Motor Imports

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 728, 30 July 1929, Page 6

Motor Imports

Spectacular Increase in Six Month Period

The motor vehicles imported into New Zealand for the first six months of 1929 are a record in the history of the trade, and a gain of 139 per cent, on the figures for the first half of last year. No less than 15,072 vehicles were imported at a dutiable value of £2,055,517. TVhen freight, customs duty and profits are added, the figure will be near the £4,000,000 mark —a stupendous sum to go into motor vehicles iu six months. Following are details of the dutiable values of all types of cars, chassis and commercial motors imported into the Dominion in each half-year since 1922:

It is interesting to note that in the first six months of 1925 and again in 1926 the dutiable value of the cars imported is higher than for 1929, although fewer vehicles were imported. In other words, cars and trucks now cost much less than they did then. WHERE THEY COME FROM Another interesting point is that although the majority of the vehicles still come from America, the proportion coming from Canada is steadily gaining. This is due partly to the reopening of the Ford plant, which was closed this time last year, and partly to the fact that more American firms are opening branches in Canada to secure the preferential tariff. Of the £2,055,517 sent out of New Zealand in this six months £967,434 or 47.1 per cent, was for American cars, chassis, trucks or buses. Canadian vehicles accounted for 35.9 per cent.; English makes for 16.7 per cent, on a value basis, although the 1,510 cars constitute a record, and Continental vehicles for only 0.3 per cent. Following are details of the values for each half-year;

Of the 15,072 vehicles referred to above, 11,247 are cars and cars’ chassis, and the remainder 3,825 vehicles for commercial purposes. Following is an analysis of the halfyearly car imports:

Value £SS9,S2O £546,986 £1,634,570 HUGE COMMERCIAL QUOTA The imports of trucks, buses, vans and commercial chassis of all types totalled 3,825-—more than six times the quota in the corresponding period of last year. A great rise in American models and the introduction of light Canadian vehicles accounted for most of the inflation. The total of 244 English makes was an increase of 90 on last year. Most commercial vehicles are imported in the chassis form, 3,503 being without any form of body. Following are details of the imports in the first six months of 1927, 1928 and 1929:

BENZINE COLOURED RED NOW IN AUCKLAND PUMPS Continuing its progressive policy, the Atlantic Union Oil Company has now made available to the motoring public a still further improved Union spirit, know n as Union Super Spirit. This was recently brought to these shores in the company’s own tanker, Brunswick, the largest Diesel-driven oil-tank vessel in the world. In addition to the many meritorious characteristics which the super spirit possesses qualities of non-detonation rapid vaporisation, easy firing at low temperatures, and economy in use the company has further distinguished it by colouring it red. This colouring of the spirit has nothing to do with the qualities it possesses. Being red does not make it a better spirit, any more than it has any effect on its purity. It is coloured fur quick identification. Being truly a super spirit, it justifies some means of recognition at sight, hence the colour. In the greatest motor-using countries of the world, coloured motor spirit is known and accepted. There is nothing experimental about it, it is proved by use, and is as well known 38 the old-fashioned spirit. Union Super Spirit is now available at all Union pumps, and motorists everywhere can try for themselves the new- red fuel.

PATIFNT SPARK PLUG i ITS CARE AND TREATMENT The lowly spark plug, seemingly »uch an innocent part of the car's mechanism, may sometimes be a trouble-maker, even though spark plugs are so well constructed nowadays that they require little or no attention in thousands of miles of driving. Because of their very efficiency, spark plugs are not likely to be suspected at first, when something goes wrong with the engine. HOW A SPARK PLUG WORKS The function of a spark plug is simply to introduce into the combustion chamber of the cylinder two wires with a gap between them, across which gap an electrical spark jumps. This spark ignites the gas mixture in the cylinder to furnish the driving power of the car. If the current delivered to the spark plug does not have high enough voltage, of course no spark will jump across the gap of the two wires and the mixture will not be ignited. DETECTING A “GUILTY" PLUG If the plug itself is defective this is easily detected. All that is necessary is to lay the plug, with cable attached, on the cylinder head, and to start the engine. If a spark is seen jumping the gap between the wires the plug is functioning, provided the spark is of sufficient intensity. In this connection it is well to know how to set the gap between the wires. According to usual practice, this gap is .025 to .03 inches wide, but this sometimes varies with the kind of engine. To set the gap, a thickness gauge may be used, but if one is not available a visiting-card may be used. Find out the gap measurement that gives best results, and set the gap to that distance. ATTACKING CARBON Carbon often accumulates on the plugs, causing a short circuit, which means that the current, does not jump the gap and that no spark results. To remove carbon, take out the plug and soak it in gasoline for about an hour and then scrape off the carbon. Be sure that spark plugs are screwed tightly into the cvljnder holes—otherwise the plugs will become overheated because of the “compression leak” around them. A worn gasket may also cause such a leak, even if the plugs are screwed down tightly. To find out if there is a leakage around the Plug, squirt some oil around the joint, and if bubbles appear when the engine is running the plug is leaking compression. Cracks in the porcelain insulation of a plug will make it refuse to fire at the proper point. To discover a cracked plug run the engine in a dark garage and the cracked place will appear as a luminous line on the Plug. IRISH MOTOR RACES Cabled advice has been received by The Shell Company of New Zealand, Limited, concerning the Irish motor races which were held at Plioenix Park, Dublin, on Friday and Saturday, the 12th and 13th instant. All events were for standard sports cars over a distance of 301 miles. The races were held in two parts—the first day’s programme was for cars under 1000 c.c. capacity—the second day’s programme was unlimited capacity. The Grand Prix was awarded for the fastest total time for both days. On the Friday, an Alfa Romeo Car driven by Ivan Owsky secured first place in all classes at an average speed of 75.02 miles an hour. On the Saturday, an Alfa Romeo also driven by Ivan Owsky, secured first place in all classes and was the winner of the Grand Prix at an average speed of 76.40 miles an hour. Driver Kidston secured second place and Driver | Birkin third, both in Bentley cars, while 4th, sth and Bth places were also credited to Bentley models, the 6th place being secured by an Alfa Romc°* It is significant that, all these cars used Shell spirit and Shell oil. ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS In electrical work it is often neces* sary to make a connection that can be broken easily, but replaced An ordinary snap fastener, commonly used on women’s garments, is venient in such a case. The ends o the wires are soldered to the members of the fastener. To make a | connection, the parts are snapp’d to* ; gether; to break the circuit, they j simply pulled apart.

Half-year. Value. No. 1922 .. . 276,123 1.07S 1923 .. . . 1.007,828 5,5S7 1921 .. . . 1,705,511 9,332 1925 .. . . 2,264,650 11,924 1926 .. . . 2,155,59S 13.19S 1927 .. . . 1,071,519 6,S56 192S .. . 9S4.096 6.313 1929 .. . . 2,055:517 15,072 CARS NOW CHEAPER

192S. 1929. £ £ United States 605,214 967,434 Canada .. . . 92,S56 737.939 Great Britain 272,370 344,222 Belgium .. . . 4,732 5,412 France .. 7.074 34S Italy 199 162 Germany 1,651 — £984,096 £2,055,517

No. No. No. 1927. 1928. 1929. United States 2,701 3,795 4,805 Canada 1,499 68S 4,915 Great Britain 1,1S3 1,159 1,510 Belgium 2 9 14 France .. . 23 34 1 Italy 216 2 2 Germany .. — 5 Totals 5,624 5,692 11,247

United States 1927. No. 49S 192S. No. 442 1929. No. 2.553 Canada 604 13 1,024 Great Britain . 119 154 244 Belgium' .. .. 6 5 4 France 4 4 Italy 1 Germany . . — 3 — Totals 1,232 621 3,825 value £181,699 £13 "110 £ 420,647