German Vehicles

In July the Ministry of Supply staged a well-arranged display of German Military Vehicles at Chertsey. Of the private car exhibits there were 2-and 3-cylinder D.K.W.s, an “aerodynamic” Tatra saloon, various Mercédès-Benz saloons, one diesel-engined, and the Volkswagen, in chassis, civilian and military forms, etc. The last-named has a Bugatti inspiration in the steering department, in the form of a fabric universal joint. Its air-cooled, flat-four, rear-mounted engine has small inlet tracks purposely to preserve the main bearings and so doesn’t give much power, but to offset this, the car weighs but 14 cwt.

As we beat Germany, this can purport to be an exhibition devoted to inferior vehicles. But the technical excellence is so evident that we feel that a similar display of British family cars (as befits a peace-loving nation) in Germany might buck that nation up no end and thus expedite our efforts at restoring it to its feet. Be that as it may, let us see that the next Motor Show, official or otherwise, is of British private cars, even if for export to all the world.