THE NEW MODELS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 23, 27 January 1934, Page 15

THE NEW MODELS

STREAMLINING ARRIVES

PUBLIC TO DECIDE ISSUE

Fully streamlined cars are to be introduced to the American public in this year's models, but all cars are not going to be so built. The vogue of, the past year will be continued and the user will judgo between the two^ , The photographs reproduced in these columns show what to; expect. .

, r .lt is interesting, however, to hear that .certain manufacturers are going in for almost complete . streamlining. Others will confine- [ themselves to streamlining treatment'of the radiator, fenders, ; rear' end, etc., much on the lines of last year. As a great manycars will retain,' the prosaic forms familiar over a number of years, one result will be a contrast in appearance that has not been4 in evidence for a long time. Cars were getting ;to look all very much alike. ."."■• i

There are advantages in Btroanilining^but it is not?the advantages so much as appearance that manufacturers will have to look to for sales. Engineers know all. the problems that streamlining entails; they'are several, and seriousi Streamlining . serves no great purpose until speed becomes considerable; the higher it becomes the greater becomes, the benefit of streamlining. It takes less petrol to" drive the machine along. ' :

This, of course, is excellent, but the engineer-knows that he has a hurdle to face in providing suitable engine power. Supposing, for the sake of argument, that a car not streamlined is provided with an engine ratedat 30h.p. and'has

a cruising speed of 40^45. miles an'hour. The same car, streamlined, would cruise perhaps at GO. "This is tod high for practical purposes, so tho engineer cuts tho power down. By installing a 20 h.p. engine and streamlining he will give a car that still cruises at 40-45 miles an. heur. Actually, due to streamlining, the ■ cruising speed of most American cars is much higher, from 50-60 miles an hour. Throughout a largo part of tho United States this is no great drawback, but outside the Prairies it is decidedly too high!

Cutting down the engine power to keep speed, within reason meets the position in level country with long, straight, wide ronds, but the moment the car attacks hills it is at a disadvantage. Streamlining ceases to bo a factor. The resistance to forward movement is no longer wind; it is the rising grade. Tlio consequence is that a streamlined car that1 will cruise- comfortably on top on the level becomes crippled when it faces mountainous country. It has not the power to make tho ascent except by recourse- to the lower gears. On the other hand, the ordinary car that cruises comfortably on the level has to overcome a wind resistance that, in effect, to a largo extent/ supplies the place of a hill, and when hilly-country is reached and wind resistance ceases to be tho main factor, it is able to climb because it has tho power to do so.

Actually, of course, y streamlining ia being adopted for its appeal of line, not for reasons of economy. This is evidenced by the fact, as will be seen in an article below, that engines so far from being reduced in power are being made to develop more. This trend was dealt with by tho famous British, engineer Mr. Porneroy when he visited America recently to attend an engineering conference at Chicago during tho World Pair. Mr. Pomeroy went further, however, for he declared that America will eventually follow Britain in adopting a smaller unit .of high oflicioney, and he has repcatod this declaration more recently in England. However, that is beside tho point. The Americans do not use the.term "streamlino"; they speak of ''airflow." When a car is streamlined for puri poses of record-breaking tho prime ob" ject is to reduce frontal resistance, and this is achieved first and mainly by a reduction-of "frontal area. "Airflow" is. not a reduction of frontal urea, It is quite possible that for other objects the fiontal arefc may actually be increased, giving roominess and greatly increased comfort for 'ordinary motoring. This is a real practical bone Ifit that streamlining or ''airflow" can bestow upon motoring,' because the .increase in the size of the car neod not 'affect its weight and certainly will make no difference to its hill-climbing abilities, and may give greater vision to the driver and passengers, adding to the safety and delight of motoring in a big car. • . . ■

The pictures are reproduced from the New York ' '•Times.'' It is perhaps not out of' place to mention.: that on the same page is a trade photograph of oho of America's most noted-thorough-bred cars, a V-12 sedan, 1934 model. It is neither Takish nor Btreamlined. Of course, it has the powcr.-^ ;