MOTOR INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18579, 13 December 1934, Page 14

MOTOR INDUSTRY

HOME FACTORIES BUSY DESIGN OF NEW UAHS The busy period .which the English motor industry is experiencing, particularly in the production of tlie popularsize and low-priced vehicles, was referred to by Air. T. Seabrook, who returned to Auckland by the Aoraugi after a business visit to England. Air. beabrook said both the Baris and Olympia motor exhibitions had shown that there was a strong tendency toward low, graceful lines. In some cases designers had gone to the extreme, sacrificing visibility anil comfort for appearance, but, nevertheless, it was evident that the body lines tor 1935 would be stream-lilted. * Referring to the highpriced ears, Mr. Seabrook said some nad impressed him particularly. Moving noiselessly and with no apparent effort, many of them were capable of travelling at 100 miles ail hour. They possessed amazing acceleration and wonderful braking systems. During a motor tour from Land’s End to .John o’ Groats, Mr. Seabrook said he had found the roads generally, except. for the new by-pass roads, were out suitable for sustained high speed on account of the number of bends and curves. At the same time, however, all bad excellent surfaces. lie laid been miicli impressed bv the activities of the automobile clubs, and particularly by the signposting. Tin* motoring public in England, said Mr. Seabrook, was most courteous, and rarely did one see a driver who did not give good signals. It was the custom, lie had noticed, for overtaking cars to be given definite signals to pass .slower-moving vehicles, providing it was safe for them to do so. As a result a motorist could assume that if lie did not secure the "come on” signal it was not safe for him to pass. On the by-pass roads it was possible to reach great speeds on the outside lines. On several occasions Mr. Seabrook said lie had been cruising along at between 55 and 60 miles ail hour, when big cars, after giving a warning note on the horn, had passed at a speed of 80 miles ail hour or more without creating danger. While Mr. Seabrook was in England lie placed an order for a racing model Austin “Seven.” This car, which will lie delivered later, is super-charged and can attain a speed of 5G5 miles an hour.