Tests in Germany of the Peoples Car

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19919, 22 April 1939, Page 11

Tests in Germany of the Peoples Car

A NUMBER of English technical experts and motoring journalists were recently invited to Germany to try the new" KdF (strength through joy) Volkswagen, or "people's car," on the road. Their impressions make interesting reading, and also make it appear that previous rumours concerning the dropping of the scheme, which is to supply a car to German workers at a very low figure, arc unfounded.

Most of the visitors were unanimous in their appreciation of the design, which is the work of the famous Dr. Porsche, who produced the successful but unconventional Auto-Union racing cars, but have certain criticisms tb offer regarding the road performance and the general finish.

The engine is a small air-cooled "flat four" fitted in the streamlined tail, and, though rated at only 8 h.p., this is so highly geared that it never goes beyond about 3,000 r.p.m. The purpose of this is to allow the car 1 : be driven at, a steady 50 m.p.h. on the autobahn for hours on end without undue stress, a special oiling system also doing its part in making this sustained speed possible. The maximum speed is about 58 m.p.h. However, the high back axle gearing has made the general tl:ip-gear performance very poor indeed, and apparently it is necessary to use th gear lever continually when traveilin in traffic or hilly country. Poor Leg' Room. The pooi- leg room in the back sc.. has been condemned unanimous!. but on the other hand, all these e> perls are high in their praise of t'r suspension cm rough surfaces, inch ■ pendent springing being used a round. The interior fittings and i'u nishings are staled to be very cruri ■ and not at all acceptable to th: average motorist of other ccuntrie . but body and chassis are at least ve:\ staunch. The appearance of the car is decidedly unconventional, having curved deck in the front like the tai of a conventional roadster, and in th: are stored the spare wheel, petrc; tank and tcols, while there also is r: large space ' for luggage. The fourseater saloon body is streamline' back from this, the curved and slot ing tail accommodating the engine.