NEW £100 MOTOR CAR

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 372, 3 May 1918, Page 4

NEW £IOO MOTOR CAR

It has been the dream of motor manufacturers for many years to turn out a car of the £IOO mark, but so far the effort has met with little or do success. About a year ago, however, the Willys Overland Company intimated their intention of manufacturing a lighter and cheaper car than anything they were turning out. Indeed, they went so far as to advertise the vehicle in some of the American weeklies and a representation of the car which appeared, showed a £IOO Willys Overland of exceedingly attractive appearance. Something must then have intervened, for the project did not immediately materialise But it would appear to have been only sleeping, and would probably have been in full effect by this time, had not the United States entered into the world war. That event led the Overland Company, who are also in the airplane business, to hang up the output of the car. Nevertheless full infomation regarding it is being distributed, and no more interesting feature in the specification will appeal to the users of light cars than the price. The intention is that the car will be sold in America for 500 dollars, or the equivalent of £lO5 at the present rate of exchange. The machine is being announced as the hundred pound car, and the price in the United States is near enough to justify the statement. , The engine is of 15 h.p., four cylinders. The compression is high and the engine speed fast, the maximum power being developed at 2,000 revolutions per minute. There is nothing abnormal about the clutch or gearing, but the transmission has been simplified to some extent. The equipment of auxiliary fittings is quite complete. The electric fittings include lighting and starting equipment, and there are a one-man hood and sereen. The standard body is seated for four, and is of graceful design. In running order the car weighs well under 14 cwt. It is stated that several years have been devoted to the trial and improvement of this machine, but it is not expected that the manufacture of it in quantity will be begun before the middle of the year. In any case the details announced are of particular interest, especially in these times of inflated cost.