CHEAP MOTOR CARS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10713, 4 October 1912, Page 4

CHEAP MOTOR CARS.

'■The London Daily Express is' seriously alarmed a.bout the importation of cheap American motor ears into Great Britain. The figures it presents are certainly impressive. In 1909 the number of cars imported from the United States was 42, in 1910 it was 1101, and in 1911 3734, while this year's figures are expected to show a still greater increase. These figures do not include care imported in parts and put together in England ; 5000 cars of one make are said to have been imported in this way and sold last year. According to the Express, American firms competing for the English market are specialising in light, cheap ears. Already in New York a two-seater car is on sale at £7O, and a four-seater car for £llO, and a certain firm is making preparations to invade the English market with a £SO two-seater runabout, and a four-seater car for the family costing only £IOO. American manufacturers can turn out cars at this price, it is explained, because of their enormous output, one firm being able to turn out 100,000 in a year. The sale of cheap cars in the United States s enormous, this type having been brought within the reach of the sm :'l farmer jind the artisan. In the district of Columbia there is actually a motor-car to every thirty-five persons, while in several States the proportion ranges from one to forty-five to on.' to sixty, and in sixteen States it is about one to every 100. This is for pleasure cars only. In Great Britain thelproportion of cars is one to every 200 persons, but this includes every class of vehicle. English manufacturers'are accused of having negleced the cheap car. and it is estimated ■that if a good type of car -vcre placed on the English market at £l2O a quarter of a million people wouid soon buy it.