1930-12-10 — Page 2

A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE "SEVEN.”

DETAILS OF EXPERIMENTAL CAR.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1930.

MOTOR NOTES.

Very Low Chassis,

A most interesting car, with several novel features including the use of a well-known 750 dec.

The rear axle may best be de- ngine set the roverts way in the Irame so that the gtbox is at the scribed as like an ordinary front front to give front-wheel drive, huxle without hay strering heads recently been built by a well-known Owing to the absence of a propeller shaft it the rear, and also to the Coventry engineer, Mr. Budge, MI.M.E., H.L.A.E., who face that the rear axle is for the export most part below the level of the construoted sevoraj

chases wheel centres, the chassis is very inental front-wheel-drive

low. Mounted on it it an attrac during the past two years.

tive coupé hody with a folding roof,

John

One of the chief problems en countered in this connection is the design of a satisfatory universal

THE ISIS SIX.

SOME OF ITS FEATURES.

THE LIGHTER SIDE. its lights were put out. The fol-

lowing.conversation: ensued:

The Suspension System. If any ordinarily experienced

It would bo well for all drivers motorist were to ride in this car

of motor-cars to head the words of without boing informed that there

In the community of motorists traffic officer who, when a mo was anything unusual about its suspension system, his only. com there exists a proportion who de torist a few cars back in the line traflio start, walked back to the car performance, powerful acceleration,

言情 Say, Mister, mont (f, indeed, he mide any atmand a car with excellent top gear incessantly honked his born to have if you ally would be that it is above the silence, sumptuous upholstery and and said, average for comfort, and, while bodywork which shall represent the continue trying to drive the ears in front of you, direct traffic, and just a trifle harth at really low coachbuilders' art at its best.

For such as these, is the Morris drive your own car at the same Its six-cylinder power time, you're bound to have trouble. speeds, no sign of road inequali-lein Six.

j and one of the most notable feats renches the passenger when unit has already created widespread Take my advice and drive your

designers throughout the world; its tures from the driving sent in the travelling at a normal gait. Cer- interest among automobile engine own car only. "

:

*

valve gear, necessible locatica of train called a taxi in Regent-street,

componente being specially loo" to the driver. other carburetter, starter, distributor and W., got inside and shouted Water designed to meet Overseas require. menta

Driver of the lorry: "What any petrol

Jonca: "No."

NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE.

**WATER FIGHTING" SALOONS.

In heavy rains it may be found that joints in fabric anloons, along the top of the scuttle dish for ex ample, allow water to enter un derneath the boading. A tempor ary cure may be obtained by renow. Then get to blasts out of ming the beading, but, a much better garage 1"

plan is to all the joints with`a caulking material as used in small woodon boat hulls

Want any oil?” "No."

A piedadtrian stepping suddenly off the pavement caused the fair motorist to swerve extremely close to a policeman oa point duty. The outside of the joints, if Afraid of having offended the law filled with caulking material, 2000 gets quite hard and dry-in an the paused and shouted, "So sorry: hope I didn't go over your foot.

That's all right, Mins," replied

Traffic was held up in the Strand while a man furiously wound his

Imby

contre still romanis soft and re silient the filling stays in, eron on a car subjected to seyare road, car in an effort to make

joint for the transmission of power excollant, visibility. On fow matainly, he would have no reason to sturdy bearing surfaces, overhoad A man in a hurry to catch the policeman, "I've got another hour or so, in fact-but as the to the wheels, which must, of cars is it possible to see both suspent that any part of the me course, he pivoted for steering hur wings whm ecated comfortably chanism is unsprunga fact which

back at the wheel, but on this supports the pontention that, little car there is no difficulty of effect, the granter part of the en- gine and gearbox weight is carri- this sort.

ed by the aprings.

pasos.

It is well known that a single univerm! joint of any onvention.

In general, the controls may be al type, such as a Hooke's joint, suffers from one serious defect, If described as conventional, apart two shafts are coupled together by from the gear "lever," which tikes some such means and are at an the form of a cranked rod protrud angle, one with the other, aling horizontally from the centrotainly as quiet though the first shaft runs a of the facia board; on top of the constant speed the arcond will have short vertical arm there is a con a fluctuating speed. The amount venient knob. In order to engage by which ta velocity will vary first gear, this handle is pushed to above and below that of the first the left and then forwards; " shaft depends upon the anglo at cound" is found by pulling it back the joint, and it will therefore be warda and to the right, and top olear that this becomes a 'sorious gear is thon obtained by pushing matter in the case of a front-wheel.it straight forward. drive layout where the stubs axle, when locked over, iray be soine 30 degrees or 40 degrees out of line with the axe shaf

With the

16

knob pulled back to the left reverse gear is engaged. In short, the respective positions of this gear Jever are just exactly opposite to the corresponding ones on an Aus tin Seven.

Clutch, brake and accelerator rign, without alteration. Further pedals are provided in the ordin-more, all the working parts are ary way, the rear brakes being under the bonnet and therefore operated by foot. A short and con much more accessible than usual. venient lover operates the tran

nission brake.

Again, body design is much less: tampered.

tic

The taxi-driver was a little deaf and got off his sent, came to the door and asked the destination "Waterloo," said the fare.

The station, air" naked the "No," exclaimed the exasperated passenger, "the battlefield,, you blithering idiot!"

driver.

*

A farmer as very proud of his new car and invited pomo friends round to his place to see him drive it. He had declined the services of

But his words were prophetic, ne the crash came a scoond or two later.

|

it start, Beveral times the engine shocks. The caulking should be showed signs of starting, but after used in the same way as putty, a few seconds would stop again. Aand fasorted in the joints with a taxi-driver leaned over and con

fidentially said: "next time, Gay. Has knife blade, the fabric bending nor, ask them to sell you an eight being afterwards replaced. Tho day one.

caulking material is also useful for coach built bodies.

The prospective buyer of a car plied the attendant of a "stand". at Olympia with questions for a considerable time. At last he said:

larry over on its side in the hedge, with the wheels turned towards the rond.

RATTLING. FLOORBOARDS,

Fortunately the driver himself was unhurt, but not so his temper. On one of the party inquiring "how" it happened," he received the as-that tounding assumed

I've just turmed er over to oil 'er underneath!"

HOOD OR BODY POLISH.

And, to balance the rapid se- celeration and high maximum per- formance, Lockheed hydraulic four- In other respects, too, this front-wheel brakes, featherlight Bishop mounted upon the steering column, wheel-drive light car is very matisan type steering, and controls factory. In particular, it is er give the driver such a command of as the more normal his vehicle as to render cruising type of vehicle. Indeed, gearbox speeds of forty-five to fifty miles per hour perfectly normal, when noises on the indirect ratios are road conditions permit. less in evidence than usual, pos. The six-cylinder engine has a bore

Young man, you have told me all driving instructor, as he had the good points of the car. Now

Floorboards held down by turn jeibly broaus the gearbox is well re of 60 mm and a stroke of 110 mm.,

moved from the occupants of the giving a cubic capacity of 2,463 ec made up tus mind to master the can you tell me anything against.

The lylinders are cast en bioe with art within the confines of his farm. it?""

His fricods watched him start off, Promptly the attendant replied: buttons are sometimes inclined to car and has no sounding board in the upper balf of the crankcase, the form of the floor of the body which extends well below the crank- and he vanished from view round" No, only monotonous reliability.", rattle. A ours can be effected by

shaft centre. The four-bearing a winding path. When he reap

morning, at the begluing a small wooden wedge to Early one Amongst the various advantages crankshaft is of generous dimen-peared, coming down a hill towards

the floorboard so that as the button. which are claimed for this form of rione and accurately balanced static his house, they could see that there i ginning of September, a party were

ally and dynamically by the Olson was something wrong. He was on a holiday tour and had just pass is turned one end tends to bind

on the wedge. construction are that it is cheaper method. Uverhead valves are oper; standing up in the car and waving ed through Gloucester They were to produce than a rear-drive chasated by a chain-driven overhead his arms about frantically, shout-startled to find a big six-wheeled sis, and that roughly 75 per cent camshaft and rockers, with automa-ing, "I can't stop, Iran't stop."

tensioning device restricting Just at that moment another voice of the parkta required can be taken

backlash of the Duplex chain. The rang out, "You Boon will.". 'evor from existing standard

cylinder head, complete with valve Glancing round, the party saw The Tracts Joint.

gear, can be removed without dis one of the farm hands who did not Various attempts have been inilo

turbing the chain or the timing. appear at all concerned. Mixture is supplied by an autome- to design a compact and durable

the pistoptype S.U. carburetter, fed -joint which does not suffer from

with petrol from a 19-gallon tank at the rear of the chassis by Autovec this disability, and amongst the

tank. The petrol tank is provided very mall number-come two or

with a generous filler and electric three of successful solutions the

It is Mr. Budge's desire, we un gauge reading on the dash. Lubri- cation is by gear-typi pump deliver. Tracta joint is probably the best

derstand, to enter into some ar known. For that rozson Mr. Budge

rangement with a suitable manu ing oil under pressure to all. beat has used this type of universal

facturing concern for the producings. Adequate cooling is assured coupling in his serious, designs, kid, but it was easy to believetion of this war, and any who are by an ample radiator water impel including the latest one.

Perhaps the most unusual feature that nobody has yet succeeded, in interested can get in touch with ler, fan, and caloratat-operated

At any

him nt Grosvenor Chambers, 11, radiator shutters. Ignition is by of this chassis is the fact that the causing this car to slide.

one of Queen's Road, Coventry.

Lucas. coil, the distributor being front axle, together with a brate, the impression was

carried high up in a particularly complete safety.

accessible position. A starter motor of the gear. type engaging a tooth- ed rim on the flywheel renders starting certain. Four-wheel brakes of the Lockheed hydraulic type, operating internal expanding shoes in 14in. drums, provide maximum possible braking. The steering. gearbox is of the oil-cushioned car type and provides exceptionally light steering. Long supple acmi. controlled by progressive elliptic springs fitted with gaiters and hydraulic shock absorbers ensure riding comfort even under the worst conditions. Chassis Jubrication is by Ligh-pressure grease gut. Five detachable wheels fitted with Dun- lop reinforced balloon tyres are standard equipment. Wheelbase oft ein, track 4ft. Bin.

frame, which carries the engine and gearbox, form a single unit which is attached to the main frame at three pointe-namely, the two front springs and substantial ball-and-meket joint on

Arans

During a brief road test the de- lightful stoering qualities were 14.60 happened very noticeablo, that the ronds were perfectly dry, and there was therefore no oppor tunity to attempt to provoke

J

Light Steering and Good Lock. Steering was pleasingly light The lock and yet self-centring. was ample to take a sharp hair- pin,corner in rather narrow road. Having set a course on a straight rond, such as that between Coventry and Kenilworth, in the neighbourhood of Gibbett, Hill, it was possible to relate the wheel and forget about it until a band

member behind the ongine. From this it might be assumed that the engine is unsprung, but, while this may be theoretically true to n small extent, the fact is that the engine is close up to the ball joint and, therefore, the bulk of its weight is carried by the springs.

Nothing Irat interference with An Austin Seven engine is tard with its own clutch and three. the steering wheel itself appeared speed gearbox,. the unit being plan.o cause any deflection from a ed back to front as compared with

normal practice,

A short shaft transmits the power In worm and wheel in the front axle and an external-contracting hand brake is mounted on it.. This Frake, with the advantage of the 6-to-1 axle reduction ratio, has n Very powerful, although quite) sincath, ratarding nation.

wan wenchod.

straight courac. With full throttle er on the over-drive, there was no difference in the feel of the air, and even the somewhat drastic ex- periment of jamming the trans mission brake on hard at over 40 .ph. failed to produce the slight cat swerve. In this connection it should be mentioned that the brakes nre very adequate and yet operate

SILVER CUP FOR FORD.

PRIZES IN ITALIAN TRIAL.

First prize for reliability in per- forminner was won by a team of twelve Ford cars it the recent Brescia-Pento di Logno contest in Italy, in which 220 automobiles participated.

ran

The cars were required, to 113 kilometres, approximately 74 miles, at a speed as nearly uniform as possible over a course that in cluded nineteen kilometres of dif- cult moutain road with many hair- pin turns and steep gradients.

The race waS a gala event in Italy. Many of the participants entered cars which they used in their business and carried their sengers. Sme.ef the Fords had As to the gear control, this apn'ready run up more than 10,000

kilometres. pears to be thoroughly satisfactory, and, altheigh the direct push or pull required is rather different from the more usual movement. one experiences no dificulty with

So far as the axle itself in con- with a pleasing and almost deep-wives, children and friends as nas cerned, the centre part of it resortive smoothness. bles a conventional worm-driven rear axle, and the extremities are Torked to carry the stub-axio pivota 2 on many ordinary front axles, Within these steering head are mounted the Thiota type deuble spherical joints.

it

A lovely cup was awarded the winning ten by H. E. A. Tursti, Secretary of the Facist Party. The Ford with the most uniform speed was given a gold medal...

The standard equipment includes: finger-tip steering wheel controls for switches, ignition and mixture, pile carpets, pedal rubbers, speedometer with trip, clock, oil gauge, petrol gauge (electric), electric winds. screen winer, licence holder, calor meter and wings, driving mirror, double

high-frequency bumpers, electric horn. dush-operated venti Intor, coil indicator light, side- and tail-lampa, Lucas Biflex headlamps with dipping reflectors, stonlight. toolbox and complete tool kit.

Jones was motoring from Hitchin to London, and after about ten miles ran into a dons fog.

He then saw a lorry in front, the driver of which hailed a policemen and inquired if he was "right for London."

"Straight on was the reply Jones decided to keep well behind the lorry. After some miles the lorry stopped, and he observed that

car

An Amerikan touring England by- arrived at Coventry on "Godiva Day." He asked the re- eon of the crowded streets.

It may not be generally known a fasting and waterproof polish may be given to fabric bodies. or hoods if they are first cleaned with a large duster, damped with turpentine, and then rubbed over. and polished with ordinary shoe

When told that if he would pull polish applied with a brush and his car into the side of the road bonished with a clean polishing rag. would sto Lady Godiva pass on a A plain cream should be used on white horse the visitor answered voloured bodies but black polith "Geo! I guess. I'll wait. I ain't

is very suitable for black fabric. wenn white hoss for years."

FIAT

IS

DESIGNED

TO SATISFY THE MOST

ARDUOUS OF ALL TESTS

ARRANGE FOR A

TRIAL RUF.

A well-known motering writer said recently that FIAT started with know- ledge that other designers have still to acquire! It is true. The testing ground where FIAT engineers: "have: perfected their cars has always been amongst the most notorious of hill-climbs, amid Alpine roads, which have necessitated supreme perfection in engine, clutch; gears, brakes, cooling and suspension.

To you the inference is obvious. A car which can do what FIAT, does under most adverse conditions is guaranteed to give you not only effortless, trouble-free and luxurious motoring-but reliability and long life that is without compart➡ and is essentially the car for negotiating the hills of Hong Kong.

"ALWAYS IN FRONT"

SOCONY

GASOLINE plus MOTOR OIL

STANDARD OIL CO, OF NEW YORK

FIATS

CYLINDER

6 CYLINDER

A. GOEKE & Co.

FIAT GARAGE:

Hennessy

Road. CHINA BUILDING,

4TH FLOOR

PHONE

350

LARCIA GARAGE:

East