Page 16 - the story of motoring
P. 16

Popular motoring




       Motoring  changed  a  great  deal  in  the  1920s and  30s.    During  this  time  the  automobile
       had  largely  replaced  the  horse.    The  car  became  an  important  and  vital  part  of  life.
       The  greatest  change  was  the  drop  in  car  prices.   In  the  days  before  1914 cars  could
       only  be  afforded  by  the wealthy.    With  the  introduction  of  mass  production  in car
      making,  cars  were  made  in  thousands  and  sold  at  a  low  price.    It  was  the  beginning
       of  chsap  family  motoring.
                                                An  outstanding  car  of  this time  was  the  Austin  7.
       1922  Austin  Seven                      Herbert  Austin  designed  a  tiny  car  that  many  be-
                                                 lieved  would  never  sell.  Many  comedians  said  that
                                                one  car  was  needed  for each  foot.  The  wheelslooked
                                                 like  pram  or  bicycle  wheels.   The  Austin  7  didlook
                                                 plain  but  it  was  low  priced.   In  1923  it cost  £165.
                                                The  Austin  7  was  to become  one  of  the most  popular
                                                ~British cars.     Its appeal  was  that  it was  small  and
                                                seemed  to  have  a  character  of  its own.

                                                Another  Englishman,  William  Morris,  followed  Ford's
                                                 example  and  introduced  the moving  assembly  line  in-
                                                to  his  factory  at Cowley.     Morris  cars  were  also
                                                 popular  especially  the  Morris  Cowley  and  the  Morris
                                                 8.   Today  Austin  and  Morris  are  part  of  British
                                                 Leyland.
      The  cheapest  and  soundest  car  of  the  period  was  the  Ford  'Popular'  at just  £100.
      Although  motoring  was  becoming  cheaper,  it was  still out  of  the  reach  of  many  poorer
      families.  Anyone  could  drive a  car.       No  driving  test  had  to be  passed.    You  simply
      went  to a  Post  Office,  bought  a  license  for  5/- then  pay  about  £30  for a  second  hand
      car  which  needed  no  M.O.T.  or  insurance.     In  1935 a  driving  test  was  made  compulsory.
      Car  sales  grew  and  grew.    In  1930  there  were  1  million  cars  on  Britain's  roads.    It
       had  taken  40  years  to get  to this figure,  but  in just  10 years  this number  had  doubled
       In  1939  there  were  2  million  cars.  With  the  new  feature  of  electric  starting  instead
      of  a  hand  crank,  motoring  became  very  popular  with  ladies.  The  car  gave  them  a  new
       independence.
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