Improving British Cars

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7277, 3 October 1933, Page 9

Improving British Cars

Mechanical improvements and refinements that will bo widely used by British manufacturers in their 1934 models will include various developments connected with the transmission. It is stated that in this respect 1934 models will show a continuance of the present year's trend toward easier control and quieter operation.

Many manufacturers will iiso a selfchanging gearbox, while others will adopt tho synchromesh system that already has proved highly popular. The free-wheel will also bo more widely used by manufacturers. A feature of the 1934 engine design programmes will bo the continued advance of tho four-cylinder typo for the cheaper cars. Tho six-cylinder motor remains unchallenged as a refined, vi-bration-free unit, but for less expensive cars four-cylinder engines present the advantages of simplicity and reduced running costs. Considerably more power is being obtained from engines of modest size and, as a result, maximum speeds are likely to rise still further. The most popular braking system for 1934 will be of the four-wheel type, with tho hand-lever interconnected to operato on tho same shoes as the pedal. As regards controls, the tendency is to simplify the duties of the driver by making tho mechanism as automatic as is practicable. For example, starting a cold engine will not, in various 1934 models, require the uso of a handoperated strangler, because the richness of the mixture will be automatically adjusted by means of a thermostat. Another scheme is to omploy a thermostat to Tegulatc the heat applied to the inlet pipe from the exhaust system. Again, in many instances, the timing of the ignition will be entirely controlled by a robot system. In many cases rim sizes will be reduced, mainly as a means of lowering the general level of the chassis. Naturally this leads to a wheel of smaller overall diameter, and the front wings must then be dropped to suit. Tins trend, accompanied by the higher and longer bonnet used for the sake of good appearance, unfortunately results in the near-side wing becoming quito invisible from the driver’s scat in .many instances.