellent top-gear performer, the Standard was exceptionally

fast on hills when third gear was used. A change down to second was not necessary until the actual summit was reached. No very rough surfaces were encountered, but the car rode well on every routo it was taken over. The adoption of the American practice of mounting the motor well forward over the front axle makes for admirable stability. Steering is pleasantlv responsive while the brakes are definitely above the average in efliciency. Made by BendixCowdrey, tho brakes embody a new but well-tried arrangement of compensated road and levor operation without cables. Adjustment is very easy, it only being necessary to count the clicks as a small wheel is twisted. On the car tested, braking was not perfectly even, this probably being due to the fact that the machine was so fresh from the case Side-by-side valves, three-bearing crankshaft, aluminium pistons, light alloy connecting rods, machined combustion chambers and a hot spot induction system which is fed from a downdraught carburetter are mechanical points of interest. The four-sneed gearbox is built unitwise with tne motor. Even at the highest speeds, the motor is quiet and almost possesses tho silkiness of a small six-cylinder machine. The light 12 is a high-grade mediumsize car that combines muny of the virtues of larger cars with operating economy and ease of handling Kittle mention is necessary in regard to the beautifully streamlined body, the accompanying photograph speaking for itself.