MOTORING NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 196, 22 August 1935, Page 5

MOTORING NOTES

(By'

“Accelerator.”)

THE MOTOR TRADE A PROSPEROUS YEAR i I RETURN TO FORMER RA'J'ES OF i SA EES In the prosperity of the motor trade in New Zealand be judged by the num her of new motor vehicles sold, then the present year bids fair to be one of the most prosperous in the history of the motor trade. 'Hie peak year was in .1929, when 26,664 new cars and commercial vehicles were sold. For the half-year ended .June 30, 7218 motor-cars and 1545 commercial vehicles have been sold, which constitutes the biggest business which has been done since 1929 and 1930, when the sales of motor vehicles reached their peak. A better idea of this great, increase of business will be obtained by a comparison of the figures for the | the half-yearly period since 1929, which I arc as follow: ' Cars 1935. 1934. 1933. 1932. 1931. 1930. 1929 7219 3524 1691 1864 3590 8453 9912 Commercial Vehicles 1545 .1101 518 621 967 2292 2422 The Radiator says the volume of ' business now being done is what may be expected in normal conditions. The replacement market is generally finder-estimated, and will prove the backbone of the business for some years to come. The figures quoteu refer only to the sale of new vehicles, and the numbers of used vehicles sold is considerably greater than that of new vehicles. The turnover in the sale of new and used vehicles, together, has reached large dimensions, and if it was all done on a proper basis motor traders would have little to grumble at. Unfortunately the used car business, is not generally a profitable adjunct to the new car business, and in many cases is a serious handicap to it. £35,000,000 TRANSPORT SCHEME lii the House of Commons on Wednesday, June 5. the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that arrangements had just been completed under which London Transport, the London and North Eastern Railway ind the Great Western Railway would enter at once upon a programme of great improvements and extensions, states General Motors, N.Z., Ltd. An Exchequer guarantee of the loans to be raised would enable the.whole programme to be undertaken at once. The necessary legislation would be introduced as quicklv as possible after the Whitsuntide recess. The programme includes the substitution of trolley-buses for tram-cars on about 148 route-miles, and the total [ cost will be about £35,000.000. COURTESY AND SAFETY A PLEA FOR OBSERVANCE OF RULES “The heaviest lumbering truck and the smal.est. motor-car equally are amenable to the cardinal rules of the road, and on the fullest recognition of them, by each depends safety,” says the latest safety first message of the Canterbury Automobile Association. “There seems to be a growing tendency among quite a number of drivers of heavy commercial vehicles act as if they had some pre-emptive right to the roadway. This is particularly noticeable at some intersections where commercial vehicle drivers, she.t.ering behind the weight and size of their vehicles, take chances with speed 9nd other considerations. They adopt an autocratic attitude toward other »oad users, chiefly the private motorist in a light car. Buch behaviour i.s opposed to all the accepted principles of coad safety and courtesy. Truck and van drivers are bound by speed rules, and the off-side rule applies to them as well as to all other drivers of motor vehicles. ‘‘The discourtesy of the commercial vehicles driver, however, is not confined to intersections. It frequently happens that a heavy bulkily laden truck is driven so that it. monopolises Hie highway, the driver never paying any heed to the following and faster traffic. Such irritating behaviour breeds an unfriendliness among motorists, and leads to the taking of chances and the creation of dangers. “Every motor vehicle should have a rear-view mirror, and those mirrors should be consulted regularly. Because of overhanging loads and the narrowness of paved highways thoughtful commercial vehicle driver.' should pay almost as much attention to following traffic as they pa..- to the road ahead. “Road manners make, the motorist whether he. is in a 1 ght car or mounted in a cab of a heavy truck piled high with merchandise. It is all a matter of playing the game of com tesy and saletv.” CHRYSLER AIRSTREAM EIGHT A HANDSOME MODEL While there must, always be a difficulty in describing the road performance of a car that is not run in, it is possib.e to convey a general idea of the car's merits. Although the engine is a little stiff and speeds are, of course, restricted, there are always impressions to be gained by the “feel” of the car, by its general facility of handling and by the ride it gives, and it has generally been found that these impressions have, been confirmed ami enhanced when the car has been driven later in its life. A Chrysler airstream eight wa« tested recently, and although the engine was .stiff—the car was brand new—the performance was so good a.* to stamp the ear as n production of a very high order. Whether in town traffic, on the open road, of- on the hill, ; he car was always supremely easy to handle and it was a pleasure to be driving it. 'Chis new Chrysler model attrm ls the attention immediately with its handsome line.'. It is more moderately streamlined than the Chrysler airflow model, yet it h:i s t hp curves and general moulding of the most, approved streamline design. The modification on the a’rflovv design may be taken as an admission by the. manufacturers that the airflow, in spite, of its popularity among some people, has not yet reached a place in the public imagination at which' its very advanced lines

can be easily associated with the undoubted qualities of the Chrysler. So this new model has been produced to give the Chrysler-buying public a wider range of designs to chose from. Power, Spsed and Comfort The whole design of the, car tells nl power, speed and roomy comfort. The cruves begin with the radiator grill l , sweep over the long bonnet which marks the car immediately as a straight eight—and continue to the tail The vvindscreen glass has just, the right slope, to give th?, driver the best vision and to harmonise with the gen eral design, aud the tail finishes oil nicely. The first thing that impresses inside the car is its roominess. The designers have been generous in determining the width of the seals and in allowing head room and leg room. Standard equipment includes an automatic windshield wiper, rear view mirror, adjustable sunvisor, dome light, ash receiver, and a'-ni rests in front and rear compartments and foot rests iu the rear compartment of sedan models. The front wheels are individually sprung with adjustable taper roller wheel bearings. The rear axle is semi-floating with pressed steel housing. The bodies are all-steel, insulated agairxt noise and with the special Chrysler system of draught-free ventilation, and the brakes are four-wheel hydraulic internal expanding. The airstream is built on an exceptionally rigid double-drop X-girder-fuss lyfle of frame. The wiieelbase is 121 inches and the length from bumper to bumper. .197 inches. The transmission in synchro-silent with helical-type gears throughout, first speed and reverse operating on spirally cut spline. Second gear operates on constant mesh helically cut gear. Impressive Performance The sheer performance of this ear is just as impressive as its appearance. Acceleration is firm and swift and the general running in all gears smooth, silent and indicative of a great, reserve of power. Stability on corners and light yet accurate steering are other feature'. The car seems almost to steer itself. The brakes, too, are powerful. It will be realised from this brief mention of the outstanding qualities that the Chrysler airstream eight is a car in which high average speeds can be done. It is, of course, a top gear car and can be driven in c’osc traffic or taken slowly round sharp turns on top. Hills arc no trouble at all. Independent front, wheel suspension gives comfortable and steady riding an<l safe cornering. The steering is notable for an entire absence of kick from the front wheels. Although the action is as light as can possibly be desired, the steering is quick, and the driver has that sense of accurate control at all speeds which is, one of the be > features anv ear can have.