CHOOSING THE CAR FOR PRIVATE HIRE.
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Style of Bodywork and Comfort for the Passenger are Important Factors in Securing Full Employment for the Hire Car. Points to Look for in Buying Cars Second-hand.
CCAltS which are used for private hire are of various differing in horse-power and style and luxury of bodywork. Many cars used for this class of work are acquired second-hand, others are new when purchased, whilst, with a concern having a first-class connection, the fleet is constantly being renewed so as to maintain a high average of efficiency and to ensure that each car has an up-to-date and fashionable appearance.
For general purposes the leading varieties of the town carriage are most suitable. Under this heading may be classed the following:—
• 1. The limousine.
2. The three-quarter and single landaulet.
3. Similar types to 1 and 2 but with an enclosed driving compartment—that is, the enclosed limousine and landaulet.
Three-quarter Landaulet.
Perhaps the most popular type is the three-quarter landaulet. In general appearance it will be: indistinguishable from a private car of similar pattern. Firms which conduct a hire business are keen buyers of second-hand cars. Often a car is bought at a bargain price which is of recent design and well-appointed in every detail.
The three-quarter landaulet is suitable for use in all
weathers and is usually fitted with a Pair Of occasional seats behind the driving seat partition. Many bodies accommodate three persons in emergency on the back seat, so that there is often room for a party of five inside without counting the seat beside the driver.
Folding Seats.
The largest type of body may have occasional seats which face forward. But the style of seat fitting is not of any great importance in a hired car unless it be engaged for a whole day's run or a contract has been entered into for a week or even more. , For ordinary short journeys, such as to a theatre or dance and back, or shopping expedition, any fitting such as a seat should be of the most simple possible description, although, of course, it need lack nothing in either quality or general finiSh.
Leather Better than Cloth.
The hired car should be upholstered in leather rather than cloth, as the former material is easier to keep clean and free from dust. Certain clients may prefer cloth trimming, but the proprietor cannot always get the exact specification of car he is looking for or one which represents the particular variation he requires from other ears he Owns. Nor can he always afford to have the car altered so that it is better suited for the new conditions of service.
A cloth lining should be protected with a set of covers _ of holland or similar material, two sets being made so that a clean one is always available. These covers need not always be in use, but they will be valuable on most occasions when ladies are travelling, and practically a necessity when used for weddings.
It might also be pointed out that a •set of clean new covers, perhaps with not too pronounced a pattern, can be used to conceal a somewhat shabby and faded cloth upholstery or add a gay note to much-worn leather work.
Large Bodies More Useful Than Small.
A large body is always more useful than a small one, but this generally means a chassis of more horse-power, or, in any case, fewer miles per gallon of fuel.. Taking it all round, however, ample dimensions are worth any extra cost entailed, or if, for instance, a jobmaster has • two landaulets, one of theni should certainly be a sevenseater ivith wide doors..
The Limousine.
The limousine has the advantage that, with its domed back panel and large side and back windows, in addition to those in the doors, it is very difficult to distinguish as a hired vehicle. The hirer will often prefer the extra amount of natural lighting so afforded. If the limousine or landaulet be of the enclosed type, then the seat beside the driver offers the same amount of protection as the other seats.
A Very Smart Turnout.
A style of car which is not often to be found running as a hire carriage is the Coupe de 'vine. It has become fashionable during the past two seasons as a private
car for town work and will appeal particularly to the best class of customer.
The characteristic feature of the coup6 de ville is a limousine or landaulet type of body, but with no fixed roof extension over the driving seat. In bad weather this seat is protected by means of a flexible leather canopy, which is attached to the front edge of the roof and can be 'extended and fastened on top of the windscreen stanchions. When not required, it is rolled up and is concealed in h box or housing built into the body above the front window.
The charm of the coup6 de ville is that in fine Weather n61 the interior has a maximum of natural lighting, owing to the absence of the roof canopy extenlion, whilst at the same time the view is less obstructed and the general appearance is very smart and stylish.
Luggage Disposal.
• Luggage disposal must not be overlooked, so that if the second-hand car has no roof rail it will be wise to have one fitted. The smaller type of hire landaulet may often be built on the lines of the taxicab ; that is, the space beside the driver is provided with a folding or detachable seat, so that, when necessary, luggage can be carried here. If this feature be absent, then any luggage carried must be dumped down as best it may beside the driver, or on the roof.
Occasionally the hirer may wish to take a special hag or parcel inside. A body having wide side doors is very useful in this connection. If the luggage rack at the rear be used, provision must be made for securing articles by means of a padlock and chain, rather than straps, and a waterproof cover fastened over all. The specially shaped motor trunk is the ideal arrangement. This could be used on many occasions to take small suitcases and parcels.
The Station Bus with Folding Seats.
The ideal type of body for any quantity of luggage is the station bus, which has a strengthened roof with cross-battens and rail all round. As the two long seats inside will accommodate from three to five passengers each, there will often be room for additional luggage inside. If both long seats be made in two sections, each
to fold -down against the side of the body, then the extra parcels may be put in the forward part of the body, where they will not interfere with the comfort of those seated.
Although the private bus is kept in the garage of many country houses and other large establishments, it is a comparatively rare vehicle. It is highly probable, therefore, that if this type of body be wanted urgently, it will have to be purchased as a new one, or the existing body en a large private chassis or small commercial one discarded and replaced with the bus body.
The Open Touring Car.
For use in the summer, a four or five-seated open touring car will often be asked for. This need not differ from the conventional pattern, but it must be equipped with a modern easily operated hood and a set of up-to-date side curtains, including the pattern which opens with the doors. This part of the equipment must be kept in good repair if custom is to be retained.
The Hirer as Driver.
The hirer of such a vehicle will occasionally wish to drive himself ; therefore, it should be remembered that as the driving cushion has the hardest wear, it will require repair sooner than the other parts of the upholstery. Therefore, if the car be reupholstered at any time, an easily matched shade of leather is desirable n62 and two separate cushions in front will also be more economical. An adjustable driving seat, either moving as a whole or as two bucket seats, will increase the attractions of the body.
If the hirer intends to drive himself, all kinds of owner-driving bodywork might be kept on hand, but it is presumed that this class of customer is distinctly in the minority, or, for that matter, not directly encouraged, as special insurances will have to be effected.
Unsuitable Bodywork.
Most varieties of owner-driver cars may be considered unsuitable for the work of hiring. Under this category come saloons and all-weather bodies having ncopartition behind the driver, also .coupes of various kinds (other than the coupes de rule already mentioned) and pronounced sporting bodies. If long term or regular contract work is done, with or without driver, then some of these types may be required.
Standardization.
If the proprietor has a large fleet of vehicles, it is passible, in course of time, to introduce some degree of standardization so that the cost of repair work and maintenance is kept as low as possible. When thejleet of cars is mostly acquired second-hand, this is a very difficult probleM to solve, although the proprietor will try to restrict himself to as small a variety of chassis as possible.
The ideal, of course, is tohave a nucleus of, say, half-a-dozen three-quarter landaulets on the same model of chassis. As this ideal can seldom be realized, then, as regards the bodywork, an effort may be made by introducing some measure of uniformity, especially when repairs or replacements are being done.
• Although there will be similar bodies mounted, but of slightly different general design, yet Come of the overall dimensions will be approximately the same. The following are a few ways in which partial standardization may be introduced into a mixed fleet of hire cars :— 1. As the cars are repainted, restrict the colour scheme so that there are not more than two variations.
2. One pattern and colour for cloth upholstery and one colour and grain for leather should be adopted.
3. Folding or occasional seats all to be of the same pattern. The flap-seat pattern, with or without a backrest opening against the door, will fit almost any limousine or land aulet.
4. All window mechanisms should be of the same make.
' 5-. Small fittings, such as speaking tubes or telephones, cantines, inside door handles, interior lamps and so on to be of the same style and size.
6. All roof rails and luggage racks to be interchangeable.
Good Quality Essential.
The hirer is not as a rule much interested in the mechanical features of the chassis, but he is certainly influenced by the style and general condition of the bodywork. It always pays in the long run to have good quality coachwork and to keep it in good repair.
Hired cars have to be out in all weathers, which is not the case with some private cars, the owners of which may utilize an alternative means of conveyance if the weather be bad or the roads of indifferent quality. The hired car, too, should be in constant use if it is to be run profitably ; therefore, if two similar cars be offered for sale, and one is 150 more than the other because of its better body, then the higher-priced car will be the better investment.
The best class of bodywork has aluminium panels with the metal continued up the pillars and round the window openings so as to prevent all possibility of a joint moving and the paint cracking. The door and window furniture is of the /best quality, and will last longer without developing any rattle.
When having a trial run previous to purchase, the behaviour of the bodywork should be noted and thegeneral comfort of the seats ascertained.