Motor Cars of 1927

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 93, 11 July 1927, Page 12

Motor Cars of 1927

Olympia Exhibition Opened Range From £l5O to £1450 OPEN cars and closed cars, small cars and big cars, brightlypainted cars and cars in modest colours, and cars lowpriced and expensive, polished to the last square inch, and representative of most of the world’s big manufacturers—such was the first impression of the array at the Olympia Motor Exhibition in the Central Wharf sheds when it opened on Saturday night.

CONSIDERING the weather eondiv tions ruling there was a very large attendance, and there was barely a car at the show that was not thoroughly inspected, inside and out. ~ Every variety of car was represented, from a touring model, priced at a little over £l5O. up to a huge seven-seater sedan priced at £1.450. Many of the exhibitors marked their cars with their prices, an action that is always appreciated by the public, and one which might well be adopted by the exhibitors who have not yet taken this action.-TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER Having moved forward from the wretchedly uncomfortable class of vehicle that the pioneers among the motorists laughed and swore over in about 1902, to luxurious closed cars of the 1926 period, the manufacturers appear this year to have been put to it to show much change from last year, but they have done it. Much of the improvement is internal, in the way of engine and transmission improvements —not noticed much by the Olympite —but it was impossible on Saturday evening to move among the latest productions and not be impressed with the finish of the cars. New colour schemes were perhaps the most noticeable. Alany of the manufacturers have not branched out in this respect, but many of them have, and there appeared on the stands several cars in as many as three colours, beautifully toned, and with light colours perdominating. ATTRACTIVE FINISH Body-work has been made more attractive, the lines better designed, and the interior finishings excellent. The day of the black painted metal instrument board has gone forever —except on the low-priced cars—and wooden panelling and steering wheels are much in evidence in many cars. Others, again, gain delightful effects with worked metal, and ingenious lighting systems. VARIED POWER Power varies a great deal. Everything is there from a tiny four-cylinder with its high-revolution engine, to the huge “straight eight,” each a masterpiece in its class. Naturally the petrol consumption varies accordingly, from about 50 miles to the gallon to a mere 10, the latter giving the impression that

the owner requires a bowser in his : back-yard. j Several of the exhibitors showed the I internal workings of their engines. engine- heads and cran’k cases having i been removed, and the engines Turned over slowly by independent electric motors, the working parts being shown, where necessary, in looking-glasses. American cars predominated, but there was an excellent representation of English productions, and a scattering of Continental machines. The thing mainly noticeable in connection with the English cars was the lower prices. One of the famous English makes, a year or two ago offered at £1.400 or so. was on show at nearly a 50 per cent, reduction, and all the English and Continental cars were showing at a ch*op of from 20 to 50 per cent, on prices of a few years ago. Altogether there were about £IOO,OOO worth of cars on show, and there was •something for every class of prospective buyer, and a variety of causes for envy among those unable to finance a purchase. SHOW DECLARED OPEN The show was declared open by th& Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon. who was introduced by Mr. F. G. Farrell, president of the Auckland Motor Traders’ Association, under whose auspices the show is being held. Mr. Baildon said the exhibition was a credit to the association. The motor had been the feature of modern development, and Auckland could place to the motors’ credit the splendid roads that the city now enjoyed. Auckland had given a great lead to the rest of New Zealand, and in the city and suburbs there was now a great total of concrete roading that had meant much to the city and to the motor traffic. Mr. Farrell said the growth of the motor had been criticised as an extravagance, but New Zealand owed much to its growth and present position to the transport provided by car and truck. Motor transport for passengers and goods would continue to be a vital feature of the progress of the country. He remarked on the increased proportion of the number of closed cars in all classes, and the improvements that had been effected, among which he placed high the new methods of painting by cellulose lacquers, as against the fragile enamels and paints of the past.