ROYAL CARS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1939, Page 2

ROYAL CARS

VEHICLES FOR CANADIAN TOUR. When their Majesties, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, arrived in Canada they were met by two specially built Buick convertible phaetons, which have been used wherever they required motor-cars while on tour in Canada. The two cars were built in the Oshawa, Ontario, plant of General Motors. The Royal cars have custom built bodies, finished in a beautiful maroon, and are built on special 155 inch wheel base chassis, power by 143 horse power valve-in-head engines. Combining all the most advanced features of modern engineering and design, the cars are equipped with special wrought fittings and beautiful fabrics, selected on the advice of Norman Hartnell, the designer of her Majesty's wardrobe. Specially designed silver vanity equipment is installed in the folding arm-rest in the centre of the rear seat, while at either side of the rear quarters are electric dictographs, communicating with the chauffeur. White sheepskin fleece mats cover the floor of the rear compartments. One of the cars is upholstered in special maroon broadcloth and the other in beige broadcloth. Auxiliary seats facing the royal occupants are provided in each car. Windows and ventilators extend to (he back of the body, while an electrically operated glass partition separates the'driver and passenger compartments. The two new Buicks are the seventh and eighth which have been specially built in Oshawa for members of the Royal Family.