16-12-2023, 08:35 PM
(This post was last modified: 16-12-2023, 10:42 PM by Tony Griffiths.)
Thanks for posting that; in addition to the Austin Seven material, it's interesting to read predictions made at the time for what would happen in 10 and 40 years - and realise that most were wrong. Even so, Issgonis was right about well-equipped and expensive small cars being available and the idea expressed in the general article that seat belts, anti-lock brakes, and burst-proof door locks would be standard was spot on. Harriman was going in the right direction when he said that by the year 2000 cars would be safer and with greater reliability and reduced maintenance - and almost right about engines that would be, in effect, sealed and need minimal attention - but he was wrong about all cars being automatic. Unsurprisingly, not one prediction was made two of two modern horrors - keyless entry and the very expensive-when-it-goes-wrong automatic handbrake. "Yes, sir, the link cable is just £34.50 but the rest of the system is a bargain at just £988.88, plus VAT of course".