The Joy of Motoring.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1790, 8 November 1919, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Joy of Motoring.

A dozen years ago practically the only joy of motoring was that afforded by the purely mechanical attributes of automobiles—the means of getting, over, ground quickly and making pleasure trips that were not possible, in a limited time, with the old horse and buggy. The motorcars of those days were not particularly comfortable vehicles^ To-day, however, there are joys in motoring tl\at were not possible then. As the mechanical side of motor-car construction was developed, so was greater attention paid to the designing furnishing of cars. Nowadays, the motorist with an up-to-date car adds to the advantage of quick travel the pleasured riding in a silent, easy-run-ning vehicle that is, besides being a fine example of the advance of the age in engineering skill, a thing of beauty. True conifort springs not only from the body's sense of physical, well-being, but from the gratification of the aesthetic senses as well. In a nutshell, the most comfortable car is that which just suits the owner's individual taste and desire. People were not likely to remain satisfied for long with the type of automobile which was most in evidence a dozen years ago. Manufacturers had to recognise that fact, and to pay special attention to design and artistic appearance of cars, as well as to the mechanical construction of them.. But every manufacturer who turns out a complete motor-car .must stamp it with his individuality rather than that of the purchaser, unless he charges the latter a very high price. Only by standardisation can prices be kept low. So that the man who insists upon buying a motor-car in toto restricts his opportunity to that of merely purchasing from among the many different makes that which happens to be nearest to suiting his individual case.

Fortunately for New Zealanders, however, there' is; a way by which any motorist in the Dominion can obtain a car which suits him to a nicety. All he has to do is to select a chassis that suits him, and get the well-known firm of Sterns and Son, of 18 Lower High Street, Christchurch, to build on it a. body that, will meet his dt'Sires. In this age of specialisation, Stevens and Son have specialised in (he making of motorcar bodies, and their work has won for them such encomiums from all parts of New Zealand that they are rushed wrth* orders. , The man who wants a car that will suit New Zealand conditions and suit himself should get oh their list immediately. But, though so busy making. car bodies, the Arm manages to keep a portion of the staff on the repairing of car bodies—<ahd ho one can do that better. And the quality of the firm's painting is unexcelled.