Современное автомобилестроение. Сахарова Н.С. - 94 стр.

in spots cars. Lamborghini with their 1966 Muira placed the engine transversely
across the chassis behind the driver and so started a new generation of sports cars.
Their V12 engine could produce a staggering 170 m.p.h. The Ferrari Dino followed
Lamborghini’s principle and became for many, the ultimate in small sports cars.
    Exotic sports cars were certainly one image of the Sixties, but there was another
aspect, far less glamorous. Between 1958 and 1971 British road traffic doubled and
problems raised by the motor car bagan to cause concern. Cities became clogged with
traffic, the air was polluted with fumes and noise, and a forest of signs directed
traffic. Road safety became a burning issue. The car had become one of the greatest
killers in peace time. Legislation controls were introduced, like the MOT vehicle test
in 1960, compulsory fitting of seat belts, the 70 m.p.h. speed limit and a breathalyser
test of 1967. The motor industry was changing shape too. This was a time of mergers
culminating in the formation of British Leyland in 1966, and Chrysler of America
bought the Rootes group. Japan became a major car manufacturer in sixties,
beginning in 1960 with an annual car ouput of 200,000 rising to 3,000,000 by 1970.

   Exercise 1. Read, translate the text and be ready to discuss the topic “Exotic sports
cars”.

     17.10 Text 10
                           Conservation and Restoration

   Workshop is essential to a museum such as the National Motor Museum, which
has a policy to keep as many vehicles as possible in running order and to use them
whenever it can.
   The Workshop is now part of the Museum display itself and visitors are able to
look down on it from above, to see the work that is taking place. In this way, they get
same idea of the problems involved in keeping old vehicles running and at the same
time they see proof that the cars, commercials and motor cycles, are being used.
Beside the viewing window there are displays relating to how old vehicles are found,
and to some of the techniques used in restoration.
   Repair and maintenance are the normal jobs. Every Museum vehicle travelling on
the roads has to have an M.O.T. certificate. Whilst older vehicles have certain
exemptions, the car’s major components have to be in good road-worthy condition.
For example, recent legislation has made it necessary for us to fit double dipping
headlamps and windscreen washers to certain cars of the 1930s. Much ingenuity has
been used to disguise these alterations. Complete ground-up restoration is the work
which takes the time. It is not unusual to spend up to 5,000 hours on one vehicle,
these hours being spread over several years.
   Spare parts are of course a great problem. If you have to replace a crown wheel
and pinion on a 36/200 Mercedes (as we had to recently) it is unlikely that you will
ever find another. It has to be specially made, which is both very expensive and very
time consuming. For the more common make of car, a surprising amount of spare
parts can be found, if you only know where to look. Many of the specialist car clubs
have a Spares Registrar who keeps close tabs on the wereabouts of spare parts for his
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