SECRET NEW CARS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1934, Page 14

SECRET NEW CARS

REVELATION AT OLYMPIA. KEEPING ABREAST OF TIMES. (Special Correspondent). London, Sept. 6. Although the new car programmes are now being published almost every other day, it need not be assumed that they represent the whole story of the models for 1935. What is happening is that most manufacturers are determined to keep abreast of each other as regards their general programmes of car construction—by common consent they decided not to publish these before midAugust—but having thus vindicated their up-to-dateness, they consider themselves free to introduce at their own discretion other models which will have special features. ’ There is scarcely a maker- of cars who, in addition to his ordinary programme, has not kept something up his sleeve to reveal later in the year, presumably about the time of the Olympia motor show. This means that the annual exhibition is likely to resign in some measure its old appeal. For some years now Olympia has been divested of much of its interest owing to the almost total disappearance of the element of surprise. You went there, not to be confronted with some new dramatic change in design or some arresting alteration in price, .but merely to see under one roof cars which lacked novelty because they had been already on view for months past at the showrooms of the dealers. A revelation to the old practice of keeping the dustsheets on the new models until the opening hour of the motor show would certainly be advantageous to that exhibition, the attendance at which has declined for some years. I think it would be a good thing for the motor trade as a whole if all new cars were first presented at Olympia and no announcements made before then. People who want to buy new cars in the late summer, but are deterred from doing so because of the imminence of next year’s models, would be more ready to pay their money for a current model because the alternative would be to do without a car for some of the best months of the year. •LATER SHOW SUGGESTED. ■ It might even be a good thing to defer publication of the new car programmes, also the date of the annual motor show, to January or February on the understanding that the new models were in actual production by then and immediate deliveries available. This would enable the sale of current models to go on till the end of the year, which would be good for trade, and it would put an end to the absurd position whereby a 1935 car can be bought in 1934 and can only be resold as a 1934 car in 1935, with a consequent substantial drop in values. But these considerations are probably well known to the governing body of the motor industry—the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders—and the difficulties of securing unanimity among all its varied membership is also well known. But they appear to have achieved agreement in one important respect which is not without interest to the car owner who does not bother much about the politics of motor industry. He may find that the new agreement affects him rather closely when next he tries to effect a part-exchange deal. From September the only dealers .who will receive supplies of cars from' the makers are those who provide aftersales service facilities. The idea behind this scheme is to eliminate the type of motor trader who is willing to carry on his business with a smaller margin of profit than his fellow traders. Why discourage competition of this kind? it may be asked. Why should a car purchaser be deprived of the opportunity of buying cut-price cars if these are available? The reply is that cut-price cars are a different proposition to cu.tprice cigarettes or cut-price groceries. DETAIL IMPROVEMENTS. The new Humber programmes reveals that the current range—the 16/60, the Snipe and the Pullman models—are to be continued, an announcement regarding the Humber Twelve being meanwhile deferred. Having achieved a good, sound design as regards their larger models, the Humber Company have wisely determined to stick to it for the coming year. But improvements have, of course, been introduced in detail wherever it was found that the existing practice could be improved upon. Outstanding features of all three models are: clutchless gear change by free wheel, four-speed synchromesh gearbox, built-in jacking system, and selflubricating “dual-rate” springs. One novel point is a device which closes the radiator shutters immediately the engine stops, thus retaining heat when the car is left standing and obviating the too frequent use of the choke, with consequent “washing” of cylinder walls. On the Pullman is fitted a device known as a “sway eliminator” which prevents lurching and rolling on corners. Prices remain at their present level. In the 1935 Triumph models all the features embodied in the original Gloria have been retained. On the £285 Gloria saloon the equipment has been improved by bumpers front and rear, traffic indicators and increased luggage capacity. The new radiator and front cowl have been modified to conform with modern lines but the Triumph appearance is retained. The higher-powered four-cylinder Glorias can be obtained on the Vitesse chassis which has a specially tuned engine with a high-compres-sion cylinder head, high lift cams, large valves with polished ports and two carburetters differentially operated. On’ this chassis the Glorias, with lower coachwork, cost £320 for the saloon and tourer. The six-cylinder cars are generally of the same design and lines as the “fours.” All the Triumph models for 1935 are standardised with Triplex glass throughout, built-in jacking systems and freewheel pre-selection gear-change; and all except the 1087 c. c. saloon have a steering column which is instantly adjustable for rake and height and a windscreen sprayer which enables the driver to wash mud, dust and flies from the screen while the car is in motion.