The New 20/60 Vauxhall

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 272, 7 February 1928, Page 6

The New 20/60 Vauxhall

AN ESSENTIALLY BRITISH CAR G.M. Introduce New Models THE arrival of an all-British motor-car specially designed and built to meet the needs and requirements of New Zealand conditions was celebrated at the works of General Motors, New Zealand, Ltd., at Petone, on February 1, when a large number of Wellington citizens interested in motoring assembled at the invitation of the directorate to inspect the new models of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., England, which have arrived from Britain and are about to be placed on the New Zealand market.

TN welcoming the visitors, Mr. Walter E. Hill, managing director of General Motors, New Zealand, Ltd., said it was an auspicious occasion, because his organisation was definitely entering the British car market in the Dominion. They, were proud of their association with the new Vauxhall car, which he said incorporated the advantages and merits of British engineering skill and quality with the great research, development, and marketing facilities of the General Motors Corporation. The new Vauxhall was an entirely British product. It was not designed in the United States, nor were the engineers who produced it dominated by American ideas. In accordance with its policy of operation toward each of its units, the entire organisation of General Motors was placed at the disposal of the Vauxhall directorate. Every facility was provided for the study of car engineering and manufacturing as it is practised in til© United States, but the Vauxhall engineers convinced themselves pf the value of every feature incorporated in the new car.l In one respect only did General Motors lay down a condition, and that was that the new product must be designed for world conditions, and not primarily for English requirements. It must justify the confidence of the merchandising units established by General Motors in overseas countries, particularly those operating in the British Dominions.

The entry of General Motors into the export field marked its transition from a purely American organisation to one more cosmopolitan in character. This had 1 / to the establishment of overseas factories employing local labour, and a further development was the employment of local materials wherever possible. Acting upon instructions from New York, they had last year started what they called a “local purchase programme,”» which involved the study of materials that could be procured in New Zealand. Their association with-Vauxhall Motors was a phase of this development—a practical demonstration of their faith in the British car, and a realisation that to serve properly its dealers and the public in the Dominions it must provide a truly British ear, suitable for operation under colonial conditions. BUILT FOR NEW ZEALAND “For the first # time an English manufacturer of 'high quality, motorcars in the medium price class is concentrating the entire efforts of a great factory upon producing a car specially suitable for Empire markets,” said Mr. G. P. McGuire, sales manager for the export division of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd. “So confident is the Vauxhall Company in the suitability of its new six-cylinder 20-60 h.p. model for Empire needs that thqy are specialising exclusively in its production. In its design were incorporated leading - requirements that characterise motoring conditions in New Zealand.”

Mr. McGuire said his company had Jbeen engaged on thq design and construction of this model for the past two years, and it had been submitted to the most rigorous tests under conditions comparable to those in New Zealand.

ROADSIDE SIGNS GROWTH IN NUMBERS WHAT IS THE POLICY Despite all the good work of the motoring organisations in having roadside billboards removed there does not seem to be any marked decrease in the number of such disfigurements about the countryside. The oil and tyye people have responded to the request of the South Island Motor Union to remove objec- ! tionable signs. The signs were removed, but no sooner were the ; signs tak£n down than others were , erected in their place. ‘ It should be I pointed out that the new signs do not advertise tyres, oil. or petrol, but deal with other commodities, j Such billboards are being set up all over the place and as works of art are more objectionable than those of the tyre and oil firms. This land is in danger of being billboarded more extensively yet, arid concerted action is imperative in settling the present tendency. It seems that the petrol, oil and tyre firms have a legitimate grievance if no action be taken to stop what is going on. There are approximately 30,000 motor-buses in use on the highways of Great Britain, according to statistics. Remember thy brakes and thy steering gear, that they may be O.K. in their action, so that thy days may < be long in the land.

THE CAR REVIEWED “Vauxhall” have always enjoyed an enviable reputation for quality ever since they first started to make motorcars, and the new model fully lives up to the standards of its predecessors. It is a six-cylindered car with overhead valves and aluminium rocker arms, and an engine rated at 19 h.p. R.A.C. Special attention must be drawn to the crankshaft with nine bearings each 2im in diameter, which makes for smoothness of action very like the ease of steam propulsion. Care has also been given to distributing equally the mixture from the carburettor to ensure uniformity of power impulses. These features give the engine a freedom from hesitancy and jerkiness—the engine simply “turns over” at all speeds, quietly and without vibration. Valve timing is made to secure a big output of power at low engine Vrevs,” in other words, to attain good slow running, exceptional top-gear performance, and rapid acceleration.

A typically English feature is the provision of four forward gears (falling to a reduction to the rear wheels of 16.75 to 1) with centrally-placed lever and gate charge. Both ballraces and springs are provided to make gear changes easy. The clutch is of single dry plate type. Four-wheel brakes are fitted, mechanically operated, internal expanding. Clearance between liners and drums on all four wheels is maintained automatically. The remaining 'engine and chassis specifications may be briefly described. Pressure feed lubrication to all working parts, including main bigend and camshaft bearings, also to rocker .arms. Overflow oil libricates timing chain and sprockets. Semi-elliptic springing front and rear, with driving action taken through the springs. / Cooling by water pump, with flow regulated by a thermostatic valve. Water enters jacket at central point to equalise cooling of all six cylinders. The rear axle is of the semi-floating type with one-piece banjo-housing. This new Vauxhall is not an American car built in England, but a highgrade production that stands on its own merits, although, probably, constructed on American methods to suit-the proposed high output. There are only two accessories that are more typical of American practice than British. In this car. uniformity both in the quality of the materials used and mechanical efficiency in every direction, is the secret of obtaining maximum results. The car shows a considerable effort to incorporate the qualities which world-wide experience has prescribed as the most desirable elements. A bold touch in .many features shows that the designers have not been enslaved by preconceived ideas, but rather by careful research and workmanship, have grasped the difficulties of the average motorist, and produced for him a car of balanced qualities that adequately meets his needs.

HUNDREDS OF INVITATIONS AUSTRALIA WANTS MR. MORRIS Mr. W. R. Morris, the British motorcar manufacturer of Morris car fame, has cabled Cheneys, Ltd., Sydney distributors, that he will leave NeV Zealand by the Ulimaroa on February 10, arriving there on February 14. “Since Mr. Morris’s intention of visiting Australia has been announced,” said Mr. S. A. Cheney, “I have received hundreds of invitations for him to visit country towns and centres throughout the Commonwealth. His stay in Australia will be limited, and it will be exceedingly hard for him to accept even a fraction of the invitations that have been extended to him.” TOOL BOX TIPS Friction absorbs a great amount of energy used in lifting a car, and to make sure that this loss is as small as possible, the jack should be kept well oiled, particularly the screw thread and the underside of the rotating nut. The tyre pump, also, should be looked after; an occasional drop of oli in the barrel will lengthen the life of the cup leather and promote greater pumping efficiency. A new French liner, lie de France, now on the Atlantic run, .has belowdeck accommodation for 60 cars. Each car is lashed into place between four stout pillars. * * * The Vacuum Oil Co. (Pty.), Ltd., ■ headed the -Tasman Flight Relief Fund in Wellington with a donation of £250.'

WASTEFUL SYSTEM REGISTRATION OF CARS CONCERTED ACTION NECESSARY The present system of changing number plates each year is one of the most extravagant and nonsensical demands made on the motorists of this country and concerted action should be taken to alter things. The Wanganui Automobile Association at a recent meeting, discussed the position, and the opinion was expressed that if all the motor organisations in New Zealand made an attack *on the registration system they would get rid of it. The scheme was described as a lot of bother. That opinion is a sensible one. It is difficult to understand how any Government wihch preaches economy and the husbanding of resources can see the slightest trace of economy in this absurd compulsory changing of motor number plates year after year. The greatest blunder was perpetrated by those misguided law-makers who introduced the system, born as it is in California. In the first place we bought our plates from America, but, after a great deal of persuasion, those who preached “buy New Zealand goods” changed their policy, reposed a little faith in New Zealand industry and had the plates made in the Dominion. There were 166,816<m0t0r vehicles in New Zealand in November. A set of plates for each means £3 6,000 or more out of the pockets of the motoring community each year, a prodigious sum spent to no useful purpose. It is time the motoring organisations from one end of the country to the other took up this question with the Government, as the system is wasteful and unnecessary. Every year the numbers are changed, tenders have to be let, plates have to be delivered by t.he case to all parts of the country, and much money must be spent in stationery. That is leaving out the inconvenience to the public of waiting in queues for plates and so on. Thousands of pounds must be spent in administrative expenses. When a motorist has a fixed number he remembers it, but at the present

time if cars are stolen records have to be searched to find the numbers of cars. Of course that is the motorists’ neglect, but the system helps them to it. What is the solution? The British system, permanent number plates and a card in a disc on the windscreen. Each year the colour of the card is changed, proof to police and traffic inspectors that the motorist has complied with the law. The cards could be printed by the Government itself at the minimum of expense. On what grounds does the Government defend the present costly system? • New Zealand motorists do not receive the consideration due to them from the authorities. At every chance through the petrol tax, registration, number plates, tyres and licences to use and drive, the Government squeezes the users of road transport in this country. We are approaching another change of plates. More money, waste of time and the minimum of benefit. When wili it end? NEW RUBBER PLANTATION Purchase by “Goodyear” of a tract of 29,000 acres in Sumatra for rubber plantations brings “Goodyear” plantation acreage in the Far East close to 50,000, the company having started its first plantation of some 20,000 acres there in 1916. The first plantation is in full bearing. The new property lies in the Bila district, considered the best rubbergrowing area in Sumatra. Between 5,000 and 6,000 men will be put to work immediately in clearing the jungle and setting out the rubber trees. This work will take three years.

A LIVE'MOTORISTS’ CLUB FIXTURES ARRANGED IN OTAGO The Otago Motor Club has .iust issued programmes for the Hill Climb on Saturday, February 17, and for the Beach Races at Waikouaiti on Saturday, March 17. There are eight events in the hill climb programme, and the hill will be kept secret until the day of the trial. There are also the same number of events on the beach racing programme, which will be decided at Waikouaiti. The conditions of both contests are also set out, and the entries close respectively on February 14 and March 10. The fixtures for the motor-cycle section are as follows: Saturday, February IS.—Hill climb. Tuesday, February 28.—Club run. Saturday, Maych 3. —Southland beach races. Wednesday. March 7. —Pillion run. Saturday, March 17.—Beach races, Waikouaiti. Easter tour, April 6,7, 8 and 9. Saturday, April 28.—Paper chase. LEAKY RADIATOR A simple method of stopping the flow of water from a leaking radiator is to insert in the faulty honeycomb a peg of wood bound with a piece of rag, which has been well greased. The opening at the back and front of the radiator block should be plugged with some putty, chewing gum, or as a last resort, soap.

AN UNORTHODOX CAR FRENCH MANUFACTURED Fffi't The idea of placing the engine rear of the chassis has recentlyV revived in France in a rather toy ing small car. While this very unorthodox in design it has® praiseworthy features and gives < dence of careful study. The shows a complete departure from* dinary practice in chassis Strictly speaking, there is no ft** its place being taken by the pw*' steel body which forms a kind w* l box stiffened internally by n«» the front and the rear the w traversed by heavy gauge steel * which in adidtion to acting as members carry the spring supports, dependent suspension is *b ven wheel by means of coil springs *“*7 in steel cylinders. The lower which telescopes into the UPP** contains a secondary spring, , provides a shoek- absorbing. eaec rl‘ arrangement of springs in tuW* duplicated in the c-ase of the axle; all the springs work in a o*P thick oil. The engine, which is compact, is a horizontally four-cylinder air-cooled unit, V cone clutch and three-speed |rbox built up in one block with *ar g ential casing. The bore and 6tro« |:. 70 m.m. and 96 m.m. respectively, vm ing a total capacity of 5 car is thus rated at 9 b.p. ,n and would be called 12.1 h P-to £ land. CAUSES OF ACCIDEKE LATEST STATISTICS ‘ One of the greatest aids ts is a knowledge of the cause* ter. The great majority p dents arise from lack of judgment. In ditions arise from tion in the safe usage of bs. writer in a contemporary. made a special study of this summarises the cause of to dents as follows: Drivers jaJ; I** per cent.; pedestrians’ cau y» defects, 9.3; vehicles’ defects, * | ding, 7.7; pedal cyclists’ ; mals’ cause, 0.2; weather 0.2. To get the right ” road accident, points out' tns ■ must take into account that ' f. 4.000 persons are killed on 13 | Great Britain in the ye**terrible toll, but more th motor vehicles were in us« period under review. At a-’l 6.000 miles their total annjto* (»■ was p.000.0n0.n00. Thus there .. ■ one fatal accident to 225,0®*»