#
Page 10 TEFTI
Your Car For Home Leave
Choose From The Rootes Group!
new
or
You can have Humber, Hillman Sunbeam-Talbot awaiting you in England with the minimum of trouble-just
call Gilman Motors today
Humber---Hillman-Sunbeam Talbot
Humber Buper Snipe
Sale Agents
GILMAN & COMPANY LTD.
MOTOR DEPARTMENT
Telephone 58800.
Dunlop
SPORTS SHOES
Mell-induced
a few though
*pecial
ven fisted "DUNLOP VENTILEX
per A
"INLOP
VENTILEX"
upper cena, por
IDE
vel wel resist-
allows the Inst
the breath
podurza
Derapira.
4.
WHITE FLASH'
Sellentimtim
Thinlopillo cushion Insole adds live- Wines in foot work
and prateeta against at the%
Firsible reinforce foot support
Brm-rigid
reinforement
Substantial layer of super quality black ostale rubber, having special abra- alon real-ting Isualties.
The foundation of good tennis
TA. 12
THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1949,
MOTORING NEWS AND VIEWS SOMETHING NEW IN THE Mighty Midget
FIELD OF SMALL CARS Newcomer
Amongst the record number of visitors to the Earls
Court motor exhibition were many who felt that the new Morris Minor stole the show.
It certainly aroused tremendous interest, and while the present trend among rival manufacturers is towards increased engine sizes, there yet re- mains a big field for a really good and modern small car which is still an "eight."
A brief experience of the ear might suggest that this lack of "nap" in the highest gear was
disadvantage, but experi- enco proves that it is not 50- so willingly on call if the gearbox because plenty of extra punch is in used, and beenuse a compact. well sprung and very controllable car is surprisingly seldom slowed by road conditions.
The test report on this impor tit 1949 model must be regarded በ። very much of a ntfair-not merely in that it re-major
composite presents the ogrend views several drivers, but also bernue of it is based on big mileages total ng considerably more than thousand in two distinct ears.
Everyone who drove either of the car agreed that the Minor is In very good 8 hp, car indeed.
n
There can be no pretence that It approaches perfection, but it is arar which please both driver and passengers, and which will almost exactly fulfil the require meats of tens of thousands of motorists abroad-there has been
nothing like it offered in the eco
ucmy car class previously.
The engine is not entirely silent. bat-such noise as it makes can fairly he described as a con- ever, is entirely silent, na judged fented hum. The gearbox, how-Į
from inside the car, even at third- tear speede approaching 80 m.p.h.
Indirect ratios have apparently been well chosen except for the lazy driver, who is not chcour The performance Agures a 50
nged to start from rest in second exceptionally good, especially in
gear; the gent change is pleasant- regard to the combination.
ly of
smooth und requires little rapid acceleration through the effort, although we felt that gears with notable economy, that
rother longer lever would hove there is no doubt that they will been more convenient. be reganied with suspicion in certain quarters.
of
It only by the smallest margins that the Morris Minor fails to be the most economicol post-war car tested.
anti
#
Qualities going to make up road-worthiness are striking characteristics of the Minor.
It is easy to excuse uspension shortcomings on a small car as
ITA
The Morria Minor, newcomer into the field of small cars, is achieving great popularity among motoriste.
The Cooper Changeling
Having founded their fortunes on 1/2-litre racing, a
field in which the aspirant is constantly haunt- ed by the spectre of excess weight, it is not-sur- prising that the Cooper Car Co., Ltd. should have brought a well-developed sense of power- weight values to the construction of a two- seater sports car.
In general characteristics the newcomer appears to owe its inspiration to Continental designs such as the open-bodied Cistalias and Simcos, for the overall dimensions and weight are quite radically slight, while the Vauxhall Ten engine (1,203 cc.) fitted to the prototype was, of course, never designed for startling output. To be specific, the dry weight of —about 11⁄2 inch wider at the back the Cooper in nine cwt; as to avail than the 1-litre racing car. able power, the only under-konnat departures from standard consist of the substitution of two horizon. ital S.U. carburettors, with open
Intakes, for a
a single downdraught to instrument, and the Atting of a multi-branch exhaust take-off with lenient curves.
Its figures have only been bet-resulting from small dimensions- tered, however, by slower
the Miñor certainly is small smaller cars which, meritorious theless contrives to offer a magni- overall dimensions, but it never- though they were, attained weight through very sparse furn-tending slightly towards firmness loweently level ride, the springs ishing.
but yet giving really effective A consumption of 61 m.p.g. at shock insulation at high speeds or 20 m.p.h. represents the extreme low. of dawdling. but 50 m.p.g. rertainly be obtained by the gen- ilo driver.
can
tho
Even the less economical two fest cars which was frankly "off colour" could not quite be dragged down to 40 m.p.g., cover- Ing 508 miles of performance test. ing and really husty travel at an average of 40.5 m.p.g.
Reasonably high gear ratios contribute to the economy of run- ning which this car features, and also make for very effortless fast cruising on open roads.
Exceptional Stability
- Comfort has been allied very remarkable safe handing characteristics.
nlso
On the straight there is com- pleto stability, yet there is quick response to the steering on corners: brisk negotiation of cross-roads roundabout is simply a matter of right-wrist movement,
Although this is not strictly the Sint Cooper road car over huill (ourlior there was a flyweight fwn. scater with Triumph twin motor cycle engine), the forward posl tioning of the engine makes the car unique in its line,
the
Despite the shortness of enhance the normal output (34-5 sont in relation to the rear axle has These changes might perhaps chassis, suitabis positioning of the
six h.p. But it is emphasised that gine-gear box unit to be comfort. bh.p. at 3,800 r.p.m.) by five or enabled the compnet Vauxhall en- other makes of engine are also ably accommodated without exces.
Astern of the three-spool Ryn
under consideration, one of thera with no need to use two handsing more than twice the power
of that tentatively installed
The
On the wheel,
sive fore or aft overhang.
It is usual to settle down to n
While it would not be accurate all chassis used in identical, in alon system comprises an ope
except rear track, with that of propeller shaft, differential and steady GD m.p... which speed corners, the amount is astonish-in brief, comprises
to say that there is no roll on the 1,000 cc. racing Cooper, and. bovel housing unit mounted solld leaves a pleasant reserve of powingly small, even if the car
a pair of on a fabricated bridge, and short er for hill-climbing, but if more puthed to the limit-a limit
is channel-section side members, run- half-shafts with two universals speed is used and long distances which many sports models would Hghtness,
atning horizontally and pierced for aplece. envèred at more than 40 have to give m.p.h. averages the car does not touring car. protest or hint that it is being over-driven,
arc
Gears To Be Used
On the debit side, the high axle ratlo gives top-gear acceleration of only murierate briskness.
Names you can trust!
N
N
MORRIS
WOLSELEY
Riley
MD
NUFFIELD
PRODUCTS
DODWELL MOTORS LTD.
best to this little
Fears Discounted One Unit
By giving it a non-standard con Body and frame its effect com-tour, the Vauxhall gear lever is Perhaps the most sensitive tests prise one unit, for the 18-gauge brought conveniently close to the jot riding qualities are for a pas-aluminium alloy panels clothe a
senger to write and sleep in the skeleton
16in diameter steering wheel. of strip sicel formers actual or projected production en-
In Britain, where, no far car.
welded to the main chassis chan-terprises are concerned, the down-
is a fraction too firmly sprung to
By the former test, the Minornels
25
The Burman steering gives the sealing in weight and size of score the highest marks, but by same ratio as the racing carn--IX cautiously than abroad, there may cara has proceeded more the latter test it gained a very turns from lock to lock. The high rating even while covering wheel-base in seven feet one inch, be a disposition to impute frailty an astonishing distance within an the front track four feet onto inch to any, passenger vehicle which hour.
and rear track four feet 14 inch weight as little as nina ewt
CHEVROLET
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BUY OF ALL FOR 1949!
Thero's never been a Chevrolet like this. Never # Chevrolet so smartly styled, so luxurious, so advanced In comfort, safety, and performance with economy, It's far and away the finest Chevrolet over built the most. beautiful buy of all the now cars! Two distinctive new body styles in Fleetline and Styleline including "De Luxe and Special.
FAR EAST MOTORS LIMITED:
Queen's Bldg.,
Ice House St.,
Tel. 32322
25, Nathan
KOWLOON.
exerting not far short of 40
Such fears, however, may be din. counted when it is realised that this samo Cooper chessia
itself
shown
has
strong enough for the
80 hp. plus of the big J.A.P. rac- ing twin, a unit which, moreover, must obviously do ita work far more lumpily than a four.
The makers bellove, on the basis of a hit-and-miss measurement method, that the maximum poet with a flat sernen and the present gearing exceeds 86 m.p.h., whicht, In view of the moderate rolling re- elstance and frontal aron, is pro- bably feasible.
Be that as it may, three fm.
minent characteristics were im.
impressive.
First, the
effortless exuberanes of the acceleration; second, the
hairline accuracy of the hiring
ed steering and
"Anto
power, and third, the flatness of
all-independent springing. Some small sacriflea in the latter respoet must rosult when the system in stiffened by rocamboring of the addition of an extra loa? in each spring,
for at present the suspension deflects excessively.
ROAD SAFETY DISCUSSION
Associate
At Jofut raceting of the. Institute of Automobile Assessors, Midland Centre, and the Birming ham Insurance Institute recently road safety was discussed.
A. G. Douglas Cien Editor of The Autocar, remarked that there a tendency to regard the problem, as primarily caused by vehicle drivers, rather than all classes of road users. He pointed out, that road accidents were not unknown before advent ∙of the Internal combustion engine, and that there were many other contributory factors: for example, bad road surfaces, particularly
“therez wäre - Irain
tracks
On two occasions within the l Fow: day. He had seen eyelids Toin, 18540 & sizku ikia and fall tram iracks, two, socidents, which, had nothing| to do with motor vehicles.
B-CYL
VELOX
28 MPG
4-CYL WYVERN
35 MPG.
Aye
VAUXHALL ECONOMY AMAZES ME
TOO!
Go for the lick of your life in a Vauxhall Velox-it does 75 and at normal speeds gives 25 to 28 MPG! And Vauxhall's Wyvern, giving economy even better than 35 MFG if you're a slow driver, is the big little partner to Velox-see them both at our showrooms! GOING ON LEAVE? BOOK A HOME DELIVERY! NEW SHIPMENT JUST IN CHINA INTERNATIONAL MOTORS LTD.
OFFICE: 703 BANK OF EAST ASIA BLDG. SHOWROOM & SERVICE STATION:
350 HENNESSY ROAD
Switch to
TEL. 31440.
TEL. 28489.
Auto-Lite
Spark Plugs
For maximum petrol economy... Switch to Auto-Lite. Money cannot buy a better Spark Plug,
Sole Agents; JEBSEN & CO.,
12 Pedder St.,
Tel. 20001..
OLYMPIC MOTORS LTD.
41-51 LOCKHART ROAD, HONGKONG
TEL: 22630,
SPEEDY, COURTEOUS & PERFECT SERVICE TO
Let
ALL CAR OWNERS.
OLYMPIC MOTORS
SERVICE YOUR CAR
(Sales & Service. Agents for ROVER, LAND ROVER.
and CITROEN cars.)
AFBS
New Beauty for your car
JOHNSON'S
SPECIAL Automobile WAX
S.C.JOHNSON & SON PTY. LTD.
WORLD'S
„ARGES) MAKERS OF Poltats,