The Paris Salon

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18591, 29 December 1934, Page 9

The Paris Salon

'J’HE Paris motor show, which is held almost contemporaneously with Olympia differs from it in that it is characteristically Continental and has always been noted for the number of bizarre and unorthodox machines which arc exhibited.

It is largely a demonstration of new vogues rather than a display ,of utility types and this year there were many remarkable models to be seen. Among them was a V-engjnod .22 h.p. Citroen with front drive and streamlined coachvvork, a vehicle in which practically all the weight of tho working pa'rts is carried at the front of tho car. But among Continental designers there is an opposed school of thought which favors rear-engines, and several examples of that sort were shown, inc-hyling a light Mercedes with tubular chassis frame, and the Tatra, which lias a rear-mounted, aircooled power unit, and streamlined body. It is .said that this latter car is one of the best examples of that style of design, because of its roominess, luggage space, and comforTable passenger accommodation. Several manufacturers, who have hitherto employed conventional reardrive transmissions have now changed to front-wheel drive, and it is significant that no firm which .has adopted the latter form of mechanism lias reverted to rear-drive.

The alterations in gear boxes are more or less on all fours with developments in England; that is to say, syncro-mesh transmissions are favored, but many producers have adopted the Wilson pre-solective epicydie gearing, while others have installed the Cotal transmission, which is a compact but heavy planetary gear box, in which the ratios are .operated'by .magnetic brakes and the call for driving skill is minimised.

Over-drive top gears have also received attention and' on the Aries model there are two bevels and two pinions so that an extra high top gear can be meshed by turning the top of the gear lever. On most of the ears the suggestion of stream lining was pronounced. Some manufacturers have chosen the exaggerated American body lines, while others have been content to obtain a rakish appearance by less spectacular methods such as sloping the windscreen and front pillars to conform to the long curve of the roof line, extending the back of the body in Iho form of a prolonged tail and filling streamlined mudguards. Tn some instances the headlamps are recessed and one of the AlfaRomeo models had-the lamps caged between the front grille and the radiator.