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AUTOCA& 7 March 1968 1 7 MARCH 1968 Vor r28 No 3760 Edhor Dopur? Edho. Arrlrtlrli Edliot Forturaa Edltor Sport Edlto. Asl3tant Technlcll Edlto{ MAUBICE A. SMITH, OTC PETES GARI{IER LEOilANO AYTON sTUA8T BLADON IN'IE8 IRELANO OEOFFREY HOWARO, BSclEng). ACOI, GlMccE Editoiidl JOHN DAVEY GRAHAM ROBSON. MAlOxon) MARTIN LEWIS MICHAEL SCARLETT WARREN ALLPORT Mldland Edltor EDWARD EVE6 Arl Edltor Manohcrter Officc Sp€tial ContrlbutoE HOWARO VYAE HAROLD HOLT, AMIML AMAET RONALD BARKER ROGEB HUNTINGTON, ASAE IOetrch) EOIN YOUNG (Sport) Mlnlging Olr.ctor H, N. PRIAUIX. /t 8f MAITU FEATURES WHAT'LL SHE DO, MISTEB? ENGINE SWOPPING SUSPENSION. ROADHOLDING, STEERING EXPLAINED GUIDE TO THE TUNING FIRMS TEST: MANGOLETSI BMW FACTORY PERFORMANCE KITS TEST: TRIUMPH HERALD 13/60 CONVERTIBLE AUTOCAR MAPS COUPON NEW LAMBORGHINIS GIVEN THE WORKS: BMC 18@ PERFORMANCE FROM STOCK BRSCC BBANDS HATCH Pago 2 5 10 14 19 21 27 34 40 48 52 s8 REGUIAR ITEMS DISCONNECTED JOTTINGS NEW PRODUCTS THE SPORT STBAIGHT FROM THE GRID PICWEEK NEWS AND VIEWS TRADE AND INDUSTRY CORRESPONDENCE NEW CAR PRICES 23 35 37 65 60 61 63 64 Last pages befors back cover NEXT WEEK'S ISSUE FEATURES_P 68 Plbliehod by ILIFFE TRANSPORT PUBLICATIONS LTD., Dors! Hous, Sramford Srr6et. Londqn S.E.l. lTelepho1e: 01.S2B 3333. Telogrtmt: fdbx: Avt@st lifigpros 2b137 loodon), BRANCH OFFICESi Coyoorry, 8-10 Corporation Snaq lfetophono: Covonky 26210): Bkminghon. 40l Lynl6 Howe. Wrlssll R@d, Ei.minghsm. 22b lTetephohe: O21. Birchfiod rt838), lfrlar: lliftopros. Birmingheo 338080). M6rcheet€r. 260 Deansga!€. Mlnchsstor 3 lTelophone: BlscktriaB 4412, Desnsgau 3696t. Glssqow. t23 Hopo Streor. Gloagow, C.2. \fobphona: Conrral 1265"6). 8ri!rol. r1 M&Bh Sioar. Brislot, l lTal.phooe: Brirtol 21491-2). Subscription rat.al Home. t yosr f8; Over6e.s. 'l yeor. 48, 3 yo.B f2O 8!: USA6odC€nada, I warS2O.3yoaft$Sl.ChsngeoIjdddsrd,sase no(a that tour wsoks nolico ir requircd togolher with tho return ot a wrappor berring the old add,€ss. R?Oifierod at th6 Gendral Post Otice ss o NowsprpEr. S6cohd cla85 ptivilogoa outho.i.od at Ncw YorI. N.Y. O tliflo Trsnspon Pubtications Ltd.. 1968 Pcrmiasion to .sprcducg illultralions and lcfiorp*ess in thi8 joumal can be granted only undga writtan agr€gment. Erial ertracb oi commenl! may tE mrde with du6 tckewlodgemenl. WRITING ON THE WALL B RITAIN'S motor industry is in the throes of an un- foreseen and largely artificial boom. lt is both wel- come and a worry. Superimposed on a growing demand in many export areas, following devaluation, there is a desperate rush at home to buy a new car (amongst a host of other things) before the 19 March Budget-"While we've still got the money". As a result, new car registra- tions in Britain for the past weeks have increased by not far short of 40 per cent as compared with last year; every car coming off the production lines is sold, and manufacturers simply cannot meet the demand; production records are being broken as well, but in spite of this there are still lengthy delays in the deliveries of a number of models. yet, no expansion schemes, and little in the way of forward planning can safely be finalized until details of the Budget are known. The uncertainty is damaging and frustrating. ln its wake. incidentally, this boom is bringing a tyre shortage in the popular sizes--a shortage which is expected to become acute when the new regulations come into effect on 1 April. There is no doubt at all that the motor industry is doing everything in its power to build up exports, and we think that fears of a Budget that will be very tough on the motor industry-at least insofar as the home market is concerned---+nay be exaggerated. Let's hope they are. George Turnbull, director and general manager of Standard Triumph lnternational, covered the subject in a recent speech. He emphasized once again that any cut-back in the motor industry directly affects other sections of the engineering industry, which are then forced to reduce their own future investment programmes. He hoped that Mr. Jenkins, when he produces his promised tough Budget, will appreciate the very delicate position the industry is in, and how very easily the economic situation of the country as a whole could be further damaged by legislation that affected the industry adversely. He emphasized the importance of a sound and healthy home market-which really must be sustained, since this largely pays for the export expansion programmes and is virtually the only source of profit to the manufacturers. The much rationalized British motor industry should have very good years ahead, and when full advantage is taken of devaluation and export volumes build up, these markets should also become more profitable. But it must have control of its own affairs, and reasonably stable conditions inwhich to plan and develop.

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AUTOCA& 7 March 1968

1

7 MARCH 1968 Vor r28 No 3760

Edhor Dopur? Edho. Arrlrtlrli Edliot Forturaa Edltor

Sport Edlto.

Asl3tant Technlcll Edlto{

MAUBICE A. SMITH, OTC PETES GARI{IER LEOilANO AYTON sTUA8T BLADON IN'IE8 IRELANO OEOFFREY HOWARO,

BSclEng). ACOI, GlMccE

Editoiidl JOHN DAVEY

GRAHAM ROBSON. MAlOxon) MARTIN LEWIS MICHAEL SCARLETT WARREN ALLPORT

Mldland Edltor

EDWARD EVE6

Arl Edltor Manohcrter Officc Sp€tial ContrlbutoE

HOWARO VYAE

HAROLD HOLT, AMIML AMAET

RONALD BARKER ROGEB HUNTINGTON, ASAE IOetrch) EOIN YOUNG (Sport)

Mlnlging Olr.ctor H, N. PRIAUIX. /t 8f

MAITU FEATURES WHAT'LL SHE DO, MISTEB? ENGINE SWOPPING SUSPENSION. ROADHOLDING, STEERING

EXPLAINED GUIDE TO THE TUNING FIRMS TEST: MANGOLETSI BMW FACTORY PERFORMANCE KITS TEST: TRIUMPH HERALD 13/60 CONVERTIBLE AUTOCAR MAPS COUPON NEW LAMBORGHINIS GIVEN THE WORKS: BMC 18@ PERFORMANCE FROM STOCK BRSCC BBANDS HATCH

Pago

2 5

10 14 19 21 27 34 40 48 52 s8

REGUIAR ITEMS DISCONNECTED JOTTINGS NEW PRODUCTS THE SPORT STBAIGHT FROM THE GRID PICWEEK NEWS AND VIEWS TRADE AND INDUSTRY CORRESPONDENCE NEW CAR PRICES

23 35 37 65 60 61 63 64

Last pages befors back cover

NEXT WEEK'S ISSUE FEATURES_P 68

Plbliehod by ILIFFE TRANSPORT PUBLICATIONS LTD., Dors! Hous, Sramford Srr6et. Londqn S.E.l. lTelepho1e: 01.S2B 3333. Telogrtmt: fdbx: Avt@st lifigpros 2b137 loodon), BRANCH OFFICESi Coyoorry, 8-10 Corporation Snaq lfetophono: Covonky 26210): Bkminghon. 40l Lynl6 Howe. Wrlssll R@d, Ei.minghsm. 22b lTetephohe: O21. Birchfiod rt838), lfrlar: lliftopros. Birmingheo 338080). M6rcheet€r. 260 Deansga!€. Mlnchsstor 3 lTelophone: BlscktriaB 4412, Desnsgau 3696t. Glssqow. t23 Hopo Streor. Gloagow, C.2. \fobphona: Conrral 1265"6). 8ri!rol. r1 M&Bh Sioar. Brislot, l lTal.phooe: Brirtol 21491-2). Subscription rat.al Home. t yosr f8; Over6e.s. 'l yeor. 48, 3 yo.B f2O 8!: USA6odC€nada, I warS2O.3yoaft$Sl.ChsngeoIjdddsrd,sase no(a that tour wsoks nolico ir requircd togolher with tho return ot a wrappor berring the old add,€ss. R?Oifierod at th6 Gendral Post Otice ss o NowsprpEr. S6cohd cla85 ptivilogoa outho.i.od at Ncw YorI. N.Y. O tliflo Trsnspon Pubtications Ltd.. 1968 Pcrmiasion to .sprcducg illultralions and lcfiorp*ess in thi8 joumal can be granted only undga writtan agr€gment. Erial ertracb oi commenl! may tE mrde with du6 tckewlodgemenl.

WRITING ON THE WALL

B RITAIN'S motor industry is in the throes of an un- foreseen and largely artificial boom. lt is both wel- come and a worry. Superimposed on a growing demand in many export areas, following devaluation, there is a desperate rush at home to buy a new car (amongst a host of other things) before the 19 March Budget-"While we've still got the money". As a result, new car registra- tions in Britain for the past weeks have increased by not far short of 40 per cent as compared with last year; every car coming off the production lines is sold, and manufacturers simply cannot meet the demand; production records are being broken as well, but in spite of this there are still lengthy delays in the deliveries of a number of models. yet, no expansion schemes, and little in the way of forward planning can safely be finalized until details of the Budget are known. The uncertainty is damaging and frustrating. ln its wake. incidentally, this boom is bringing a tyre shortage in the popular sizes--a shortage which is expected to become acute when the new regulations come into effect on 1 April.

There is no doubt at all that the motor industry is doing everything in its power to build up exports, and we think that fears of a Budget that will be very tough on the motor industry-at least insofar as the home market is concerned---+nay be exaggerated. Let's hope they are. George Turnbull, director and general manager of Standard Triumph lnternational, covered the subject in a recent speech. He emphasized once again that any cut-back in the motor industry directly affects other sections of the engineering industry, which are then forced to reduce their own future investment programmes. He hoped that Mr. Jenkins, when he produces his promised tough Budget, will appreciate the very delicate position the industry is in, and how very easily the economic situation of the country as a whole could be further damaged by legislation that affected the industry adversely.

He emphasized the importance of a sound and healthy home market-which really must be sustained, since this largely pays for the export expansion programmes and is virtually the only source of profit to the manufacturers. The much rationalized British motor industry should have very good years ahead, and when full advantage is taken of devaluation and export volumes build up, these markets should also become more profitable. But it must have control of its own affairs, and reasonably stable conditions inwhich to plan and develop.

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