IN continuation of my review of a few representative 1929
programmes of car manufacturers, that of the Sunbeam includes a new two-seater model on a 16-h.p. chassis, reduced prices of Weymann saloon and limousine models, and a new coach-built enclosed limousine model on a 20-h.p. special long wheel-base chassis. The firm make five 6-cylinder chassis (the Twenties have the standard and the long wheel-base) and the 35-h.p. Straight Eight. The new 16-h.p. two-seater sells at the same price as the tourer, namely £550. The Weymann saloon and limousine are now £650 and £675 respectively. The Twenty Weymann saloon is listed at £850, the same as the coupe ; the long wheel-base Twenty chassis is 1620 ; the Twenty-five is /795 ; the well-known 3-litre £950 ; and the Straight Eight chassis is £1,375. All the Sunbeam engines have overhead valves, and forced water and oil circulations. The Sixteen has coil ignition ; the others magneto. The 6-cylinder models have single-plate clutches, while the 8-cylinder chassis has a multiple plate pattern of dutch. All have four-speed gear- boxes with off-side control. The 6-cylinder productions now have central chassis lubrication.
The Riley Nine, which has won popularity, is sold in six forms. These include a Brooklands model, a two-seater, a four-seated tourer, a special tourer, the Monaco saloon, and the Biarritz super-saloon. The Monaco saloon, with triplex glass, costs £298 or £325 with sports engine and dual car- burettor. The Biarritz is a new type, and the coachwork is particularly constructed to eliminate interior noises. It is priced at £325 with safety glass, or at £319 with plain glass. The 14-h.p. 6-cylinder Riley is also new and is a development of the Riley Nine, the lines of which have been closely fol- lowed. Briefly, this engine is of 1,688 c.c. capacity, the valves are overhead and worked by push-rods and tappets and two camshafts ; the valves are inclined at 45 degrees, so that a hemispherical combustion chamber can be secured. There is forced lubrication throughout the engine. The same type of four-speed gear-box as is installed on the Nine has been adopted for the 6-cylinder chassis, and the particular design has the very considerable asset that the third-speed wheels being in constant mesh and having helical teeth are really as quiet as the direct drive on top. The four-wheel brakes are fully compensated,' and both sets of brakes can be adjusted by hand while the.car is in motion. Worm and full wheel are used for the steering, and the half-floating hack axle contains spiral bevel final drive. The wheel-base is 10 ft. and the track 4 ft. 8 ins., and such measurements give good body accom- modation. The special tourer costs £455, the Deauville coach- built saloon £525, and the Stelvio fabric saloon £495.
The chief item of news in the Bentley programme for 1929 is the introduction of a speed model 64-litre chassis. The general layout is similar to the standard model, with one or two alterations. These include a new design of radiator, a raised compression ratio, two carburettors, back axle ratios' of 3.3. for open cars and 3.5 to one for closed ears, and a wheel-base of 11 ft. 6 ins. The chassis price is £1,700. The standard 64-litre production now has an improved means of brake adjustment which does not entail getting under the car or removing the floorboards. With either a 12-ft. or 32 ft. 6 ins. wheel-base this model costs 11,575. The 44-litre
- - chassis has now servo brake shoes and a plate clutch instead of the former Ferodo cone pattern. For open coachwork this chassis is listed at £1,050, and for closed bodies at 11,060.
There are two types of Rover chassis, namely the 10/25 h.p. and the 2-litre 6-cylinder. Alterations are mainly confined to appearance and equipment. In the case of both engines there are overhead valves which are worked by push-rods, the water and oil supplies are helped by pump, the gear-boxes have three forward speeds, there is central gear-change, and the propellor shafts are enclosed. While ignition is by magneto on the smaller chassis, battery and coil are used on the 6-cylinder. .Again, a dry-plate clutch is installed in the first instance, and a three-plate clutch with cork inserts in the second. Final drive on the 10/25 is by worm and by spiral bevel on the 2-litre. The 10/25 h.p. sportsman coupe is a new model. This is designed to carry four persons, the rear seat cushion is pneumatic, the driver's seat is adjustable, and with a trunk at the back of the body the price is £269. The cost of the 2-litre Weymann -saloon, with either folding or fixed roof, is now £395, which shows a reduction of £30.
The 15.7 6-cylinder Crossley is a car which has already gained favour, and this is fair since it is cleanly designed and gives a good performance on the road. The fabric saloon sells at £550, the coachbuilt saloon at £575, and the enclosed limousine at £595, while the tourer is £495. It is a car of 1,991 c.c., the engine has overhead valves and push-rods, and the crankshaft and camshaft each run in four bearings. The water circulation is forced, and there are four speeds. Six brakes are supplied, and the wheel-base, track and ground clearance are 10 ft. 3 ins., 4 ft. 8 ins., and 94 ins. The other models are the standard 20.9-h.p. 6-cylinder, which is made in two wheel-bases, the super-six 20.9 which is on similar lines, and the new 2-litre sports model which sells, with Triplex glass and chromium plating, as a four-seated tourer, at £625. The fabric saloons on the 20.9 and the super-six 20.9 chassis are retailed respectively at £720 and £795. The 20.9 super-six enclosed limousine is known as the Canberra, because of its association with the Australasian tour of the Duke and Duchess of York.
In a previous review* the prices of the Armstrong-Siddelcy models for 1929 were given. For the most part, small improve- ments only have been made in the construction of the various former chassis, but there is one interesting development which consists of a special gear-box which can be had if desired on the short and long 20 h.p. and the 30 h.p. chassis, at an extra cost of £35 and £50 respectively. The design is planned to simplify gear-changing, to afford quieter running, and, by minimizing the delay caused with the ordinary change- speed mechanism, to assist a ear's acceleration powers. A hand lever works in a dial on the top of the steering wheel and the dial has positions suitably marked for the four forward speeds, the neutral point and the reverse. By this lever a driver selects his gear, and by depressing fully a pedal and releasing it he causes the change to be made. It is noteworthy that the change is not made until this full movement of the pedal is effected. Thus, not only can the driver make his selec- tion under his direct gaze, but he can do so whenever he likes in advance, and bide his time for the actual change of ratio until it is called for. If the pedal is partly depressed, the ordinary clutch action is available in. effect. The gears in the box are concentric and compared to the ordinary box the pressure on the teeth is less, while surface engagement is increased. Being of the constant mesh type the gears themselves cannot be clashed. There is also a new 12 h.p. 6-cylinder model which sells as. a 4-seated fabric saloon at the modest pride of £275 This chassis follows the usual Armstrong-Siddeley lines.
YOUR MOTORING CORRESPONDENT.
*Former reviews of 1929 ears and their prices appeared in the Spectator of -September 15th, 29th, and October 13th.
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