Innovations In The Design of Motor Cars

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18899, 28 December 1935, Page 11

Innovations In The Design of Motor Cars

LONDON, Oet. 25. THE owner of :i motor car is naturally interested in the Olympic} show, as it indicates the progress of the year, not only of the industry, but tho strides forward with regard to the equipment of the car which are likely to benefit him as an individual owner. An excellent summary of the improvements made is given by the motoring correspondent of the News-Chronicle, who says:—

"Innovations in car design have a way ot' creeping gradually into the experience of the purchaser of moder-ately-priced ears. Usually they have been tried out on expensive or pri-vately-built oars many years before. "But one year the average motorist, going to Olympia lo look over the new models, suddenly realist's thai a ear which has not a certain fundamental improvement in design will be completely declassed by next year. "So it was aboul, 1U years ago with four-wheel brakes; so it has been in the past two years with simplified gear-changing system. And this year's Olympia marks the beginning of the universal adoption of indepeu dent front wheel .springing; by next year's Olympia, few manufacturers will dare to make a ear without it.

The Pot-Hale and the Running Boards

"After all, it. is mere elementary sanity lo expoel that a ear should glide along on an even keel, with the wheels free to drop into a pothole and come up again without swinging the whole ear; but as long as you attach the wheels to a rigid front axle, and this rigid axle by semirigid springs to the ear itself, the car must feel the bump—and so must, the passengers.

"Jt is only tjie excellent surface of most of our main roads that has allowed us lo struggle along without this development hitherto. "Another advance of purest sanity in car design is the abandonment of ruifhing-boards. "Cars are so low-built nowadays that running boards are epiite unnecessary for ease of entry, and modern streamline design makes it possible to provide a smooth, slick appearance while widening the bodv steadily from the radiator grille backwards.

Three People in Front. "So why rub shoulders —or in tho case of cars ,of even moderate sizo why not have full room for three people in the front seat? Of course, gear and brake levers must be kept out of the way; but brake levels are easily moved to the right side of the driver, and with a pre-selector gear control on the steering column, or a nicely cranked gear lever, what's the difficulty ? "Then there are the pressed steel wheels of' 193 G; easy to look at and easy to clean, rounding oil" the "all-one-piece' appearance of 'restrained streamline' bodies.

'' One more improvement in body design to which the manufacture is are turning their attention is luggagecarrying capacity. Not all of them have taken enough pains yet, but 't will come. Surely it is pretty absurd that in many cars which, transport four people in comfort space is still not; provided to carry even two decent-sized suitcases under cover, except by mixing them with the passengers' feet. "Let the manufacturers when providing luggage space also face the fact that the average suitcase is srpiare and flatfish."

Know jjjess About Cars. Do people know as much about their cars as in the old days? A salesman at Olympia, talking to a Manchester Guardian representative, said: — " 'Owners know less about their cars nowadays than they did in the days when they had to do running repairs every few miles. They come to the motor show already primed by the newspapers or the manufacturers or their agents with full mechanical details about the two or three cars from which they are going to choose one. The visit, to Olympia, is merely to see the cars, sit in them, and base their final decision on roominess, comfort, and looks—the factors which printed information cannot adequately convev.'

"Whether this theory is generally true," comments the representative, "or not, it i.s a fact that, to-day at

Olympia one heard surprisingly little question and answer. The aisles were thronged with men who gazed steadfastly al the cars, sometimes got into one and riddled with gear-lever or dashboard, and then went on to another stand. The salesmen stood loady to demonstrate or answer questions, but as often as not the inspection proceeded in silence.'' Waiting for the Caravan Car.

"It is matter of some surprise," says the Times, "that an effort has not. been made to develop the caravan idea in connection with the car itself. Caravans arc becoming more and more attractive; but there are large numbers of motorists who object to them because of their weight.

"These motorists often try to convert their cars into caravans by devices for lowering the backs of the front seals, so that these seats can be converted into sleeping bunks. A brisk demand for a car which would be capable from the outset of such conversion ought to exist. The popularity of the saloon over all other models is based upon its qualities as a 'house on wheels.'

"During the holiday season these qualities become a touchstone of success. There can bo little doubt that they are capable of much more extensive development than has as yet been attempted. If the car on the road has been brought to perfection, the car off the road has been largely overlooked. ft represents a very substantial element in modern motoring."