1933-06-06 — Page 2

TOURIST TROPHY

RACE

ARRANGEMENTS FOR BIG

AUTUMN EVENT

Regulations for this year's Tour- ist Trophy race have now been issued by the R.A.C. The race will take place a fortnight later than last year-viz., on Saturday, September

THE USED CAR

PROBLEM.

Rapid Turnover is Essential

VALUE OF A USED CAR CONSTANTLY DECLINES

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1933.

SPARKS

FROM THE PLUGS

THAT SPEED QUESTION

Policy of the R.A.C.

REIMPOSITION OF SPEED LIMITS OPPOSED

THE 27.6 H.P. BUICK

General Specification

Engine.

NEW MODELS AND IMPROVEMENTS

WHAT BRITISH DESIGNERS ARE DOING

I

SPORTS CAR

A 5,000-MILE TEST

known text hills.

WHAT THE MOTOR ACT FORGOT

SUMMONS AGAINST A DRIVER DISMISSED.

London-So great are the de- mands made upon modern sports. cars by the trials enthusiast, that

A "curious oversight" in the "Eight cylinders, overhead valves

in order to prove the suitability Motor Act was mentioned at Brigh- operated by push-rods, cast-iron Several new models and modifica of the now M.G. Magna for this ton Police Court when William pistons with off-set gudgeon pin, tions to existing well-known cars type of work the MG. Car Com- Taylor, of Stratford, E., was SUD- five-bearing crankshaft with vibra tion damper, nickel-chromium inlet are likely to be announced before, pany decided to put one of the moned for, it was alleged, failing London. - Concern is expressed by valves, silichrome exhaust valves,long. Rumour has long been busy new "L" type open four-seater to report an accident, uile dring

over the main and by-roads of

Mr. Owen, prosecuting, said it the Royal Automobile Club in re-oiling systems embodies external about a smaller Vauxhall, while the models through a 5,000-mile testing at Brighton The price of a new car is per gard to an organised attempt in cartridge filter and temperature 13 h.p. Humber introduced at the England and Scotland, including was provided in the Act that a person should report an accident certain quarters to secure the reim-regulation by water-jacket, ven- last show, is now beginning to reach

which involved damage to a per- position of a speed limit for cars, tilated crankcase, cooling by pump the agents.. Then the popular Hill in the route a number of well-

The itinerary of the journey in-son, vehicle or animal, but appar- particularly in urban areas. In and fan with thermostat controlled man Minx is now available with a

London to Land's End and from was no mention of property. Tay- communication on the subject the By-Pass B-volt coil ignition, Delco four-speed gear box at a slight ex- Club states that the suggestion un-two-unit electrical system, Marvel tra charge, and already this is includes a straight-forward run from ently, by a curious oversight there A number of minor changes as there to John O'Groats and back lor'a lorry knocked down a fire. derlying this movement is that the "p-draught carburetter with auto-considerable demand.

ailencer. Rating 27.6 hP.. tax regarda carburetters, etc, will also to London, followed by a second alama post, causing considerable abolition of the legal speed limit by matic heat control, air cleaner, and

£29, bore 74.61mm.,

"stroke be noted in due course, and in at trip over a similar course, visit damage. the Road Traffic Act of 1930 han

least one case it is interesting to ing the well-known test gradients, rendered the roads of this country 107.95mm, capacity 3779 c.c.

know that the type of carburetter and then on to Brooklands for the

final 1,000 miles at speed. less safe than they were when Transmission Was in operation.

Single plate dry clutch with mounting has been changed on speed limit

optional vacuum control, threa, standard models because of results This suggestion is not borne out by

speed unit gear-box with synchro- achieved on the sports edition of 8.16, and 13.6 to 1, enclosed pre- road accidents as far as is humanly peller shaft, semi-floating rear axle to no one in its anxiety to eliminate mesh engagement, gear ratios 4.7, the same chassis. *** possible; it claims to have been the with spiral bevel drive.

prime mover in securing the in-Brake troduction of the Highway Code,

with official practising on Wed- nesday and Thursday, August 30 and 31. As hitherto, it will be held on the Ards Circuit, near Belfast. manently established and extensive, Three important alterations havely advertised by the factory. But been made in the regulations. The used ear values stand alone and are length of the race has been extend always dropping, S.F.D. Meffley Automotive Mer ed from 30 to 35 laps, making a told the Towa total distance of 478 miles. This chants Association recently. From increase is accounted for by the the very day a dealer takes in a speed at which the Tourist Trophy used ear, the market for it declines. race is now run. In 1928, the first The hour he acquires it, it is worth year on the Ards Circuit, the timeless money than when he began to taken by the winner was just under bid for it. The longer he keeps it, six hours; last year it was exactly the less it is worth. Overhead an hour less, so, as the original charges, storage, insurance, selling intention was that the race should effort, all tell the same story- been increased to re-establish this while the possibility of resale take about six hours, the length has the cost to the denter increases,

condition.

Another amendment tightens up the regulations governing the eligi- bility of ears to compete. The Tourist Trophy race is for standard type cars, with certain permitted alterations. To ensure that only such ears. compete, the R.A.C. will, un receipt of an entry, notify the entrant of the number of cars cor- responding to the type entered that "must already have been manufactur- ed, thus ensuring that the car on tered is a production model and not built specially for racing.

£1,500 in Prize Money.

Prize money is affected by the third amendment. Since 1931 there have been, in addition to the Tro phy, five cash prizes for the cars finishing in the first five places, irrespective of class. Thus, if the handicap worked out favourably to cars in the smaller classes, it was possible that none of the larger cars would appear in the prize-list; or the reverse might apply if the handicap proved favourable to the 'larger cars.

diminishes.

Suppose a dealer had $40,000 tied up in used cars at an average cost of 8500 each which would give a total of 80 cars. He can figure ap proximately $400 a month for stor age, $200 3. month for hand: ling, possibly 875 a month for in- surance at the rate of 820 per 1,000 per year, depreciation 8900 a month

เ

the facts.

The Royal Automobile Club yields

lever.

Self-servo internal expanding and is unremitting in urging its four wheel brakes, mechanically admirable provisions upon motoriste. But the club is satisfied,perated by foot and control band both from the experience gained General-- I'while a speed limit was in opera- tion and from observation during the two years since its abolition, that any return to such an artificial

at the rate of 25 per cent a year, restriction would completely fail to another $400 a month for tires batachiave the objects its advocates teries and other accessories. Then have in mind. there is a possibility, because his

No Sate Speed."

capital is tied up in used cars, that i It is the view of the R.A.C. that he must borrow money from the the reimposition of speed limits, finance company, on which he pays either in the form of a general limit interest-giving a possible total of on all roads or what is worse, 81.500 to $2,000 a month cost. To varying speed limits in towns and simplify the picture, if he invested villages at the discretion of every 810,000 in used ears and sold none local authority, would be a re- for one year, his cost and deprecin trograde step. There is no such tion would eat up the entire capital thing as safe speed." What is invested.

safe in certain circumstances and The actual experience of a pro-ja particular times may be extreme minent dealer in the low-priced held ly dangerous when the time and showed his loss for holding a ussd circumstances are varied. car to days is 0 average. Those A speed limit of 30 m.p.h, which that were held four months, the has been suggested in certain quar average loss increased to $130. ters as being safe, might at times Used cars taken in on trader to he amount to sheer recklessness. Fur- old without a loss must sell withinther, it was amply proved between 10 days..

the years 1903 to 1831 that a speed

- These developments are ́ ́interes- ting not only in themselves, but because they indicate that British manufacturers, although very busy just now, are not too busy to in- troduce improvements when found possible. Also the sports model clearly has its good influence on the same firm's standard product.

Double dropped frame with cruciform eross-member with front arms extending to front cross- member worm and roller steer MORE TROLLEY BUSES FOR ing, semi-elliptic springs front

NEW ZEALAND and

rear, enclosed Covers, single-acting hydraulie shock absorbers, large hub type rear wheels. Dimensions

in metal

Wheelbase, 9ft. 13in.; track, front 4ft. 11in., rear ft. Chin. over-all length 16ft. 4in.: over-all width, eit. in.; clearance, sin. tyres, 6in. by 17in. turning circle, 40ft. Models and Prices

Fans

Viceroy saloon, £485 or £495, trimmed in leather. Regal coupe, £560, Albemarle drophead coupe, £560.- Local Distributors-

Westera Motor Company, Ltd.. 72 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, . 3.

Special Features,

So this year the prize money will be allocated as follows: To the winner, irrespective of class, £300; £300,£200, and £100 respectively; The percentage of used car sales limit is not enforceable, and it is being built in the M'Loughlin-

to the first three cars over 1,500 c.c., and the same suins to the first three up to 1,500 c.c. The winner of the rare being also the first car in one of these groups will receive alto gether £600 (as compared with £500 last year), and the possibility of "one particular type of car taking the whole of the prize fund has been eliminated.

rnce.

11

The Buick car sold in Britain is, of course, an Empire product, Buick factory in Canada, while built. It was a Scot who original- y gave his name to this make, and it is not unfitting that, the Buick should have enjoyed so high & re- patation in Scotland for its ser- viceable qualities.

to new car sales is gradually in- derogatory to the law itself to pass some of the coachwork is British

The latest figures from enactments which the ordinary law creasing. an analysis of one large group of abiding citizen is tempted to break, dealers show a ration of 1 to 21 used and is almost sure to break, every cars for every new car sold, and time he takes his car on the road. this ratio is very likely to increase There are other and more valuable use for the police than in spending to 1 to 3 in the near future.

their time endeavouring to enforce a law that is not supported by the general body of public opinion, the boing to tolerate alternative breaches of the law which they and everybody else know to exist.' of the police by the Road Traffic

true

No dealer handling used cars can pay a price for them and sell them and In addition to the above altera- at the same or lower price, tions the handicap has been revised make a profit on the sale. That is this year it was true last in the light of last year's experi-

It is not easy to compare year-it will be true next year.

In dealing with the public, tell this year's with the handicap of length of the race, but the possibi- just as about new car values and 1932 owing to the increase in the then the facts about used car values lity of two pit stops has been taken prove to them that the allowance into consideration. It appears to price is right.

In any used car transaction never be one of the best handicaps yet framed for this race; when the close quote selling price-that is what the finishes of previous years are re-dealer expects to get out of the

used car. membered, this is undoubtedly say-

Quote the appraisal (Continued at foot of next Column) ing a very great deal.

Agents:

LODGE

HADE IN ENGLAND

LODGE

LODGE

The

ACE

of

PLUGS

DODWELL & Co., Ltd.

A.P.B. 1.

The powers placed in the hands,

15.

re-

The model to which these notes refer is the Light type, but there is a larger Master chassis of 35.1 h.p. rating, and with a longer wheelbase. The general design and specification of both models

The engine possesses many Act to deal with dangerous or care-auements, such as the water-jacket-

practically identical, however.

less driving are adequate and can ting of the oil supply, so that this be effective in every case where is quickly warmed up when start- driver indulges in dangerous speeding, and subsequently maintained be it 10 or 10 miles per hour. at a constant temperature. There Under these particular clauses of is also an automatic temperature the Act every consideration is taken control for the carburettor sir into account when a driver is no intake. The ventilated crankcase eused of endangering life or propis still a feature, and the Buick erty, and, further, a conviction car engineers have apparently aclved ries with it a certain stigma that the problem of preventing beat and no breach of the old speed limit fumes from reaching the interior laws ever did.

of the body. An arbitrary, speed limit cannot

The Viceroy body on the car holp towards the salution of the tested is Canadian built, and pro- problem of road safety, concludes vides most luxurious accommoda the R.A.C., and is likely to estion with an extremely comfortable tablish, in the minds of many driving-seat. Finish and equip motorists, the impression that the ment are of the highest grade, and speed fixed, whatever it may be, is the combined hinged and lowering a safe one, and may be indulged in tion without draughts.

windows provide ample ventila- without regard to other circums

tances.

WHAT OF THE FUTURE?

Notable Performance... The engine capacity of this Buick at a little over 3 litres is not excessive considering the size of the chassis and the type of coach- work, so that its performancé sug¶ "Our view is that there are not with cast-iron pistons has a deci- gests that this eight-cylinder unit likely to be any very revolutionary dedly high efficiency for ite changes in engine design yet, and volume. Maximum speed is an that what advances there may be in the next year or so will takey, 75 m.p.h. and 70 m.p.h. is reached without any difficulty,

Acceleration.

the form of improvement in ma- while anything from 40 to 60 terials, harder wearing surfaces, m.ph. is a smooth and silent and possible reduction in oil co00 eruising speed... sumption and further. improve- ment in general running."-Engine when carried out in the ordinary Changing is simplicity itself Designs Controller, Singer and

Way by the aid of the synchro Co., Ltd., in Pupular Mortoring, mesh device. With the clutch con-

trolled by vacuum it is not neces sary to use the clutch pedal at all price which is from 25 per cent. to when changing 40 per cent. below the selling price. For if a prospect is told that the The acceleration of the Buick is dealer will be able to sell his used a feature, and from 10 m.p.h on car for a certain price he is work-top gear it takes 4.2 seconds to ing contrary to the common sense reach 20 m.p.h. and 7.9 seconds to law of trading. The prospect is reach 30 m.p.h. On second gear going to expect that selling price the corresponding figures are 2.9 for his allowance, because he figures and 5.8 seconds. From rest 20 the dealers are making a profit on m.p.b. is attained in 4.8 seconds, 30 the few car. So begin by quoting m.p.h, in 7.2 seconds, 40 m.p.h.. in a low appraisal price and keep 119 seconds, and 60 m.p.h. în 17.5 allowance as close as possible to it. I seconde.

So great has, been the success of & demonstration bus sent to Christ- charch, New Zealand, that the Council has just placed an order for four further chassis with the makers, Ransomes. Sims and Jef ferics Ltd.. Ipswich, England.

Like the first vehicle, these will be of the 8-wheel type with third differential, and they will also be itted with the firm's new light- weight motor, compound-wound for regenerative contral.

The magistrate dismissed the case on the ground that no damage e was done to the lorry.

INSIST ON

Agents:

RIV

Bearings

For Automobiles

and Industrial Mechanism

Dodwell & Co., Ltd.

AP.B. 1.

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MOTOR VEHICLES

Pioneer Manufacturers of Commercial Motor Vehicles

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TEL. 56759:

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