INTERESTING PROGRESS

NZ Truth, Issue 1193, 11 October 1928, Page 20

INTERESTING PROGRESS

The Evolution of Motor Bodies During Twenty Years

THE evolution of motor bodies is a subject which provides much food for thought. Looking back over the last quarter of a centupy, one cannot help feeling deeply interested m the remarkable progress made by builders of motor bodies. FVVEN the most casual observer •C« would not be likely to confuse 4 1914 model body with one of last year's, although it is really surprising how. out-of-date a car can look, even if it is only .a few years old

Bodies of the very early cars obviously followed the lines of the horsedrawn carrlage-r-an instance of which was the Holamann' Motor buggy — but the tendency of recent years has been to bring the occupants nearer the road. Many factors have contributed, to the reduction m the height of the seats from the road, m the case of private oars, such as a general decrease m the sire of wheels, a flattening of the semi-elliptic type of spring, and other expedients, such as cranking the frame over the axles, inclining the transmission line, employing underslung back axle, drives, etc.

- In consequence, the frame level has been materially lowered until to-day it is a matter for conjecture as to what further progress can' be made without making some radical change In the lay-out of the chassis— a change which may come about very much sooner than anticipated. . '■■'■■

In a very Interesting: article on the subject of "Modern Vogues" in Lower

Body Lines" the English "Motor" says: "The chief bar to the further lowering of the' frame is the conventional transmission system which necessitates the use of a lengthy propeller shaft, from the gear-box to the back axle, running under the floor-boards. , "One or two builders of sports models have already been bold enough to drop the seats to each side of a central channel, which houses the propeller shaft, but this .idea, while not unsuitable for cars of the sporting type, is hardly, likely to recommend itself for bodywork m general. ; ,

It is quite "on the cards" that the next innovation will be the production of car* with frqnt wheel drive; or of a chassis driven by the rear wheels from an engine placed at the rear of the car. .

Of these "two possibilities the former is the most likely to eventuate, because, despite, its many advantages,* thfe rear drive, rear-iengined car has always met with great sales resistance, owing to the fact that the motoring section of the community prefers to see some kind of bonnet stretching out, in front. ; It therefore seems probable that the principle of front wheel driving that has been so often advocated m "The Motor" will gain many new adherents during the next. few days. , ■