5. Write a letter accepting the invitation to The Show of Old Cars and ask for details regarding the location, time and weather you can bring any guests with you. Text 14.

THE HISTORY OF THE AUTOMOBILE

(D) The earliest thinking behind the multi-purpose vehicle format can be traced back to 1935 and Stout’s Scarab. This car intended to be office-on-wheels. To make maximum use of space ‘on board’, the Ford V8 engine was placed at the very back and moved the driving position forward so the steering wheel was almost directly above the front wheels. There was no hood to speak of. The wheels were positioned at each corner and the streamlined profile had what designers call a ‘monospace’ (one-box) shape – with no visually separated engine or luggage compartments. Although the driver’s seat was fixed into position, the rear bench seat had cushions that could be rearranged into a full-length bed. The front passenger seat could swivel round to face the rear and a fold-down table was hinged on the left side of the interior for meetings. However, the car was rather expensive, so just nine of them were sold.

It seems that motoring was difficult in 1940s Britain. So when news broke that Donald Healey recorded the best speed of 179kph in Belgium in 1947, it was especially uplifting news. Here was something could be proud of: the world fastest production sedan and, hopefully, a taste of good times to come. Then Healey, Triumph technical director, came up with a totally new car. Its light, but rigid chassis featured advanced front trailing link suspension and was powered by an excellent Riley twin-camshaft, twin-carburetor engine. Initially there were two models: the open Westland and Elliot sedan, both with hallmark kite-shaped grilles and bodies in aluminum over an ash wood frame. There were later variations of the original cars, but Healey as a separate marquee was wound up.

In 1945 Preston Tucker’s decided to revolutionize car design in post-war America with an all-new model that was fast, stylish and safe. His early ideas were for a streamlined Torpedo with a rear-mounted air-cooled engine that used two torque converters to the rear wheels instead of a gearbox. It had seatbelts, a padded dashboard and a windshield that popped out in a crash. When that proved unfeasible, his team went for a streamlined 4-door sedan with an air-cooled flat-six engine in the back. The seatbelts were dropped, as it was felt they implied the car was unsafe and so were swiveling headlamps, disc brakes and central driving position. But the independent suspension and padded dashboard remained. The car’s ongoing evolution meant a switch to water-cooling and the finalized version proved rapid, with 195kph top speed despite its considerable bulk.

1. Complete these sentences with the information from the text:

1. ………… intended to be office-on-wheels.

2. The Ford V8 engine ………… and moved the driving position forward so …………

3. The streamlined profile …………

4. The rear bench seat had …………

5. Initially there were two models: …………

6. Tucker’s early ideas were for …………

7. His team went for …………

8. The seatbelts were dropped ………….