Press cutting: Race to make turbo-car, British firms versus U.S.

Daily Express. Three, possibly five British firms have teams at work. So have four big corporations in the U.S. Runs on paraffin. The Rover Car Co of Solihull, are making great progress with a 100 horse power turbine engine suitable for fitting into the standard Rover chassis in place of their 18 horse power piston engine. It weighs only 4785lbs - 200 lb less than a piston engine. Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Coventry, have planted some features of their jet-age car, including a pneumatic transmission system which eliminates clutch and gearbox. The firm has been working on the gas turbine since 1942. Centrax Power Units Limited of Brentford, run by members of Sir Frank Whittle's Power jets team, are developing a 160 horse power turbine weighing only 250 lbs. It is equivalent to a 35-40 hp piston engine. Autin Motors have taken first steps to produce a gas turbine car. Their design would carry the power to all four wheels. Rolls-Royce of Derby, makers of famous jet engines, are also at work on a turbine car. When the turbine car arrives, motoring will be cheaper, safer and more comfortable, and less troublesome. Turbo cars, running on paraffin, will use hardly any lubricating oil. They will have fewer controls; less vibration, make less noise, and b easy to start