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CAR HIR1 )ffers

2nd September 1955
Page 54
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Page 54, 2nd September 1955 — CAR HIR1 )ffers
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Says Alan Smith N el

Ppportunities

LARGE-SCALE car-hire is growing in popularity in this country, as customers are relieved of high initial outlay on vehicles and the recurrent loss of use in adhering to maintenance demands. 'The advantages are similar to those of the contract-hire of fleets of goods vehicles.

Many professional men, such as doctors, find it better to lease cars on long terms, rather than own them, if only because the contractor can provide an immediate replacement in case of breakdown. There is also a wide 'field for leasing cars, to business houses. A customer of Victor Britain. Ltd., Berkeley Street, London, W.1, one of the largest car-hire concerns in the country, uses nearly 100 cars under contract. An annual charge, payable in monthly instalments, is quoted to provide the required number of

cars, This sum covers, all costsand allows an annual mileage per vehicle of 15,000, beyond which an excess charge becomes payable. The annual rate for a Morris Oxford might be £395.

• Favour of Lease

Many customers find this Proposition attractive and have closed down their .own transport departments in favour of leasing Victor Britain cars. Such business is the company's " bread and butter," whilst other activities are occasional and seasonal. Cars are hired with chauffeurs for tours and various functions, a number of Armstrong Siddcley limousines being available.

The summer tourist trade is important. Cars are rented to overseas visitors to this country and to British people touring the Continent on holiday. During the winter, forethought has to be given to the strength to which the fleet must be built up to meet summer peak demands.

Fleet strength during the winter might stand at 350— sufficient for lease, hire and rental requirements. (These terms are distinct: Lease refers to long-term use of a car under contract; hire to the services of chauffeur-driven cars; and rental to cars available for self-drive.) Advance bookings indicate the number to which the fleet should be -increased—perhaps 500.

Cars are bought new and are sold after about a year. Taking a mean strength of 400, the fleet includes 150 Morris Oxford, 150 Ford Consul. and 50 Vauxhall Velox saloons, in addition, there are the Armstrong Siddeleys and some Jaguar Mark 7 saloons with automatic transmissions These vehicles, normally for export only, were made available to the company for rental to American tourists, to many of whom manual gear changing is a thing of the past. In addition, there are various types of leased car which are models of customers' particular choice.

Aristocrat of Cars

Doyen of the company's fleet is a 1911 Renault landaulette, named Marianne, preserved for sentimental and historical reasons. An aristocrat of cars, luxuriously appointed,, it is occasionally put to use on special assignments.

Provision of a car is only part of the company's service. Each customer is given a handsome wallet containing all the maps he is likely to need, together with informative literature. Cameras, portable radio sets, or suits of clothes for formal or sporting occasions, can be hired, and picnic meals provided. Routes for tours are recommended • to customers according to their special interests. For example, an itinerary embracing British forests was compiled, and introductions arranged, for an overseas visitor concerned with forestry.

The company have made progress in providing self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars for use by air travellers, following the practice in the United States, where a passenger can drive to 'an airport in a rented car, use another at his destination. and on return find his original vehicle ready, washed and serviced.

Another field for development is in car lease to business houses, and the company will provide any type of vehicle, including lorries and vans. Already they have a few small vans performing runabout duties.

Although the operation of goods vehicles under C-hiring D14

margins presents problems entirely different from those of the company's present main activity, this A fully appreciated. The contracts manager is, in fact, a man with a long previous experience in road haulage. Mr. Victor Bridger], managing director, was also at one time managing director of British Amalgamated Transport, Ltd.

The company's maintenance system is not as extensive as that of most commercial-vehicle operators with fleets of similar size, because vehicles are not kept long enough and do 'not cover sufficient mileage for any routine more ambitious than a light overhaul to he necessary_ Nevertheless, the requirements within the limits of the routine examination programme are stringent.. Any car let to a customer must be in first-class condition, if only because of the prime need for safety.

New vehicles are run-in (or 500 miles, chauffeurs undertaking this duty driving in convoy. Accessories to enhance passenger-comfort are fitted—heaters, vanity mirrors and cigar lighters—also loose seat covers and bumper overriders. Door handles are turned round so that they need to be lifted' rather than depressed to open—a safety measure. Extra winking-light direction indicators are fitted to rear quarterpanels.

Standard carburetters are removed and Solex models with governors and automatic chokes are installed. The Solex is favoured because of its easy-starting characteristics. The effect of the governors is scarcely noticed by most Customers, as maximum rcs.olutions arc only slightly below peak. A governed Consul can reach 24 m.p.h. in lirst gear. 45 m.p.h. in second and 70 m.p.h. in top, hc automatic choke is partly a safeguard against abuse by customers who tend to forget to push the choke in wilco the engine is warm (or who pull it out to climb a hill) and partly a concession to American customers, to whom manual chokes are in the same class as gear levers. An oilhath air-cleaner is fitted to all cars, as many find :heir way on to the Coroinent in the dusty summer. Shell X100 detergent oil of S.A.E. 10 viscosity is used with most satisfactory results. When thin oils were introduced, Mr. C. W. Crickmeer, fleet engineer, was dubious about them. Tests were made and improved petrol consumption was resealed. In practice, bore wear has been iound to be unaffected and oil consumption is no higher than when conventional lubricants were used. The chief advantage, however, is easy starting from cold under load.

The company's main service depot is in Paddington and is open 24 hours a day. It has space for 70 cars. Vehicles returned from the Berkeley Street or Marble Arch offices are booked in and refuelled, and a check is made to ascertain whether a service is due. This is performed every month, or at 1,500 miles, which ever is the sooner. If it is needed, a red disc is stuck on the windscreen.

Cars are washed with Listergent shampoo and cleaned inside, this being done whether or not servicing is required. Cars with red discs are taken to the tune-up bay, where compressions are tested, tappets adjusted if necessary, timing checked and steering alignment examined. Other attentions concern the oil filter, plug points, fan-belt tension and petroland oil-pipe connections. Engine performance is tested by vacuum gauge and Tapley pull-meter.

Close Check on Brakes

On the ramp, the cars are greased and engine oil is replenished. Wheels are changed round and brake drums removed so that facings and seals can be checked. Particular attention is paid to brake maintenance, performance being tested by Tapley meter. An electrician attends to the battery, horn, windscreen wipers and so on, while another operative examines the bodywork and lubricates hinges.

' A green disc is placed on the windscreen after the completion of the routine and the car is put into one of three lines ready for service. There is one line for each type of medium-sized saloon. If customers take cars away for long periods, they are given chart's, on which points to be attended to are listed, to hand to accredited agents when they put vehicles in for service at recommended periods.

Because of thorough maintenance, breakdowns are few. Should one occur, the customer is instructed to contact the company, who send off a mechanic with a replacement car.

The formula for assessing depreciation is of interest in the light of the short period of vehicle ownership. It is reckoned as 2`,); of initial price (plus purchase tax) per month for medium-sized saloons and more for special models. Tariffs cover petrol costs, customers not being expected to pay for fuel direct. Mr. Bridgen sees the advantage to the customer in this system, because petrol consumption can vary between different cars of the same type. Thus, if a customer has a car that is a little thirstier than another, he incurs no greater expense.


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