1935-05-28 — Page 2

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AUTOCAR ROAD TESTS

Chevrolet Saloon De Luxe

Some years have passed since the Chevrolet car was last sold actively in Great Britain, but how, as has already been describ- Ed in The Autocar, it is being of-" tered once again,

First Impressionis cannot but be concerned with the value that is afforded in this big and very rosmy car, fitted with an engine of such size as to make the per- formance easy and effortless. It is an interesting reflection also that this, in its own country. Is one of the three most popular makes of all, and under intense competition has led in several re- cent years as regards the monet- ary volume of sales in the U.S.A. That, perhaps, is of no direct concern to the British prospective buyer in forming an opinion of the car, but it is worth mention

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The road behaviour of this car can be summed up as a combina- tion of top-gear running in the majority of conditions involving either traffic or gradients, com- fortable riding, and very brisk ac- celeration.

Driving it presents no difficult les of any kind, for, rapidly pass- ing from Arst into second, and then into top gear, assisted by a good synchromést mechanism

the driver has chiefly to concern himseit with the throttle pedal. The pick-up from any speed around 10

Immediate m.p.h, is and certain, whilst very rapidly Indeed 30 m.p.h, and more be attained.

TOP-GEAR ACCELERATION

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The acceleration figures in the table lay emphasis upon the top- Bear acceleration over ranges of speech which are of importance to the majority of people, only fractionally more time being oc- qupled. It will be noticed, in pass- ing from 30 to 50 m.ph, than from 10 to 30 mph. Therein is the great value of the car's per- formance in average "road condi- tions.

This engine does its work qulet" fy and unobtrusively for all the rapidity of its acceleration, and is especially pleasarit between 40 and 50 m.p.h. A passenger · to whom the speedometer

, needle was not visible would be very la- ble to under-estimate the speed of the car. Such a tendency is assisted by the fact that the speedometer read przeciab y slow at 30. 40 and 50, and was still slow at a reading of 60.

Above 50 m.p.h. there are traces" of fine vibration and just suffet- ent evidence exists of the engine's working to make At notice- able, but not censpicuously so in ordinary driving unless one should be looking for points of „this nature. At the lowest speeds on" top gear the engine can be felt, too: when the flexible mount- ing which is used permits relative movement,

Clearly there is a maximum of 30 m.p.h, in reserve, for the bigh- est immed speed achieved at Brooklands w19

but fractionally below that Agure. Circumstances at the track at the time of the test were not favourable to the car as regards showing its best speed over a timed distance. Even at the limit tbe

speedometer reading did not exceed 81.

SATISFACTORY EXPERIENCE

It is a very satisfactory exper- lence lo be able to reach the bigher speeds swiftly when one is in a hurry, and to be able to climb llis fast without thought of gear changing. Except to make a specially fast getaway from rest, or to increase the per- formance on a hill should the car. be slowed by ether traffic, the gears are very seldom in use. On the infrequent occasions when it is necessary, the gear change downwards between top and sec- ond works well with a single clutch movement, and the up- ward changes can be made quite quickly." Becond & allent gear.

Independent front wheel springing by means of enclosed horizontally placed coil springa is used, and this gives soft. Hexible riding, almost to be described as "floating" on ordinary roads, with remarkable properties of levelling 'out really bad surfaces. - Pot-bol- or wavy stretches of ed, ruited byway can be taken at 40 mp.h.. or so with hardly a suspicion of movement, and no shock or jar- ring,

"Damping of the special frent springs can be adjusted to give

a firmer setting, and it seemed that for some conditions the car tried might have been steadier and felt under more exact control had the damping of both the front and the rear springs been more decisive; for on wet roads a tendency to spin the rear wheels under acceleration and for the "car to slide was experienced.

MARKED CASTER ACTION

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The steering wheel has a thin rim, and is placed in a natural position; the steering gear itself has a light action, is sufficiently definite to give confidence at the nigher speeds, and also shows marked caster action in returning the wheels to the straight after making a turn. A trace of front wheef movement is felt ut times inrough the wheel, but not suffi- can.y "to be disturbing to the

The brakes give a creditable test, Agure, and will bring the speed down. safely from the seventies should such fast driv- Ing be indulged in, besides which they do not pull on the steering making an emergency stop. though, curiously, on first driving the car it was felt responsiveness to the pedal was lacking. This is probably because to obtain emer gency results fairly considerable pressure on the pedal is required.

Looked at from the aspect of a car not intended by any means solely "as a vehicle for a driver alone, but as a comfortable and, if need be, rapid conveyance for upwards of nve people, this Chev- rolet is particularly good. The suspension as affecting the rear seat is very comfortable, and the leg room and width which only a comparatively large car can give for four ur five occupants are greatly appreciated. This parti- cular car, the saloon de luxe, has leather upholstery, and In the price of this model two spare wheels are included, but the basic "

model is

obtainable at £285, when cloth upholstery is provid- ed. The front seat is in one piece, and is immediately adjustable. The interior is plain, but adequately equipped and quite nicely finish- cd,

The windscreen is fixed and has a single-blade suction wiper, of which the blade speed can be in- stantly adjusted to suis condi- tions, and ventilation of the in- terior 18 well provided for by means of pivoting window sec- tions in the forward doors, con- trolled by separate handles. These.. In conjunction with similar sections in the rear-quar- ter windows, allow either a mild ventilating effect or 2 direct

stream of air to be led into the car for hot weather use. There are armrests ол the forward doors. A particularly neat and easy-acting type of lock is em ployed for securing the doors against outside interference, con- " sting of push-down knob placed vertically in the window" silly, -

NEAT INSTRUMENTS The instruments are neat, and Include an engine thermometer. Traffic signals are fitted to this de luxe model; the control for them-on this particular car on the instrument board-was not especially convenient. Other similer cars are being Atted, however, with a control om the 'steering column for the signals.

ped beam which is reasonably The head lamps give a flat-top

powerful, and the anti-dazzle control is by means of a very convenient footoperated switch. A folding luggage grid is provided ch this de luxe model; the posi- tion of the grid makes it a little awkward to insert the end of a pump filling hose in the fuel tank orifice. Twin tail lamps and stop lamps are Atted..

4

The engine is not untidy, the of alde, in fact, being well arranged, and the use of 14 mm. sparking plugs is noticeable.

The offer, on the near side, ls not very convenient for replen- ishing from the kind of receptacle for ull commonly used in this country, due to it's being at an angle and partially obstructed by other components. The radiator filler, contrary to what is becom- Ing a dominan practice, is exter- nal on the top of the shell, and la removed or replaced by a half- turn.

Lever-type qulek-action bonnet" fasteners are, used, one at each side.

One finishes, as with the car tbelt, on a note of admiration for the value provided.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1935.

MOTOR

BRITISH FORD

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In South Africa

During March the Cape Town dealers held a new model de luxe double entrance (Model "C" 10 "HP British Ford) on a fourteen day's endurance test. The job was standard equipped, with the ex- ception of a 25-gallon petrol tank and fog lamp.

The car was driven continuously day and night with a relay of five drivers on a 112 mile circuit; 50 per cent. of which Was tarred road, Alty per cent. corrugated and macadamized, "and included one mountain pass.

The car stopped for refuelling every 22 hours, when the lubricat- Ing oil was also drained off. The car received high pressure lub- rication every 1,000 miles. There were two involuntary stops, one for puncture and, the other for draining fuel pump and removing flu caused by having no filter between the auxiliary petrol tank and the pump. This would not have occurred if the standard petrol tank had been used.

At noon on March 23 the car had completed 90 circuits, repre- senting 10,055 miles. in fourteen days. Including all the stops the average speed was 30 miles per hour: petrol consumption 39.97 miles per gallon, oll consumption less than -gallon and water con- sumption thirteen pints.

"The test was made under the supervision of the motoring edi- tors of The Cape Times" and Cape "Argus" who appointed a committee of ten Independent ob- servers, and checkers.

PARTS SEALED

All the vital parts of the car were sealed and only one seal was broken to drain the petrol pump.

The car ran perfectly and was even sweeter, at the completion of the test than at the start.

The can was new and taken at random from the stock held by Ford Motor Company of South Africa, Limited, Port Elizabeth. and given 12 neurè running prior to the test.

The River Rouge Plant at Dear- born, Michigan, covers 1,096 acres and as many as 104,000 men have employed there at one time, on the seven million feet of floor space which are under cover.

It would take 300 acres of glass to replace the windows and sky- lights of the Rouge Plant.

The ore carrier Henry Ford II has carried at one trip 12,500 tons of Iron ore, which glant unloaders that lift twelve to seventeen tons at one dip of the handie.", Huge storage bins at River Rouge Plant can store 2,000.000 tons of ore, coal limestone; etc.

LAST YEAR'S WINNER

The Chevrolet

Chevrolet won first place in 1934 passenger car registrations, according to the final official re- turns issued by R. L. Polk & Co., by a sensational spurt in sales in the last two months of the year which brought its twelve months' total to 534.906 cars. At the end of October, Chevrolet was 20,809 units shy of first place, but by selling 36,807 in November, it gained 13,512 cars and stood only 7,287 cars behind. This rapid sales

maintained pace was through December, Chevrolet recording 26,741 registrations, or 11,675 more than its nearest com- petitor, and thus gained the top position for the twelve months' totals.

The year 1934 is the fourth in zuccession, and the sixth out of the last eight, in which Chevrolet won frst place in passenger car registrations. First place in.com- mercial car registrations for the year also goes to Chevrolet, with Its total of 157,507, Total Cherro- let registrations for 1934, cars) and trucks combined," were: 693,- 413, a gain of 118,040 over 1983. The gain in passenger cars was 80.413; in trucks, 57,827,

The feat of winning first place. W23 achieved by Chevrolet through its extraordinary record In the second half of the year, Whereas the industry: In general usually sells only 35 per cent. of

· its year's production in the second six months, Chevrolet sold 48.9. per cent, of its passenger cars in the second half.

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JOTTINGS

MOTOR NOTES FROM

GREAT BRITAIN

Bombshells In The Budget

There is no doubt that some resentment has been stirred up In British motoring circles by the latest Budget proposals. Heavy oll fuel could not hope to escape the attention of the Chancellor indefinitely, but it was not anti- elpated that the increase in tax would be so large or so immédiate. and it is feared that both manu- facturers and operators of Diesel engined vehicles will suffer a set- back as a result.

The "taking over"" of the £4,470.000 surplus in the Road Fund came as a complete surprise and is. It appears, not" by any means welcome to the Minister of Transport. Certainly, at a time when the roads of the country are clearly, incapable of catering for the ever increasing traffic with safety. It seems unfortunate, » to say the least of it, that any portion of the Road Find should be diverted from its original pur- pose.

"THE RETURN TO PROSPERITY

In the meanwhile good trading resulta from the manufacturing concerns continue to demonstrate the country's return to better tlines. Indeed, Mr. Neville Cham- berlair. in his Budget speech gave it as his opinion that Britain had recovered 80 p.c. of her pro- sperity.

Rolls-Royce

During last year Ltd.. "for example, made a pront of 291.811, a dividend. of 20 p.c. being paid. Both car and aero engine activities of this famous concern have

extremely been successful at home, and Overseas. a number of Continental coun- tries using the firm's engines in their Service aircraft.

Quite recently, a new Danish height record was set up by a British fighter machine built un- der licence in Denmark. This Hawker Nimrod. fitted with a Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine, reach- ed a height of over 34.000ft. This type, carrying 2, machine guns. ammunition and 28 lb. bombs elimbs to a height of 16,400ft, in under. 9 mins.

RAPID COLLECTION &

- DELIVERY

The report of Scammell Lorries' trading showed much better re- sults, though the" new types of vehicles. a lightweight rigid B. wheeler and an articulated 8- wheeler designed to suit condi- tions brought about by fresh ...” legislation, were, not put into full production until late in 1934.

During last year, however, the Mechanical Horse found ready acceptance among collection and

* delivery üsers, including the railways, while a variety of mum- cipal vehicles for use with this type of tractor unit have more. lately been produced. There is too, a growing demand for speedy mobile vehicles which can operate in restricted spaces, such as docks. warehouses and goods yards.

"

Some quick work was put in re- cently at Tilbury Landing Stage, tharks to modern transport methods. when 200 passengers and 1,200 pieces of baggage were disembarked IM 35 minutes.

Greenbat" electric trucks were en:ployed to convey the baggage" from the ship's side to the Cus- toms shed and again from there to the walking train.

TIMES CHANGE The camel-"The Ship of the Desert"-an" the donkey are rapidly being displaced as tran- sport units in the Near East. The ubiquitous motor vehicle has made them out of date." In Pale- stine a'are, the local Leyland re- presentatives have placed orderá for no less than 40 "Cubs" this year."

The large tankers recently built by this concern for the Anglo- Persian' On Co. will have to travel long distances in convoy and will be worked for 24 hours daily, They have a crew of three drivers to each vehicle, therefore, and a specially designed sleeping bunk has been provided inside the cab. with comfortable upholstery and. goca ventilation.

SUTTING LOCAL CONDITIONS

The manner in which vehicles are designed to suit apezial local conditions is well exemplified' in the case of the latest Ransomes electric trolley buses buit for Penang. Owing to traffic gestion and a laige "number of stops per mile high speed is im- possible, and, therefore, these

con-

vehicles have been designed for

a top speed of about 20 m.p.h... but with high capacity for, accel- eration.

Under such conditions good" braking is essential, and it is noteworthy that a stopping dis- tance of under 25ft. from 20 m.ph. can be obtained when the hand and foot brakes are operat- ed simultaneously.

WHERE SPEEDING IS PERMISSIBLE

Over 65 mph can be achieved with the latest Dennis "Arrow" type fire engine, which is equipp- ed with an overhead camshaft 8- cylinder engine developing, 100 h.p. At the same time the "weight" of the machine. with, personnel. hose, ladder and full equipment is under 5 tons.

A short wheelbase makes for easy manoeuvring and a low cen- tre of gravity. together with hydraulic 4-wheel brakes. ensures safety on the road. Any pattern of body can be employed, as for instance, a totally enclosed type which gives full weather protec- tion to the crew.

FOR THE "QUEEN MARY" The Cunard-White Star liner "Queen Mary" will carry 24 Nfe- boats of the open type, each cap- able of carrying .145 passengers, and these will be powered with Thornycroft Diesel engines deve- loping 18 b.h.p. The adoption of Diesel machinery for these boats. with the particular advantage of complete freedom from risk Are is a matter of great satis- faction to the Board of Trade officials, who have for a long times past deprecated the use of inflammable fuel on big ships.

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When testing this type of en gine, prior to the order being given, it was placed in a cold. storage chamber for 24 hours in. 17 degrees of frest, but even so was started and running in less than 30 seconds.

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Motor-Touring In China

[Special to the "Hong Kong Daily Press" (Copyright.)]

Shanghal, May 10.

At the meeting of Rotary Club here yesterday, Miss Viola Smith, the first motorist to drive from Shanghal to Changsha, gave most informative and interesting address regarding scenie.beauty spots which are now within easy reach by maior-ear from Shang- hal.

In recent years, she said, mod- ern highways have been gradual- ly developing in Chisa, though few people realize to what extent the system has now grown. By

1928, there were 40,000 miles of modern highways throughout the country," which however, were not connected. The big impetus res-.. ponsible for the present good road communication came in June 1932, when the National Government." through the National Economic Council, began to work on the linking up of the various systems.· ́ Even as recently as 1930 one has had to ship one's car from Shang-. hai to Hangchow in order to get to the Cheklang highways. from that centre. To-day there "Is no such "necessity and through

out many parts of the country important links have been made, so that there are now opened up to the motorist vast stretches of the interior.

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RECENT PROGRESS The Department of Highways of the N. E. C...at first working on a Three-Province scheme, has now enlarged its scope to seven provinces. The recent progress. in the development of Highways has made possible to travel from Shanghai to Changsha, by car the whole journey, continued the speaker. There are some fascin- ating beauty spots now brought within easy reach of Shanghai motorists, while Cheklang Tourist Association, the China Travel service, and other organizations maintain superior hotels, and offer tourists the service of trained guides, and various facilities in the way of gas supplies and other services. Motor trucks are main- tained to assist motorists in run- ning repairs, while the extension. of long distance telephone facilit les has largely removed the rather natural fear which many people have to embarking on long jour- neys with the possibility of being stranded at some remote spot beyond immediate reach of help.

M

THE COUNTRYSIDE

The speaker stressed the gor- geous nature of the scenery to be met with on a motor trip, and urged Shanghållanders to get out and see for themselves the glories of the countryside. She added 'In conclusion that by the end of this year, the completion of one particular 125 kilometers stretch of road would make it possible to motor all the way from Shanghal 10 the border of Indo-China, which she thinks is a very notable achievement by the highway authorities of this country.—— Chinn Buited Press (bu muilk

HYDRAULIC BRAKE DEVELOPMENT

Several makers have adopted mechanically operated brake sya- tems this year in place of hy- draulic braking, and there are quite a few motorists who have a preference for cables or rods over" a hydraulic pipe tine. Hydraulic brakes are extremely reliable in service, and fallures occur very seldom either with cars of on heavy vehicles, and when they do. the cause is generally neglect.

Provided the reservoir is kept filled, hydraulic car brakes are" both efficient and reliable, and the part which may be doubted the flexible tubing-ls hardly ever the source of trouble.

It may be objected. of course. that the failure of one pipe hose entalls the failure of the whole system, but in practice this has not proved a real danger, How- ever, a recent patent in which Leyland Motors. Ltd. are in terested provides for this possibi- lity.

used. A master piston is which applies equal pressure to four separate pistons: each with its own reservoir, There is thus an independent pressure system to each brake, although the pres- sure is equally distributed, and in the event of a fature of one pipe hose only one brake can be put out of action.

There is some extra complica- tion and cost, of course, which 'might be considered justined in the case of heavy goods or pas senger service vehicles.

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