MOTORING TOPICS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20277, 11 April 1934, Page 11

MOTORING TOPICS.

New American Models Arrive. There has been a great fillip to the interest shown by motorists in new productions since the new model American cars began to arrive on the? market. With the Hudson Terrapjane, the Studebaker, the Chrysler productions, the Ford and Willys, motorists have interesting comparisons in de sign. Each has its own distinctive features., but every one reflects the great value that is being offered to the motorist to-day, despite the handicaps of high duties and the exchange rate. There is not the slightest doubt that the streamline tendency in body design has come to stay. Independent wheelspringing, making its appearance on the Terraplane, is on trial, and, judging by the encouraging results, will stay. A Munificent Gift. Lord Nuffield, by which title Sir William Morris has been known since he was raised to the peerage, has presented Guy’s Hospital, London, with the magnificent gift of £45,000, to be used for the construction of a new block, England is most fortunate in its foremost men in the automotive industry, for most of them have made contributions to the nation’s welfare. Origin of Names. Some months ago a story appeared In these columns indicating the derivation of many of the more prominent names of motor-cars. The name Alvie was under discussion in London recently, and it was discovered that the name was Greek for thQse portions of a fish which do not reach the meal table. It is reported that the manufacturers are not the least discouraged, for whatever the Greek meaning may be, everybody agrees that it is a n'ce sounding name for a very fine car. The Monte Carlo Rally. The Monte Carlo rally, that annual event which is a most phenomenal success, has been run, and once again Bri tish cars were well to the fore. It has been suggested quite often that a similar event could be run here. It is too late this season to consider it, but something might be done about it next season. It is not a difficult event to run, but it might be difficult to persuade motorists to travel the distances necessary to make the event interesting. Prize money would be *he biggest attraction, and if it were possible to get a municipality sufficiently interested to put up a big purse to provide for several good class prizes, the event would probably be most ruccessful.