A NOTABLE CAR

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11649, 13 October 1923, Page 14

A NOTABLE CAR

AUSTIN NEW MODEL. The genius of Sir Herbert Austin has been responsible for many notable cars. A new 7-h.p. model is now announced. It is a featherweight four-cylinder car, with front .wheel brakes; and, an astonishing road performance. "With one or two minor differences, the four-cylinder engine of this new small oar is a miniature of tile 12-h.p. and 20-h.p. engines. It develops 10-h.p. at 2400 r.p.m., and will drive the oar, which weighs only 6cwt unladen, at a maximum speed of 45 m.p.h.; the bore and stroke are 55mm. and 75 mm. respectively, the cubic capacity being 696 c.o. With aluminium pistons, the light weight of the reciprocating parts permit an engine speed of 3200 r.p.m. to be attained. A detachable head is fitted, with the sparking plugs, disposed over the centre of each cylinder, while the valve springs and tappets are all enclosed. and are well lubricated by oil vapour from the two crankcase breathers, through which oil is blown into the valve stem chamber. The inlet pipe and exhaust manifold are cast in one, and lubrication is effected by a gear-driven oil pump. Thermo-syphon cooling is adopted, the radiator, which follows, standard Austin design and appearance, holding some two gallons of water. The engine and gearbox, which are in one unit, are anchored to the frame at four points. A single-plate clutch is housed with the flywheel in an aluminium casing, the rear portion of Which is cast in one with the gearbox, which provides ratios of 4}, 8 and 14J to 1, in conjunction with 26in by 3in wheels. The drive is transmitted via a ring-type metal universal joint at the back of the box to the rear axle, final drive being by spiral bevel gear, a parallel pinion-type differential being employed. Springing is effected by means of a transverse half-eliptic spring in front and quarter-eliptics at the rear. Detachable wire-wheels of Austin design are attached to the hubs by means of three studs and nuts. AN UNUSUAL FEATURE. An unusual feature in the equipment , of so small a car consists of the fitting of front-wheel brakes. These are hand operated, aud of the same pattern as the foot-operated, internal-expanding brakes on the rear wheels'. _ Steering is . >bv worm and segment, while the 15in steering wheel carries the throttle and | ignition levers. ' One might think that a reasonable - degree of comfort could hardly be ex- ' pected in a tiny car which weighs only 1 6cwt, but two adults can be seated very [ comfortably in the separate and ad- ' justable front bucket seats, behind 1 which is a scat to accommodate chil- \ dren or luggage. The fact that the gear lever is mounted centrally enables * the body to he fitted with a wide door ’ eaoh side. 1

The hood is particularly efficient, and side curtains, which when not in use are kept in the backs of the bucket seats, are supplied; the windscreen is of the single adjustable type, but an upper panel is attached to the leading edige of tho hood, and abuts closely when the hood is erected. The fourgallon petrol tank is under tho bonnet. The high power-weight ratio of the 7-h.p. Austin is responsible for its remarkable liveliness on the road. Its maximum speed is about 45 m.p.h., hut it is in hill-olinibing v that tho engine shows up to the greatest advantage. With two up, this astonishing little oar took a steep hill on the second gear of Btol at about 20 m.p.h. It is perhaps worth mentioning that the “seven” will heat the “twenty” on this hill if Both cars start from a standstill.

The engine is devoid of vibration, and the car hums along in a very pleasant manner; for so small a vehicle it is steady and safe, and compares favourably with the large cars from the point

of view of sdlenoo and smoothness. A point that will appeal especially to lady drivers is that tho engine, wthen warm, can actually bo started with one finger. The initial cost in England of this little car is expected to be in the neighbourhood ol £2OO, thus enabling it to compete on the score of price with the more expensivo side-car combinations.