1949-06-04 — Page 8

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1949.

BRITAIN'S MOST EXCLUSIVE LIGHT, CARS

Follow

that Car!

IT'S Duco

ICI

FINISHED!

Telephone 266538

AND ASK FOR "PAINTS PLEASE!

"VAUXHALL”

Call

Outstanding Economy with Fine Performance in the

Velox

6 cylinder

Wyvern 4 cylinder

¿VAUG L

· CHINA INTERNATIONAL MOTORS LIMITED

OFFICE: 703 Bank of East Asta Bldg. Tel. 31440 SHOWROOM & SERVICE STATION: 350 Hennessy Road. Tel. 28409.

Announcing

Great Ne

MOTORING NEWS AND VIEWS

Float-On-Air Upholstery Made Again

Since manufacture of Float- on-Air pneumatic upholstery was suspended in 1939 it may be assumed that mony of the present generation of motorists are unfamiliar with its special characteristica.

Manufacture has now been rerumed by David Moseley and Sons, Ltd., Ardwick, Manchester, 12.

Float-on-Air was originally de- signed for car upholstery and it consists of air tubes folded and assembled so as to form a pad The shape of the seat cushion or back squab.

The tubes are slightly inflated placed within the after being covering material-hide, leather- cloth or whatever may be used.

The degree of inflation is such that a too springy or bouncy cushion is avoided, while roll is prevented by the folded assem- bly of the tube, the folds having the effect of checking rapid dis- placement of air from one sec tion of the tube to the next

From a British viewpoint the "appearance of the Frazer

is not so atartling as it might have been any three years ago, though there is more front-end chromium than England in accustomed to, The ancial for the radio la neatly retractable.

SMALL CAR MAKERS IN

New Frazer Interesting THE NEWS

Subject For Comparison

It should be explained that America's latest big-production car, in the sense not

the folded tubular pad is sur

rounded by another tube which follows and defines the external outline of the cushion,

Inflated

This outer tube is inflated to

so much of design or styling as of its being a now make successfully put on to the U.S. mar- ket since the war, the Frazer is an interesting subject for comparison with European cars of similar engine sizo.

a rather greater pressure than It will be remembered that the vost Willow Run ex- the centual tubular pud. On " rent scat

or other

full-width cushion for two people, two tubular pads are Aited within the surrounding tube so that ST only one person is seated the air is not transferred to the unoc- cupied side.

Inflation is by mouth only, no pump being necessary, since it is essential to have only very low pressure in the tubes.

for inflation.

bomber plant was taken over in 1946 with the object of producing a new range of cars, the Kaiser and the Frazer. They are of identical 'basic design, with the Frazer as the more ex-

pensive, carrying additional fittings.

4

Detroit.

Small independent car mak-

ers and their sales pictures are drawing considerable attention competitive manoeuvring broke out in the growing sum- mer market period.

48

The Kaiser-Frazer "Corpora- tion, admittedly having sales troubles, slashed prices from US$198 to as much as US$333 a model, and then began con- centrating on sales of two-new lower prices station-wagon type four-door sedans.

situation was not But K-F's alarming or even typical of other Independents who say they have no Intention uf cutting their prices, particularly since they are

The basis is a alx-cyclinder side- All gears, normal and overdrive. valve engine in a chassis having are quiet, and the gear change

wheelbase of 10 feet 3 in with itsolf, controlled by atearing enjoying comparatively good busi- coil spring independent front column lover, operates smoothly,

The Hudson Motor Car Com- Auspension and a three-speed gear sufficiently positively and with a pany has just reported that its The valves are simple devices box with overdrive,

most efficient synchromesh applied! of all-rubber construction and

to second and top, which at no

winter sales reached the highest are retracted within the lubes Overall length of the saloon Is time was over-ridden even when levels in 20 years.

Uno cial except, when they are drawn out feet 3 inches and, therefore, rapid changing was being made Nash Motors for March indicated a information from by British muscamenta the car for test purposes. falls in the biggest category of

similar experience, Packard also all.

A control close to the steering reported

toward morG trend

in the One cannot fail to be Impress-column, in conjunction with de normal acasonal business

pression of the clutch

podal, last three months. A fenture of Float-on-Air is ed at first sight by the great sent enables the overdrive transmission

Nevertheless, production figures that it provides exceedingly lowing accommodation afforded by the to be put out of action, the car are no true indication at this scating. the maximum

body, which would permit four not then running on its normal three particular time of high level sales cushion

too large passengers being carried gears. height being 4 inches.

becauso all manufacturer a RIG on the back seat and three with The seat framing is also sim- no crowding on the bench front plified since all that is needed is seat, n at support for the cushion and either a flat back-board for а

The lube forming the outer edge has one valve and there s 1 valve for cach-inner pad.

wide scat aquab or a suitably shaped back for a single bucket- type sca!.

With the overdrive control in using up materials contracted for the operating position a free wheel as long as six months ago when functions at the low speeds below the salca pleture appeared much On the road high gearing in at the cutting-in point of the over- rosier.

K sales don't pick up sharply once noticeable, to the extent that drive that is, under 25 m.p, but

of the soon. the industry predicts even when starting from reat on owing to the quietness

Arat gear on the level a slight engine and the smooth pick-up drastic production cutback.

apeeding up of the engine is call from free wheeling to pulling the For sporta saloons these pneu-od for when letting in the clutch.sence of a free wheel is scarce- matic seats contribute greatly to It is somewhat surprising that the amount of headroom

A soft suspension is expoctod, avail- the gear rations should be ng high

inches.

apparent.

Not Worried

its buge Willow Run plant which many

outelders consider to be one

But apparenty Studebaker.. is able, as the thickness of the scat as they are, with the result that but the Frazer system is found unworried by talk of the big dip in cushion may be as little as the acceleration, although potent than that now used on a number South Bend say

to be not appreciably more soft the car business. · Reports fram and obtained

with

great mechanic-

Studebaker hae ni

of British cars, case, does not feel vivid on top

higher output for the weeks ahend, gear at any part of the range by down motion, although with a light 1948.

There is little or no up and Studebaker had a banner year in standards of judgment naturally load there was applied to a car with a 3:7-litro occasion that the front

a suggestion on Despite the flurry of excitment engine.

springs centring around Kaiser-Frazer, Presumably the Intention has an undulating road were taken at fidence, pointing to the effclency of were bottoming when the dips in the company itself had high con- been to leave the engine as un high speed. stressed as possible and to exploit to the maximum case of cruising. between 70 and 80 m.ph. where conditions permit such speeds to be held for long stretches

This outlook

stressed by the overdrive

high-ratio (2,989 to 1)

Into comes

орогд tlon at approximately 25 m.ph. upon momentary release of the throttle pedal, on which engine speed is reduced by approximately 30 per cent in comparison with the ordinary top gear.

Strikingly beautiful leading types to suit every taste and need are included in the great new line of Plymouth models. Each is distinctively styled to give you the utmost in comfort, convenience, safety and long lasting service. And each brings you the increasingly bouyant thrill of smooth riding in the finest of cars.

GILMAN & COMPANY LIMITED

TELEPHONE

A KOWLOON, 56789-6880#

MOTOR DEPARTMENT

TELEPHONE HONG KONG

21028

use of

Stabiliser

of the most modem in the in- dustry.

K-F said its prica cuts were

On bands the car leans, but it does so to a limited degree under made possible by the recent pur- the control of torsional stabiliser chase of steel mills, but that they bars

connecting tho spring actually were made to stimulate dampers at front and rear, and in- sales of Kaiser and Frazer care, terestingly high speeds- can be As matter of fact, other com maintained on oven a typical wind-

pany

executives are mentioning ignor turns, such as those of available now than they wore wome

road,

the nows that materials aro' more

traffic roundabouts, can be taken time ago and at lower costs. fast, consistent with the actual

Of course, they mention too that overall

dimensions of the car; tyre the lower costs of materials also squent occurring if enterprising promise lower prices for, finished methods are adopted.

With

cars. The only thing missing is low ratio, as customary, the question of “when! American cars, the stearing in-price cute may be expected. speeds right up to the maximum, evitably does not provide a sense The big three companies. and for general purposes in terri. of really direct control, but It General Motors, Ford and Chrysler tory which does not provide long sufficiently accurate, with good have

uto or no talking on sections of open road the car is castor action, and is light at law the subject of prices, except that over-geared on this, ratio to the speeds; considerable wheel move-

Ford Irald at Cambridge, were

Little Wear Especially on the overdrive, thero la extremely little sugges-į tion of an engine working

on At

detriment of acceleration but, ofment in required for manoeuvring, Honry Fonts, that cuts.

course, with decided benallt

At all events in early acquain- overall reduction of wear and tear, tance with the car, there is en- and advantage as regards sase and deney for the driver to fool

necessary to "play straight. quietness

with" the wheel the direct-drive top gear whenever brakes give

Return is made automatically to slightly oven on

The

the road speed falls to approxi mately 20 mp.h...

confiden

general

year. He did not possible this nocerlly moon Ford prices,

Much depends on the next few weeks on the market, Hudson, in reporting the big winter palon, said operated cautiously that the car business in the way is again becoming responsive to In which they bring down the seasonal trends. An important point is that this pood. They are not over-senal- ordinary top gear can be regained tive in the sense of unduly force from, the Overdrive under the braking being too easily applied, driver's control at all spoeds and in the main they are just tion to which this arrangement fall depression of the throttle about right.

Įbrings the wide screen pillars, podal.

The enginn, as already indicat-they are st

decided A solenoid fa thus operated which of, is ille evident at any time, obstruction to, valon.

Vision forward over the bonnet withdraws a pawl locking the sun is not superlatively silky, but wheel of the splayelia overdrive certainly there is no noticeable is reasonable, however, although gear behind the gear box, and the vibration period or tendency for the left band "wing

cannot be soon effect is obtained of a change to become rough or noisy when and when manoeuvring the driver down to a lower ratio, without taken close to ite Umits.

remains in doubt as to what is of the

Foar lever, for The hand-brake lever, under the happening on that side. Telorgfing”

or for maintaining Instrument board, involves a dia. uphin,

tinet reach forward.

timer

sense of spaciousness Inaido the car is a grest, point, especial.

As Incidentals, overdrivq” “vere Naturally no large car imposes ly, of course, to those who fro- sions of second and first gears some extra responsibilities on the quently need to carry a number

function un ogactly to sama plan, driver on narrow roads and in of ever and passenger alone on

από

A

but the possible exception of traffic, but in the main it can be

with overdrive second (4.6) 46-1)**

said that, bulky as it i

is, the Frazer the front seat are almost "lost" thus close to normal top gear handles well, and that an experi- | no-wide in it,-- and it la noted ralló); on which a maximuth of as ended driver soon beceres scous a point of convenience that booka, much as 77 mph, la wallable in tomed to its aise even in depas papers and a came tog Distance, virtual silence, these ratios can be trame.

can be put down on the seat® be, The windaczuen is inclined at 451 tween them and not get in the way darogarded from the practicali palną, of view,

Stallpy: degress and, especially in the post at Alle-fine Auiccar,

Streamstyled....

1

PERFORMANCE

AND BEAUTY

These new sports ears of great beauty are powered by 0.11 V engines nf proved reliablity, giving vivid acceleration and are capable of maintaining high cruising speeds with absolute safely and comfort Features include Synchromatic finger-tip gear control, Lockheed hydräuix trakes, Opi«uive windscreen, nutructive Interior styling and generous luggage accommodation There are two body styles, Sports Saloon and Sports Convertible Coupé

The New

Lat

SUNBEAM-TALBOT

80:90 **

SUCCESSORS TO THE FAMOUS TEN AND 2-LITRE HODIES

GILMAN & COMPANY LTD.,

MOTOR DEPARTMENT vdek

Tel. 38800

TAN EN AR.D.D T: 15

CHEVROLET

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL

BUY OF ALL FOR 1949!

There's never been a Chevrolet like this. Never a Chevrolet so smartly styled, so luxurious, so advanced in comfort, safety, and performance with economy. "It's far and away the Bnest 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.

28, Netban Road.

KOWLOON.

Tóla. 58840 & 57250

Switch to

Auto-Lite

Spark Plugs

For maximum petrol economy.... Switch to Auto-Lite. Money cannot buy a better Spark Plug,

Bole Agents:

JEBSEN & CO..

13 Podder St Tel. 26601.