OLYMPIA DISPLAY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1929, Page 5

OLYMPIA DISPLAY

KEEN COMPETITION WITH U.S.A. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, Oct. 17. Three hundred cars embodying the latest cnassis. and body-work improvements from every important manufacturer in the world are exhibited at Olympia at 1 the opening of the nine days’ show to-day. The outstanding fact is that no se rets nave been sprung on the motoring public. Every model represents a modification of proved types. The cheapest is a seven horse-power class, . represented by the Triumph, Austin and Morris, in the neighbourhood of £l5O. The most expensive is a 44-horse power American saloon of £3460.

It is interesting to note that British manufacturers are joining America in the race for a medium-powered and medium-priced car of six cylinders. More than half of those exhibited were sixes and twenty-eight per cent were fours, and eighteen per cent were eights. While there is nothing in the British, .American or Continental cars showing rauical departures, the cars were never so well-dressed. The fabric and bodies hold their own, but the coachwork definitely returns the challenge of former supremacy.

There is an infinite variety of colour schemes. Some of the smartest cars are in the .seven horse-power class, in which British, supremacy remains uncballeriged. A safety note is predominant, and is mainly manifested in lowering the gravity centre, un* splinterable glass, and signalling devices. A striking feature is the almost universal adoption of chrenium plating. Several firms carried the process to wire wheels, Artillery disc wheels are in a definite, minority. The upholstery, even in the cheapest cars, is a big improvement. There is a tendency towards the pneumatic variety in the medium priced cars. Hillman, Humber, Morris, Rover, and the Standard make a bold bid against the American.

v/ne of the most notable features is the limit which seems to have been reached in price redaction.