Motoring
Testing Time
By GAVIN LY ALL OVER the last few days I have been privileged to test the new car which, I can confidently predict, will be the toast of this year's Motor Show: the new English Car Manufacturers' Bri- tannicar Plebs. In this, the first of ECM's new range of 1,000 c.c. models (it will be fol- lowed shortly by the new Midlands TiniMidget and the Valhalla Venus, built on the same engine and bodywork but each easily distinguishable by the discreet medallion behind the front bumper), the de- signers have, wisely I think, avoided too violently revolutionary changes and concen- trated on producing a family car that is identi- fiably of the unique Britannicar breed.
Eschewing the use of new (and possibly un- trustworthy) light alloys, the Plebs has an engine which the older motorist will recognise as a tried and true friend. It is, in fact, basically the 2,500 c.c. side-valve engine that ECM de- veloped not long before the war, fitted with cylinder liners to scale it down to 1,600 c.c.
On the actual car I drove there were a few minor roof leaks and an occasional—very occa- sional—back axle failure, but one must remem- ber that this is a new model and that these little deficiencies will most probably be rectified after the first few thousand have been pro- duced. And otherwise I found the Plebs almost impossible to fault.
On the road the steering is light and flexible, giving the comfortable impression of controlling the front wheels through sponge rubber; the car may, however, be initially a little difficult to steer accurately, since the true width is some- what greater than it appears from the inside. The back wheels were given, on a few occasions, to breaking away sharply, but doubtless this could be corrected by a little additional weight deposite&in the boot.
The acceleration is essentially gentle, so there is no chance of the car running away with the driver, but one reaches peak revs in top at a remarkably low speed. Some owners might find an additional two notches in the seat slide use- ful, although this could possibly eliminate the leg-room at the back. Still, few families would use the back for other than children, since the restyled body (by Montesi of Ostia) has neces- sarily meant some sacrifices in head-, hip- and foot-room at the rear. The dashboard, attrac- tively styled of metal grained to resemble fresh pine, has no oil-pressure, dynamo-charge or light-beam indicators to distract the eye. The controls for lights, starter, choke and wind- screen wipers are neatly grouped together as identical knobs, any one being easily selected at random, and the floor-mounted dipswitch is conveniently placed so that it may be used by either driver or passenger. Drivers with shorter arms than mine may have to lean a little farther than I did in reaching the gear lever, but once grasped it goes easily into most gears; there is very little movement demanded for a change from top into reverse or vice versa.
The interior styling is modishly clean, but owners who prefer a richer finish will doubtless choose the de luxe version with its ashtrays, stainless-steel mascot and a remarkable variety of chrome decorations. Facilities are provided for fitting an interior light, opening rear and quarter windows, a boot handle or, indeed, any other of the extraordinary range of extras which are included as standard on the version for more self-indulgent export markets. The plastic in- terior trim provides an imaginative saving in weight and I found it not easy to tear acci- dentally.
Exterior design is always a matter of personal taste; I found the Plebs' new styling extremely attractive, being cleverly designed to give an external impression of size to contrast with the essential cosiness of the interior. The bumpers are pleasingly delicately styled without being ob- trusive and, since both the head and tail lights project beyond them, they are unlikely to suffer damage in use. Under normal conditions the boot both opens and closes satisfactorily and a well-known luggage firm is shortly to market a range of suitcases that will go into it.
When confronted with so attractive and ver- satile a car one hesitates to carp. Nevertheless, I feel bound to point out a sad lapse on the part of the manufacturers. The firm's medallion, while small and unobtrusively placed, seems to me—and I think this is an opinion that will be shared by others—to be unfortunately ill- designed And impracticable when studied closely. However, rectifying this will make the afsl Britannicar Plebs what it aims to be: a coin; fortable, up-to-date family car of exceptio0 all-round ability—and well able, I believe, to re. establish British supremacy in building cars Of the home market.
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