The Motor Show

Wamisn as I do before Olympia opens, my observations must be forecasts only, based partly on the excellent publicity now sent out by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and partly on a recent visit to the Grand Palais in Paris, which is perhaps the arbiter of motoring fashion, as Olympia is undoubtedly the European market for the automobile trade. And this year, Olympia is more than a motor show : there is to be a display of motor boats, an historic section, and a garage exhibition.

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Another impression—a vivid one—was of the methods of a French salesman in exhibiting the acceleration of a Baby Austin—they call it a Rosengratz in Francethrough the middest of Paris traffic. Imagine the most frantic of all the taxi-drivers who have ever tried to stop the beating of your heart, and increase his pace tenfold, then add a little car whose liveliness is proverbial, and you have my feelings on the back seat of that Baby, whisking through the Champs Elysees down to the Seine, and up a steep street to the Etoile, and back to the Grand Palais, breathless, but stimulated by good driving and good machinery. No wonder the Austin Sevens win at Brooklands.

* * * * My own (British) Baby, after enduring three years of cavalier treatment without a whine, was sold the other day for fifty pounds ; and its new sister, a maroon saloon with sliding roof, is now proving her paces. While running the engine in, I had leisure to note how greatly the four inches of additional leg-room and the pneumatic cushions contribute to the driver's comfort. • As to the sliding roof, I found that I could move it with one finger while in motion, so as to make it suit all the vagaries of a showery afternoon. In a small car this is important, for no matter how smooth the engine or how sweet the axle, I have a sense of being shut in unless I can see the sky. With the sliding roof open, and the big windows down, you have practically an open car ; but there are infinite permutations of roof and windows to allow for ventilation without a draught at the back of the neck. * * * * Obviously, I may be prejudiced about these unbeatable " Babies." There are other excellent small cars, but before mentioning them I must add that the prices of all the models of the Austin Company have been slightly reduced ; and that plans have been made for an even larger output in 1931 than in 1930, so that one part of the Midlands at least will not be helping to swell the ranks of the unemployed. * * * The Morris Minor is a very pretty piece of work, slightly faster and roomier than the Austin Seven, I believe. The two- seater model will run fifty nines an hour and do fifty miles to the gallon and has brilliant road-holding qualities. Of the other Morris models, the Isis is one of the best of all values in the automobile world, but this splendid car is not being altered much, so I need only recommend everyone who wants an economical saloon that can travel 65 m.p.h. and stand up to gruelling work in any country to see the Isis on Stand 108: it is a thousand pound car for £840. A word of praise must also be given to the group system of lubrication on the Cowley and Oxford models, inaccessible nipples having now been mounted in a line just over the back axle, so that the owner has merely to pull up a floor board and apply the gun to each in turn, a matter of two minutes' easy work. * * * *

Another small. car of which I hear good reports is the Standard " Big Nine," selling from £195 for a three-speed fabric saloon to £255 for a four-speed coach-built saloon. The whole range of these models can accommodate four fat adults with comfort ; their speed and flexibility, good braking and economical running have already made them popular. The 1931 Standards are much improved in appearance, with a smart radiator and graceful curves to roof and body panels. This company have also a new " Ensign Six " at from £245 to £285 and a redesigned " Envoy ' with a 20 h.p engine offered at £385.

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The first thing that struck me about the French show (and it is likely to be repeated at Olympia) is the number of closed bodies and their long, low beautiful lines. The open car is becoming a thing of the past, more quickly in France than in England, perhaps, where we love fresh air, but still inevitably, for the advantages of the sunshine roof are obvious. The next point I noticed is that coachwork and general conveniences are much improved. There are nearly as many women drivers as men to-day, and the woman of the future will probably choose her coach work as she does her clothes, and will be no more ready to be seen behind a two-year-old radiator than under a two-year-old hat. It was noticeable how many hoods at the Grand Palais were made in the new fashionable "grege"—a cross between gris and beige.

Then there are the 8 h.p. and 10 h.p. Swifts. Three of the former are being exhibited : the tourer at 1160, the fabric saloon at £185, and the semi-coach-built saloon at the earns price. The 10 h.p. models all have the fashionable divided radiator, and a rear tank and " autovae," instead of the old front tank. Laves shock absorbers, wire wheels, dip and switch headlights, handy controls, and a flush-type sliding roof contribute to a very neat job, inside and out. Prices range from £235 to £295.

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One of the first stands I shall visit at Olympia is the Lea Francis, where the new 15.7 h.p. six-cylinder ' Ace of Spades " is being exhibited. The makers tell me that " the crankshaft is counterweighted, and balanced both statically and dyna- mically." I'll take their word for it, and the word of a wise friend who says that this is a really very good crankshaft indeed : probably the best ever made for a power unit of this size. My friend adds that you can get an effortless 75 m.p.h. on top gear on the Ace of Spades, without knocking the car about. There are all sorts of other mechanical improve- ments as well, and the price, complete, is only £105. Remarkable value.

* * * * The Rover family attract me. I have tried a big " Meteor Sportsman's Saloon " (£398 or 1438 for the " Regal " model) and a 10/25 h.p. " Family Ten " for £189, and like them both. Nothing, however, would induce me to have the folding roof fitted to the " Sportsman's Saloon," or any other folding roof. That may be an idiosyncrasy on my part ; at any rate, all other models can be provided with sliding roofs at an extra cost of £5. I must say the saloon is lavishly equipped for £438, and is well worth considering by anyone who wants a fast and exceptionally good-looking car.

The Alvis Company are, concentrating on three models of chassis for the coining season ; a " Silver Eagle," 6 cylinder standard chassis, a sports chassis of the same type, and a completely up-to-date 12750 h.p. 4 cylinder chassis, intended to meet the requirements of that large number of motorists who feel the necessity for insisting on absolutely minimum running costs without sacrificing Alvis speed. There are seven exhibits, ranging in price from £395 to £695.

Coming to the mammoths, if that is not a disrespectful term for the latest and largest cars, one naturally gives pride of place to Rolls Royce; who are exhibiting four models on their own stand—three 40 h.p. " Phantoms " at about £3,000 each, and a-20 h.p. " Windover enclosed limousine body," seating six, at £2,14L A round dozen of other Rolls are being exhibited on the stands of the coachbuilders.

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Daimlers are showing four models and one double-six chassis, ranging in price from £2,625 to 11,425 with full equip- ment ; and Bentley's four models on their own stand, while coach-builders have seven other models of this famous make to show. The new Bentley, with an entirely novel four speed gear box, will be on view at Olympia for the first time. Both engine and gearbox are mounted on rubber and everything possible has been done to ensure a high degree of silence and absence of vibration. This new model is built with chassis frame downswept from the front and rear axles towards the centre, thus making it possible to construct coachwork giving ample headroom, yet having a low and fashionable roof-line. The price is £1,850.

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Lanchesters are showing three of their beautiful cars designed " for those to whom super-excellence and durability rank above first cost." There are two Straight Eights and a 21 h.p. six-cylinder ; all hand-polished cellulose with silver- plated fittings. Sunbeams announce substantial price reduc- tions, numerous chassis improvements, new engine design on their 16 h.p. and 20 h.p. models, and a new three-quarter coupe on both the above chassis. Special attention has been given to the design of the seating in these models, with the result that the rear-seat passengers are as comfortable as they would be in a saloon. The six cars shown on Stand 83 range in price from 1650 to £1,250.

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The " invincible Talbot (and my quotation marks are perhaps unnecessary) have models from £395 to £695. hr foreign cars, the Lancia " Dilambda " has always had a particular appeal to me, probably because I have driven very, fast in it both in England and Italy, and sometimes over the worst of roads, as when I careered across country inspecting a farm near Rome. If I were rich, I might buy an eight- cylinder " Dilambda " in cobalt blue and pale gold with greY leather upholstery being shown on Stand 24 for the modest price (considering its performance) of £1,195 ; always provided :that I could solace my Protectionist conscience with arguments which are not far to seek in the columns (Continued on page 581.) (Continued from page 558.)

of this journal. The Citroen cars at Olympia will be cheaper and better : the 12.8 h.p. sells at from £185 to £215, and the six-cylinder model from £235 to £450. Visitors should see Stand 80, where these models are, for the Citroen company, with its great works at Slough, gives employment to many thousands and has made a real contribution to " economical luxury motoring." Seven models will be shown.

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I have hardly left myself space to mention the new Ford, which I am told by a man I trust is as good value for money as any car on the road ; or the magnificent Invicta models, capable of doing their 100 m.p.h., or the immense sixteen- cylinder Bucciali which I saw at the Grand Palais. I do not know if it will be at Olympia ; or the twelve-cylinder Maybach-Zeppelin ; or the 200 h.p. super-charged Mercedes-Benz with six forward-speeds and two reverses. I hope the Maybach will be there ; it is truly an imposing example of German thoroughness.

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As to the " gadgets," unfortunately I generally have a headache before I reach them. But this year I am going to see " Ripaults Timer clock " which checks accurately the time taken on any journey. It costs only 30s. Cigar lighters and so on do not interest me, and bumpers should not be counted as accessories : to anyone who garages in London they are a necessity ; but I wish someone would invent a good way of keeping my hands warm on a frosty day. Perhaps such a device is already on the market. Airmen

have electric gloves ; why not the poor motorist ? '

* * * * Of course, I'll see the motor boats. A motor punt costs, say, £55, and a trailer to carry it, say, £25. It would be possible, therefore, to combine aquatic with road travel at a very modest outlay ; for a little over £200 one could be completely amphibious. It is also possible to obtain a twenty-foot cabin cruiser, with room for two persons, at about £200, and that, again, opens up wonderful vistas for next summer. Indeed, the world is so full of a number of pleasant things that even Olympia can only hold a fraction