Современное автомобилестроение. Сахарова Н.С. - 92 стр.

    Wartime motoring was hazardous. There were no sign posts due to the imminent
possibly of invasion. Driving in the black-out meant only one headlamp could be lit
and even then masked, and bumpers were painted white. The horse and bicycle made
a dramatic comeback and queueing for buses, compulsory in April 1942, continued
into peace time. Car manufacturers changed over to producing military vehicles,
munitions and aircraft. Vauxhall-Bedford designed the 38-ton Churchill Tank, tested
it, built a factory and went into production, all within a year.
    Following the war, petrol rationing continued and materials for making cars were
in short supply. Manufacturers continued to sell pre-war models but by 1948 exciting
new designs appeared. The Morris Minor, Standard Vanguard and the 1800 Triumph
Saloon were the start of a new era. However exporting cars became the priority of
British Government so sales on the home market were severely restricted. The
sensational Jaguar XK120 was a totally new sports car. The pre-war company SS
Cars Ltd., had been reformed in 1945 as Jaguar Cars Ltd., and the intention was for
only a few XK120’s to be built. However the world wide interest created by the car at
the 1948 Motor Show caused revision of plans. The XK120 became the world’s
fastest production sports car with a top speed of 120 m.p.h. from the 3.4 litre six
cylinder engine. Another revolutionary car had emerged from Germany. The
Volkswagon Beetle was reject by British companies who were offered the
opportunity to built them, calling them ugly and impractical. Under Germany control
from 1949, the Beetle became the most popular car ever built.

  Exercise 1. Read the text and find the information concerning difficulties in
European motor industry in 1940s


     17.8 Text 8
                                     The Fifties

    Out of the dull austerity of the 1940s and early 50s emerged a new generation of
cars. The ‘50s saw car stylings taken to extremes with the American influence of
bulbous shapes, an abundance of chrome and long tail fins. Wrap around
windscreens, bench-type front seats and column gear change were ‘in’ and running
boards and separate wings were gone. The 1957 Vauxhall Cresta and Ford Zephyr,
zodiac range reflected the new style.
    Car manufacturers were still preoccupied with export sales but by the mid 50s
domestic sales increased and there began a boom in motoring which lasted until the
late 1960s. It was also a time of mergers, rising new companies and the demise of
others. In 1952 Austin and Morris merged to become the British Motor Corporation.
Lotus and Porsche appeared in the sports car market but casualties of the 50s
included Lea Francis, Lanchester, Invicta, Healey, Armstrong Siddeley and Jowett.
    During this decade, the heyday of cars for the everyman began. For really low cost
transport there were the Bubble Cars, particularly popular in Germany and Italy.
Britain’s cheapest four seater saloon was the Ford Popular at a basic price of only
£295 in 1958 plus £149 for purchase tax.
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