From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Page from 'The Motor' magazine with articles on the German 'People's Car', the US auto industry, and caravanning in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161\1\ scan0103 | |
| Date | 7th June 1938 | |
| June 7, 1938. 823 The Motor Foreign News Desk Germany WHEN Herr Hitler laid the cornerstone of the huge new factory at Fallersleben on May 26, where his dream of a " People's Car " was to be realised, a fight between industry and the State came to an end—and industry was whacked from the start. Manufacturers felt that the scheme was a bit too idealistic, profits would be small and long in arrival, and that such a car would kill their own products in the small car market—their most profitable field. Thus the German Labour Front, organization of the classes for whom the car was destined, was charged with the execution of the plan. The Front invested 300 million marks, and Dr. Porsche, creator of the Auto Union Grand Prix car, was charged with the task of designing the People's Car. When Herr Hitler laid that cornerstone, the car was revealed for the first time. * * * It is a true Porsche design. It is a streamlined four-seater, available as saloon, drop-head coupé or open tourer. There is a 1-litre engine developing 24 b.h.p. placed at the back, saving the weight and complication of a propeller shaft. The car had to be small, light and fairly fast. It is claimed to have a safe cruising speed of 60 m.p.h. and a fuel consumption of 40 m.p.g. The saloon weighs only 14 cwt., is 13 ft. 9 ins. long and costs 990 marks (about £45 at 22 marks to the pound), payable in instalments of 5 marks a week. A special insurance is arranged at 1 mark per week. * * * Dr. Lafferentz of the Labour Front states that 30 test cars were built last year and covered over a million miles in the mountains of the Black Forest and on the autobahnen. Results showed that the design is completely reliable and ready for mass production. There are three aims in the marketing of this car: to remove class distinctions, by putting cars within reach of those normally unable to possess them, to create jobs, and to concentrate the people's buying capacity on goods produced in Germany. In his address Herr Hitler said: "It is not on spending their money that the people insist on spending their incomes on food which we cannot produce at home there will be a catastrophe. It is necessary to direct the people's purchasing powers into other channels." * * * Serious critics are not so optimistic about the scheme. They point out that a man with an income of 300 to 350 marks per month—regarded as the prospective customer—is hardly in a position to keep a car, except by cutting down his standard of living. In the meantime the little town of Fallersleben which hitherto has been famous only as the birthplace of the poet Heinrich Hoffman von Fallersleben, who wrote the "Deutschland uber Alles," is to become a great industrial centre with 70,000 workers, housed in a new model town planned on the most advanced German lines. America A SALESMAN of automobiles in Texas is very grieved. He got a prospective buyer all lined up to buy a car. Car was sent to the works to be sprayed another colour. Prospect said he was in a hurry and would call in next day to pay the money. Car arrived back in its new paint but no sign of the prospect. A few days later salesman telephoned prospect. Answer: "Sorry, old boy, I forgot to tell you. The darndest thing happened. My wife took a ticket in a charity raffle and we've won a Cadillac so we shan't want your car." * * * Headlines recently: "Government to renew anti-trust prosecutions against Ford, General Motors and Chrysler." This at a time when the industry is not exactly enjoying a boom and when well-informed people say that all factories will shut down at least two months this year. * * * To offset which, Bill Hudson, president of General Motors, and Bill Humphrey, president of Tide Water Associated Oil, have both stated that business will show a gradual but definite improvement. And they should know. * * * A.{Mr Adams} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Barit, president of Hudsons, also says that times are going to get better. A little more confidence, hard work and cheerfulness and a little less moaning, he says, will do a world of good. The recession is due to lack of consumer confidence. People should realize that the country is basically sound. * * * Pierce-Arrow plant and assets were sold recently to the Marine Trust Company of Buffalo for about £10,000. They held a mortgage on the plant and machinery for a quarter of a million pounds. They are holding everything in case another buyer comes along. Caravanning in France UNTIL quite recently the caravan idea made very slow progress in France, but, if one may judge by exhibits at this year's Paris Fair, a caravan boom seems to have sprung up almost overnight. The open-air movement is developing at a tremendous rate across the Channel and in the camping section of the Foire de Paris at least a dozen stands display caravans of one kind or another; and very attractive some of them are. Les Caravannes Rex, the oldest French constructors, told our representative that although they have been selling caravans for the past 14 years, it was not until about three years ago that business began to expand. There were several reasons for this slow start in the French caravan movement. In the first place, French country people, although extremely hospitable to tourists and holiday makers in general, do not always look upon the caravanner with a friendly eye. Up to now they have been inclined to regard the caravanner as a gipsy and between the Frenchman and gipsies there exists an age-long feud, reasons for which are not far to seek. Local mayors, following the will of the people, have not infrequently refused permission to park within the districts under their control and the caravan owner has felt something of an outcast. Times are changing rapidly; the movement is spreading. Amongst exhibits at the Foire de Paris it was pleasant to note a fine display by Eccles, worthily representing the British caravan industry. BABY The Baby, an ingenious caravan produced in France: although tiny, it is well equipped and comfortable. 821 | ||