Motors and Motoring
1929 Cars and their Prices
Tan prices of the new season's cars show progress, for in many cases reductions have—contrary to certain unfortunate prophecies—been made, while often, where no changes have
effected, better value is afforded for 1929 by improved productions with finer finish and equipment.
The Hillman car has won, iteway to popularity as a moder- ately priced machine capable of serious work, and as being of useful ea-rryiag capacity. Even 'before the war, when the firm made but a light car, its work became known for great reliability and durability. The Fourteen has kept up the reputation, and although there are no very radical alterations in the chassis construction for next year a large number of detail improvements have been made. For example the chassis is lower than before, although the ground clearance is the same. This of course gives a lower centre of gravity and, consequently, greater safety. The frame members have been stiffened throughout and the track has been increased by 4 in. to 4 ft. 8 in.—a feature which again provides aug- mented stability. The power of the brakes has been made more efficient. In place of the fabric disc joints connecting the propellor shaft Hardy Spicer metal universal joints are employed. The radiator is deeper, there are shock absorbers front and back, and the headlamps are mounted. on a solid cross bar between the front wings. The steering wheel is how dished, and the controls above it are neater, while there is a petrol gauge on the instrument board. A larger section tyre is now furnished, the size being 29 by 5.50 ins. Bodywork has also progressed, and the saloons, although built lower, still afford the same amount of headroom. In place of the former aluminium panels ones of pressed steel are used, and these enable a more durable cellulose finish to be applied. It is worth noting that, except on the fabric -covered models, the cellulose finish is in two colours. This plan conforms with modern fashion. The design of the luggage grid has been bettered, and the petrol tank at the back now has a sheet steel cover. The lines of the models are pleasing. The Fourteen has four-cylinder engine of 1954 c.c., which is taxable at £13 a year. The unit is stated to give 35 h.p. on the brake. There are four forward speeds changed by a lever on the off side, and six brakes. The wheelbase is 9 ft. 6 in. It is a machine which is simple to drive and to look after. It is impossible in these short reviews to refer to all the models made by different makers, and it must suffice therefore if I - choose a few representative makes and mention the price of but one or two models. This Hillman tourer is listed at £295, while the standard saloon is £325. The standard Weymann saloon, which is one of four new models, is quoted at £335. Perhaps the most interesting announcement in the Hillman programme is that the firm are adding to their range of production an 18 h.p. chassis with an engine having eight cylinders in line. ft is stated that this machine will be on exhibition at Olympia, and will be sold at a lower price than any other eight-cylinder car on the market to-day. For next season Armstrong-Siddeley Motors are marketing their previous five models, which consist of a 14, a 15, a short 20, a long 20, and a 30 h.p. The 14 has a four cylinder engine, the others six-cylinder units. Here, too, alterations consist in the main of minor improvements. The 14 h.p. touring car has been reduced £20 to £300, while the equivalent 15 h.p. type is now £335, a figure which shows a decrease of £25. The 4 or 6-light fabric saloon and the coachbuilt saloon, at £860 and £395 respectively, are less than previously by £40 and £30. The touring short 20 is quoted at £435 and the long de luxe model at £525. The chassis of the long 20 is £400 instead of £450. £1,300 and £1,500 are the prices of the 80 h.p. special enclosed limousine or landaulette, and of the enclosed limousine or landaulette by Hooper. The chassis is £750.
The Morris Minor meets the demand in the Morris produc- tions for 1929 for the cheapest form of motoring on four wheels, and for this reason the makers have, quite wisely, improved the Morris Cowley cars in the important matter of safety and so forth, raising the price in consequence. The prices of the Morris Oxfords and those of the Morris Six models have been reduced. The Morris Minor, which is designed on proper and up-to-date car lines, sells complete as a four-seated tourer at £125, and as a two-door four-seater fabric saloon at £185. The engine has four cylinders with an overhead camshaft, there are three forward speeds, the sus- pension is half-elliptical, and there are five brakes. A specifi- cation of this 7 h.p. Morris was given in the Spectator of July 23rd last. As an example of Motris Cowley prices the four-door dome-bank saloon, finished--in duo tone cellulose, costs £190. The 14/28-h.p. Morris Oxford saloon is now listed at £240. • The North. Oxford fabric saloon is a new model, and this is quoted at £255. The former 15.9 Morris Oxford, which was a sensibly designed four-cylinder four-speed car suitable for work overseas-as -well as- at borne, has -now- been- repladed
by the 16/40-h.p., which is very similar in construction. This chassis costs £210. A fabric saloon is included in the range. The 17.7 h.p. Morris Six is listed as a saloon at £375. This machine has a six-cylinder engine with an overhead cam- shaft and a three-speed gearbox. Like the Morris-Oxfords it has six brakes. All Morris cars are now fitted with bumpers. The firm supply motor houses from ten guineas, while a modification in the hire-purchase facilities has been made so that any reasonable sum is now accepted as a deposit.
Vauxhall Motors for 1929 are mainly concentrating upon the 20/60-h.p. chassis which was brought out last year. No very striking alterations have been made in the construction, but a number of small improvements which should result in considerably increased effieienay, giving more power and improved pulling on high gear. The bore of the six-cylinder motor has been slightly increased, and the engine capacity is now 2910 c.c. A special type of aluminium piston, which allows higher compression to be used, and better induction and exhaust arrangements; may be quoted as instances of re- design. The- steering gear has been bettered and the gear lever works more on the American principle with the gate invisible. An off side hand lever applies the brake on the transmission. The four-wheel braking system remains prac- tically the same. With the worthy aim of improving the external appearance of the cars the radiator has been made deeper and the bonnet line raised. A new model of complete 20/60 is the Velox saloon, which is of the four light fabric covered pattern. Progress is shown in its construction by making the chassis frame support the seats and floor. This idea is not new, but is one which in my opinion is likely to make considerable headway in the near future. The body can be made very light yet strong, and two different coloured fabrics can be used. Additional width is obtained by extending the body on either side of the chassis frame. At the moment of writing I have not received the prices of the 1929 Vauxhall models.
The most interesting technical modifications in Singer ears for the new season are in the six-cylinder chassis and par- ticularly in the engine. The crankshaft runs in four bearings, but two of these are split into three. The overhead valves are worked by tubular pushrods, and forced lubrication is taken up to the valve gear. The camshaft and dynamo are driven _ by a roller chain. It is stated that at about 1,400 r.p.m. as much as about 29 h.p. is developed, and this Should insure good slow running on top. At 3,600 r.p.m. the power is said to be 42. The clutch has been made lighter, the gearbox remains the same, but fabric disc joints are now used for the propellor shaft in place of metal connexions. The rear axle case is of the banjo pattern, and the axle is three-quarter floating. The suspension is half elliptical and works with Newton hydro-pneumatic shock absorbers. There is a Dewandre vacuum servo motor to assist the physical effort of the four-wheel braking, and the chassis bearing surfaces can be lubricated half automatically by depression of a pedal in front of the forward passenger's seat. The two other well- known models—the Singer Senior and the Singer Junior— have been but slightly modified. The Junior four-seater and sports models each cost £140, the saloon £160, and the Sun- shine saloon £175. The Senior chassis is listed at £180, the two saloons being respectively 1260 and £270. The Singer Six chassis is quoted at £230, and both patterns of saloon are £350. In the open air saloon the roof can be wound up or down by a handle from the driver's seat. The mechanism includes chains with slippers and guides. Lea-Francis cars recently made history by winning the R.A.C. Tourist Trophy Race in Ulster and naturally the most interest lies in the winning model which is known as the 11 litre hyper sports. This super-charged two-seater, as run in the race, costs £495, which is the same figure as is charged for the four-seater with fabric body. A saloon is listed at £595. It may be recalled that Mr. Kaye Don's average speed in the 410-mile race was 64.06 miles an hour, and that he often travelled at 84 to 90 m.p.h. The 12.22 h.p. Lea-Francis will be sold as a two-seater and a four-seater tourer, each at 1295. The 12140 sports tourers remain the same and the 12/50 h.p. Brooklands sports model as a four- seater open car is sold at £425. There are two six-cylinders, of 14140 and 16100 h.p., and prices run in each case from £395 to £500. The 14145 six-cylinder h.p. Talbot has now been on the market for two years and the firm have decided to concentrate on the one type for 1929. But few alterations have been made and these are only of a minor character. It may be recalled that the engine has a- bore and stroke of 61 and 95 m.m. with overhead valves. The water circulates naturally and the fan is contained in the flywheel. The oiling is pressure fed, and coil ignition is employed. The single disc clutch passes the- drive to a four-speed gear-box which is controlled by an off-side lever. The front springs are half elliptical, and those at the back of half cantilever- shape. The front springs have special anchorage to the chassis at their back ends, and the rear springs are wide. There is a good range of adjustment for the clutch and brake pedals, and the 'clutch and gear-bort units are accessible. The four-wheel brakes are arranged so that they can be regulated without needless trouble, and the grouping of all the electrical connexions in one junction box beside the engine is handy. There is a combined folding luggage carrier and an electrically-controlled direction arrow. The wheelbase, track, and ground clearance of the chassis are 10 ft., 4 ft. 71 in. and 91 ins. The chassis is priced at £325. There are four new bodywork designs among which may be mentioned the Weymann coupe which is an occasional five-seater. This model is quoted at £425 while the coaehbuilt saloon is £485.
The " Hadfield " Bean programme includes a 14/45 fabric saloon and coaehbuilt saloon each at £395 and having Triplex glass and vacuum servo braking. The new sports range of 14/70. h.p. comprises three models, all with safety glass and Dewandre braking. These are an open car at £435, a fabric saloon at £495 and a coupe at 1498. The 14/45's are much the same as last year. The 14/70 chassis has a four-cylinder engine with side valves and a Ricardo head. It is of 2,297 c.c. and is said to develop 48 brake h.p. There are four forward speeds controlled by an off-side lever. The general lay-out is straight forward. The wheelbase and track at 10 ft. and 4 ft. 8 in., and the top gear ratio is 4 to 1. This last provides a vehicle speed of twenty miles an hour at 920 r.p.m. of the crankshaft.
The Austin Motor Co. have no less than five different models of car in their 20 h.p. four and six-cylinder types, seven different models in the 16 h.p. light six class, and the same number with the 12 h.p. chassis, while there are three complete sevens. Clearly, it is impossible for me to enumerate all these here, but the five different chassis starting with the seven, are priced respectively at £92, £185, £235, £295. and £395. In each case reductions have been made for 1929. The seven coaehbuilt and fabric saloons each cost £135, while the tourer is £125, or £10 less than previously. These cars represent remarkable value. The twelve and the light-six 16 fabric saloons, six and four windowed, cost severally £315, £305, £365, and £355. I shall hope to deal with a few more of the programmes concerning other representative makes in a further article prior to the Motor Exhibition which opens at Olympia en-Oetober llth next. - — — YOUR MOTORING CORRESPONDENT.
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