South Australian "People's Car"
will
The South Australian public¡in the Australian Army, to the is having its first glimpse of an manufacture of cars. Australian-made people's car
Mr. J. Kenneth Willes, the which has suddenly appeared, managing director of the Wiles tho without a publicity Tenfare, from Manufacturing Co., anya local workshops and is going plant can be converted without through a trials. It is a light difficulty for the manufacture two of ears, and it is probable, if the twn.senter, with room for adults and two or three children, models of the people's car come the through final tests with satisfac- on-luxury model, which makers hope to be able to retallion, that a new company for under CA300, and is thus in be formed to build them on a a class that will not hring it mass-production scale,
The second part of the car's into competition with powerful
belongs to the Interests tentative name" automobile
original designer of the model, Mr. J. M. Thomson, of Adelaide, former Australian Army captain The new car has a 7.2 h.p. and an experienced automobile twin cylinder two-stroke water-engineer. The car was bull by cooled engine with that top eylin-the Wilex company in
tion with Thomson and various
Gverseas
now tooling up for the production of
(more expensive. all-Austration cars.
ders. The maximum speed H
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1947.
MOTORING NEWS AND VIEWS
American
Seller's
Market
stalment
Finance com- 'pany
officials
predlet that the end
of U.S. government Controls over in- buying of automo- conjunc-biles would increase the huge demand for, new cars and threaten further price hikes.
The federal regulation which Plans aimed to meet the acute requires a one-third down pay- with welded shoringe of motor holes
Inment and a 15-month limit on floor and side panels strength. Australia have been announced instalments for cars and cer-
chanelling by Senator Courtice, Australian taln
Bodles Too
claimed to be 60 mph. with sub-contractors, petrol consumption of 45 mm.past. { AR interesting feature is single-unit handy.
ened by heavy
other Items, expired on
Braking is by a patented hydrau-Minister for Trade and Customs. Nov. 1, but it will be replaced He system.
CATIN
The Wiles-Thomson Its tentaively named-has been but through preliminary raad trials, and the engine bus jast #ndergane rigid tests ut engineering laboratory of
This follows an examination by by voluntary controls,
a Government committee of re- Banks and finance com-
the most part, will; unests from Istributors to im-panies, for port chassis nnd bodles complete. !continue
to require the one- Under the new scheme, distri-third down
payment but will unable to arrange the butors
instalment A extend the
period the body production programine on up to 24 months. Adelaide School of Mines. It has 1947 quotas can now Import The finance people said the instalment perlod com-extended with unassembled chassle and come through these tenta
Increase bodies up to a
the ordinary flying colours, and is now being [dele
value would
customer's desire for new cars exequivalent to the value of over for further
through the inducement DI
handed
Mr. J. S. Strung, Australian prices.
New Traffic Scheme
STOP
VOLUX
DE
Warning Letters
So far no Police Court action has been taken against drivers of public vehicles for "cruising" or carrying excess passengera, Divisional Inspector J. Scrim, Kowloon Traffic Office, told the "China Mall" yesterday.
To ease the situation in the local Courts, the Traffle Depart ment la Issuing "warning lotters" to offenders, drawing their al- tention to the breach of whatever section of the Regulations they may have committed.
The receipt of three auch warn- ings may result in the licence being suspended or cancelled by the Commissioner of Police,
Up to Thursday, a total of 198 warnings had been sent
owners
USED CARS
FOR SALE
FORD ANGLIA
AUSTIN "8"
VAUXHALL "14"
MORRIS "8"
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EVERY CAR Guaranteed FOR THREE MONTHS.
ECONOMICAL
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REPAIRS and drivers of both private and public ears (includ qualified automobile engineers. ing taxis) for carrying one two passengers too many,
OX
As to drivers of publie cars DRIVING SCHOOL: Driving touting for faren on "fixed" lessons given by experienced
routes" (the most common of Instructors at moderato 'fees. which is Jordan Rond-Sham-
shuipo at 30 cents, a head), In-
spector Scrim admitted that
many of the drivers have been warned.
"And if they don't take notice they will soon find themarives and their ears taken off road," he added. Regarding the
number
the
of
summonses issued by the Kow. joon Traffic Office for more serious offences, Inspector Scrim
MAINLAND
MOTORS
THE USED CAR PEOPLE
hnastive rond trials by an inde. base year quota for unassembl lower monthly payments. The Part of a plan to regulate and smooth the flow of traffle in the Central Dis-revealed that the total was 246 34. Tak Stinz Str., Kowloon. pendent authority. Meanwhile, fent chassis,
trict, a new system is to go into effect shortly at the Des Voeux-Pedder- for October as against 512 for Chater roads junction. The main features of the new scheme are a three-the previous month. phase traffic light system and controlled pedestrian crossings,
10 more models are about to be balt für testing.
The Background
higher demand might bld up
| Representative of the Society of One company official said British Motor Manufacturers the one third down payment requirement was little or no and Traders Ltd., has stuted
obstacle W most prospective that
motorcar new about 18.000
customers now, since chassis were awaiting bodies, they could raise the money Australian production of from savings and trade-ins on
was lagging behind their old cars,
car
An interesting story behind the Australian-lasit ear (bearings, speedometer, and electrical sys lein imported. hut later boxites.
Are models will be all-Australien), chassis Imports by about 2,100 But the high price of new
switeljøver by an a month. The position was even Adrinkle firm of four brothers more acute in the production
IN
the
from the mass production of of bodies for utiliiles, com. mobile cuokers 1041 universally | méretüt veliteles útő bösey,
For the family whose car is always in use.
HILLMAN MINX
GILMAN & COMPANY LTD.
TELEPHONES: 56789
CHINA
&
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International MOTORS.LTD
LET US GREASE & SPRAY YOUR CAR
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cars and the present 15-month limit were factors holding down orders to dealers because of bgh monthly payments run- ning above VBS70 and US$100.
A nine-month extension
оп
a $70 payment would reduce the monthly instalment more than 60 per cent to less than $15, and the finance companies contend this is bound to stimu- late public demand,
Because of demand-inflated values, banks and finance com- pules consider 1946 and 1947 model cars good risks, but they are extremely conservative res garding pre-war models.
One large
finance company
in Detroit reported that it had not been forced to repossess a single 1947 model car. It re- possessed only two 1046 models and both of these were de- deemed Immediately by the owners, "who paid up in full."
This firm reported that re- possessions generally
were nt
an all-time low because of the great demand for transporta- tion. Cars aken from owners for delinquency were in "such bad condition that the owners were no longer interested in paying for them."
With car prices at the highest levelin recent history, banks and fin- ance companies reported they were unwilling to
"let down the bars" on new Instalment purchases and would hold to "sound business prac- tices."
ΑΙΣΙΟ
It PAYS To Play Safe
Don't Cut Corners!
Local Ban
On Hand
Can
The three phase system
Pedestrians will be able to best be understood by reference cross the road only at the places to the sketch map; it is more shown on the sketch-map and complicated to describe on paper barriers on all comers than it will actually prove to be prevent the odd jay-walker from In practice.
risking his neck and that of motorists taking advantage of "Phase 1" begins with, say, the quicker traffic flow. "Look! westbound -traffic in-Des Voeux Left" and "Look Right" lights' Road receiving the green light, are to be installed at all pedes. All other traffic lights-includ- trian crossings. Ing the one controlling eastbound traffic on Des Voeux Road-will then show red. The result will be an uninterrupted flow of west bound traffic-straight on down Des Voeux Road, to the left or right into Peder Street, or even round into Chater Road-which will be a one-way street with ears parked down the middle.
Filtering left against the light will he Impossible under the new scheme, us studded "Stop" lines, and, the traffic lights themselves, will be act behind the crossings far enough behind, too, prevent seconds-snatching drivers from encroaching on the pedes- trian crossings.
to
new
Generally speaking, the At the moment, vehicles turn pedestrian crossings are at, or ing right into Pedder Street of close to, the present crossing ten have to walt, and block the points. At one point, however, crossing, because of the flow of there will be a major change. traffic down Dea Voeux Road
Pedestrians will not be allow from the other direction. Under ed to wander across the road the new system, this traffic is from the Gloucester building to stopped and, with the present the Cable and Wireless offices. traffic island in the middle re- They will have to use the cross- moved, there will be nothing to ing to the Alexandra building slow down or halt cars leaving (Watson's) and then the second the main stream.
one across the entrance Chater Road,
This should entall no grent hardship. Pedestrians coming. down the right hand side Pedder Street from Queen's Rond and who turn and walk through the arcade past the old Gloucester reception desk will find themselves coming out just the right spot for the cross-
"Phase II" sees the green light go on for Des Voeux Road eastbound traffic which, since all
other lights will be showing red, will be equally free to turn into Pedder Street to the right or left, diverge into Chater Road or continue straight on.
Ing.. Trucks
Hand trucka
do now.
There are several other new
to
of
nt
on
With Phase III," the light- Ing system returns to the nor. They Indicated that financing.
mal type used in Hong Kong and Exactly how soon the new of prewar used cars was "ex-
elsewhere. All Des Voeux Road system will go into effect is not tremely hazardous" and that
lights show red, and both north yet known. Work on the pedes. they must continue to require
and southbound traffic in Ped- trian Crossings has already a one-third down payment and
are definitely than be sure there is equity not permitted on the roads, der Street-which is less busy-started and it is hoped that the in the vehicle."
be installed the China Mail" learns. Not receive the green light, as they lights will
and Untu the automobile market one has been licensed and any
operating by the end of the returns to more normal con- found on the roads, are taken
month. ditions,
company said,
in tow by the Police, and the features about the new system. Interim: period policemen
It is possible that during the competitive financing will be governed by the requests of owner or "driver" prosecuted. In the first place, there will be points duty will take the place buyers and the willingness of
In a few recent Court cases no need for a points policeman of the "threephase" banks and other money-lending
lighting: firms to underwrite purchases. in Kowloon, the Magistrate in the middle of Des
Vocux basically, therefore, the new Even If 5,000,000 autos and has ordered the truck seized to Road, as the new lighting sy scheme should be working trucks are produced this year be confiscated and destroyed:"tem will be automatically operat- the last week in November. as the industry, now predicts,
A police official told the meet the needs of main and sub- ed on a time system adjusted to distribution of the new vehicles
China. Mail" that "thousands sidiary traffic thoroughfares. of these trucks have been seized during the past few months."
The vehicles Arst came into another
prominence during the Japan- showing red in one direction and occupation, when motor either red or green, according to transport was practically non- the traffle phase, in the other.. existent. The majority were The result is that drivers can nothing more than a
few refer to either light, one on the
scarcely has made a dent in
the pent-up demand.
And the manufacturers and dealers sco no end of the "seller's marshal” for two years.-United Freas.
The V-8 Pilot
ese
The lights themselves are the "primary-secondary" type
boards nailed to a wooden near alde of the junction, tite frame on four wheels, with other on the far side. The latter Dagenham will continue to "handle" or "pusher" at the is set at a greater angle of re manufacture light cars. This back.
flection down the road, enabling Rowland was stressed by Sir
They were cumbersome and it to be seen at a greater dis- Smith, managing director of the unwieldy, while their
"dri-tance. Ford Motor Co. (England) at a vers" ignorance of traffic rules luncheon party held to announce was appalling.
the new V-8 "Pilot".
On the question of, tricycles.
Pedestrian Barriers
the
It is only to be expected that the police official would only pedestrian barriers around
Work has now started on the the present delivery position of say that "the matter is under intersection, for a great deal of this new car is for from an-consideration." • couraging.
Sir Rowland stressed that tricycles are another heritage depends on the control of pedes. "few, motorists can expect an of the Occupation days.
trian as well as vehicular traffic. early delivery of the V-8 Pilot, In the majority of cases, the
These
the success of the new system
passenger carrying:
The Dagenham factory will do drivers are ignorant coolles out Its best-it cannot do more.” (, to make a living, With the cycles," the police official sald Briefly, the position is as fol- increased number of buses and this was a question, he could low-
taxis, tricycles have gone out not answer. With enough steel, the of favourite pa
"The wholo question; of magnificent Dagenham factory So far as can be ascertained, licences for passenger carrying could turn out hundreds of V-88 | none were licensed, „during tricycles is still under discus- cach wed.
1947, and their, appearance on sion by Government, and anti On the present quota of stool. the road would appear to be we get a definite ruling we can however, the V8 can only be only "on" sufferance.
do nothing," bo declared. d. manufactured in large numbers Asked why action bad As regards commercial tri- at the expense of the small been taken against such drivers cycles. It is learned, that 350 of models. The man who control when the Police have been on these have been licensed to carry BUICK, VAUXHALL & BEDFORD TRUCKS Dagenham have not the slightest forcing the new order "no pas goods only. All have to be Intention of allowing this to sengors to be carried on the fitted with a lidded box for happen."
backe - be-handic-bars of bi-l storing the marchandise. Suntal,
CONSULT US ON YOUR CAR REPAIRS –
350, Hennessy Road,, Wanchal.
Agents for:
Tel: 28469..
by
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