1949-04-15 — Page 10

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Page 10 TEFTI

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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

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25, Nathan

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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

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28 MPG

4-CYL WYVERN

35 MPG.

Aye

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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.

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