THE SUCCESS OF SMALL CARS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 60

THE SUCCESS OF SMALL CARS.

The English industry has secured one branch of -the automobile movement and made it almost exclusively its own. This is the small two-seated car, tor which (according to an exchange) there has been a big and growing demand during the past two 4 years. Continental makers have steadily Refused to cater for the man of moderate means, apparently under the impression that, their trade in larger cars would be effected. In England there is a very- large jslass' who -are only - able -, to maintain and drive a small, moderate-priced car, while professional men,- such -as doctors, prefer me^smaller -vehicle for their work rather . man a large car. .-It must be admitted -. mat "the French trade has awakened to-, the situation, and has produced of late lome very, nice little cars, but they are i not any- better than, if as good as, the "l ' English .• makes ; - and. arriving late, after ] ether cars had^made their reputations and i 1 a great measure created .the demand,, ihe Continental makers find their produc-s lions - placed t in the background. Meanwhile the leading English firms are experiencing a wonderful' demand for vehicles of this type. . The introduction of a light car has also been a powerful factor -in the education,- of those -who, while wishing to possess and drive their own cars, were dubious of their power to learn how to control and adjust the mechanism. It may be said that the small car is built on the unit system — viz., one of everything, having a single cylinder motor, single coil, single driving chain, etc., — which makes it evident that the manufacturing- cost may be reduced to its lowest limits and Tenders it a -simple -matter for • • the novice to follow the sequence of opera- 7 • tions in driving the car. There is .also bo much less liability for anything to go wrong. -