MOTOR JOTTINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19815, 5 December 1919, Page 3

MOTOR JOTTINGS.

POST-WAR CARS. The continued delay in.the arrival of English, post-war models is causing considerable concern in the motor world. True, a few shipments have already arrived, but there is in the majority of cases so little difference between the pre-war models and those which are now coining to hand that they can scarcely be regarded as genuine, poetwar machines. It will 1» interesting to find out, how far the English and) European manufacturers who have gone in for quantity production hare sacrificed the individualism of their cars. One of the principal arguments the salesmen of European and English cars have had hitherto is that the machines they axe selling arc not produced on a quantitive basis, but have a far finer finish than is possible to lie obtained when huge production at a cheap cost is the cltief object of manufacturers. The Austin people .have gone in for quantitive production, a.nd. as far as one can judge, their machines are exceedingly like the American article. I’rosumably, an equal similarity will be noticed in all cars which arc produced on this system. Amongst the well-known ears which are Mttouncecl, for early arrival in Australia is the liala. The big Italian motor firms have apparently continued making cars throughout' The Avar, and were, therefore, ready directly it was over to resume commercial production. The advance information concerning the Itola is to the effect that the new post-war model is a great improvement upon the last pre-war models which were received in Australia;. 'Die finish is excellent, and the individualism of each car is carefully preserved. The new cars are absolutely up to date, being fitted with self-starters, electric lights, high tension magnetos and Sankey wheels, French manufacturers seem to be having: even greater difficulty than the English in getting back to ordinary production. None of thorn appears to have obtained anything like pre-war output. A typical example is the Lorraine Dietrich factory, which, during the" war, employed 3000 workers, and now has a staff of 500 only. It puts all its energies into the building of aviation engines, and lias not built a motor-car Jor more than four years. Since the fighting stopped it has had to get out new designs, prepare new jigs and tools, and to adjust a strike. This ha-s meant long delay, but lack of production if, - not entirely fkio to the unreadiness of the motor-car factories themselves. Foundries and steelworks have been backward, and transportation throughout Franco has been in a disorganised condition. The Hispana Suiza has had test cars on the road for some time, and hopes to begin producing a new' high-class overhead valve six, embodying much nviation practice. Tho Renault people have concentrated very largely on agricultural tractor production and are turning out twenty-four machines a woek. _ They hope, ijowevor. to begin big production on a 10-li.p. fourcylinder model which, calculated at the ordinary rate of exchange, will be sold for £3oo. The promised eight-cylin-der touring car'of the Dc Dion Bouton is not yet on the market, and this company, too. is concerning itself hugely with the building of agricultural tractors and trucks. Dekge, which, during tho war, was engaged on the production of staff cars, is perhaps the most advanced of all on its post-war programme. As long ago as March last Berliet showed, a. cheap American type of car at the Lyon’s Fair, but has not been able to begin, onantitivc production yet. as promised. Several of the well-known French motor firms have decided to go in for the building of Diesel engines. _ Peugeot has not, ref started production, hub has plans well advanced for a rotary valve six. The Citroen Company, which promised such great, production this year, is a long w.-jy irom living up to its programme, of one hundred cars a day. The Da.rracq, Utdo. and Oharron Companies. like so many English firms, are marking time with modified pre-war models to act as stop-gaps until the now types are ready. The Darracq Company promises an' eight-cylinder V type cngine. __________