NEW MODEL CARS EXCITE INTEREST AT WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 65, 16 March 1949, Page 5

NEW MODEL CARS EXCITE INTEREST AT WHAKATANE

Ford ‘Forty-Niner’ Breaks Tradition With the arrival in town over the last few days of some new models, the public here has gone all new car conscious, and there was a good deal of interest being shown yesterday in a Ford “Forty-niner” exhibited by Armstrong’s and the twfe Morris cars at C.L.C. Motors. Armstrongs invited proprietors and workers in the trade to a preview of the “Forty-niner” on Monday night when, over a few drinks and a buffet supper provided by the management of the local Ford garage the points of the new model were explained and discussed. Entirely New Car

This new car represents the fourth big. model change in over 40 years. Made low, with simple lines, the new model owes little to previous models, Model T (15 million sold 1908-27), Model A (5 million 1928-32), Model V 8 and the six (12 million 1933-48). The maker claims that, without a fication, it has no equal in its price class. It is entirely new from ground to roof and from bumper to bumper, improved in performance and roadability, in beauty, styling, economy, safety, durability and luxurious comfort.

The strong rugged “box-type” frame on the new Ford provides a frame and body combination actually's9 per cent more rigid than any previous models. The short, low, Hotchkiss drive line tends toward smooth and quiet performance, means that vibration and whip are eliminated and permits lower body mounting while still preserving ample road clearance—7l” when loaded.

The new V 8 is a 100 horse-power motor with 239 cu. in. displacement. There are many new features which make this engine smoother, quieter and more economical—such as improved cooling and ventilation, improved ignition and balanced carburetion. Service accessibility is a key feature.

New Type Suspension Perhaps the biggest departure from traditional Ford design is the completely new suspension. Gone are the transverse springs inherited from the Model T and improved over the years. In their place the “Forty-niner” has “hydracoil” independent front wheel suspension (with the new steering linkage engineered in balance with it) and longitudinal “para-flex” semi-elip-tic springing at the rear.

The rear axle is semi-floating with hypoid ring gear and pinion in a new light weight banjo-type housing. The use of this type rear axle plus the Hotchkiss type drive line eliminates need for a high tunnel in the body floor. Hypoid gears are also quieter in operation and longer lived than the spiral bevel type.