WesWorld

This year's Novi Sad International Auto Show, sponsored by Novisadski Sayam, commenced this year on Wednesday, October 11, and concluded on Friday, October 20.

The attendees were treated to a great number of displays by auto manufacturers from around the world, including entries from as far away as Chile and Japan. Initial press reports suggest that at least several of the entrants went home pleased with the results, having garnered sales orders for their vehicles in various parts of Central Europe's markets.

** details to follow

Marking the first appearance of a Japanese vehicle on the European auto market, the Toyota AC was the subject of much comment by the motoring press.



The vehicle features a watercooled, four-cylinder inline engine of 1997cc capacity, a three-speed floor shift transmission, a wheelbase of 2,850mm, and leading dimensions of 4,884mm in length, 1,734mm in width and 1,746mm in height. Its curb weight is advertised as 1,550 kg.

In addition to the favourable press comment the Toyota Model AC also garnered a surprising sales orders from several Central European auto importers. A spokesman for Mitsui and Company, agents for the Toyota Motor Company, reported that no fewer than 220 vehicles will be exported to Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia in the forthcoming year. Said Mister Takayama, "We are very happy with the experience of displaying one of Japan's most modern motor vehicles here, and are pleased by the reception it has had."

The Czechoslovakian Skoda firm has long been dominant in the Yugoslav auto market, and the results at this year's show have confirmed that Skoda's position remains unchanged.

Among the several entries was the Skoda Popular 1100, shown here as a sedan.



This vehicle features a water-cooled four-cylinder inline engine of 1089cc capacity, and features a four-speed transmission with bevel drive. As befits a vehicle originating in Central Europe, it possesses a rugged suspension with independent transverse springs at the front and independent coil springs at the rear.

Statistics show that in 1938 Skoda sold more than 750 motor cars on the Yugoslav civil market, and it is expected that sales for the year 1939 will exceed that by a substantial margin. However, while refusing outright comment, Skoda representatives have expressed concern over the establishment of a local assembly plant by the British firm of Austin, and the potential impact on their market share that this venture may have.

A surprising entry in this year's show was the rugged-looking Terrestre 675A, a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle more at home in the Atacama Desert of its native Chile than on the streets of Novi Sad.



Nevertheless, it did receive considerable notice.

Terrestre, a joint venture of Chilean state interests with the Atlantean firm of Pierce Arrow and with the Swiss firm of Adolph Saurer, originally designed the vehicle for the Chilean military, but has recently offered this civl model for sale commercially.

It features a six-cylinder petrol engine of 75 horsepower, and weighs a hefty 4,500 pounds. With a length of 14.5 feet, a width of 5.7 feet, and a height of 6.25 feet*, its size betrays its military origins. However, a second display vehicle, fitted with a power takeoff, received much interest from progressive agricultural interests seeking a multi-use vehicle on their farms.

The value of such a multi-role vehicle was not lost upon the Yugoslav Ministry of Communications, which placed an order for fifty such PTO-equipped vehicles. It is believed that they will be used on rural postal routes.


* Data taken from the Terrestre sales brochure.

This recently formed Latvian firm, a product of Pierce Arrow's apparent push for domination of the global auto market, displayed several vehicles at this year's auto show.



The Pierce Arrow-Vairogs Taurus was displayed in several configureations, shown here as a sedan. It features a 34 horsepower, four-cylinder engine of 1172cc capacity, a wheelbase of 2,387mm, with leading dimensions of 4,100mm length, 1,482mm width and 1,600mm height, while weighing in at 830kg.




The Pierce Arrow-Vairogs Artemis, of similar design, shares the engine of the Taurus, but is aimed at the family market, with a simplified three speed transmission and spiral bevel drive. Representatives for Pierce Arrow-Vairogs indicated that the selling price for the Artemis would be 31,000 dinar (£145), which suggests it will fare badly in comparison with the products of Skoda, Opel or Austin on the local market.

However, the firm's spokeman was optimistic in his outlook. "We are a new company," he said, "we have nowhere to go but forward!"

Terrestre is pleased to see the confidence of the international market, and will be returning to any future shows.

Quoted

Originally posted by BruceDuncan
"We are a new company," he said, "we have nowhere to go but forward!"

Well, technically you could go up in the grand ol' Philippino style...

The Czechoslovak firm of Ringhoffer-Tatra has developed a reputation for forward thinking in automotive design, and its entries in this year's Novi Sad show merely confirms it.

The lines of the Tatra Model 77



convey to the driver the sleekness of a figher aeroplane. This design features an air-cooled V-8 engine of 3,380cc capacity, a four speed transmission, and independent suspension for all four wheels. On properly made highways this car can attain speeds of up to 150km - reinforcing the fighter-like qualities that will appeal to the man with deep pockets.

Even more avant garde was the appearance of the Tatra Model 87



whose central headlamp suggests the menacing approach of some strange creature of the sea.

But Tatra has not totally ignored the steady, middle-class market and also exhibited its Model 57 sedan.



This model has been in production for several years, and sold widely throughout Central Europe. It is generally regarded as the mainstay of Tatra's line of automobiles.

The Opel firm, an affiliate of the American giant General Motors, submitted two entiries for this year's show.

The Opel Kadett sedan



is aimed squarely at the emerging middle-class market, and competes with the products of Skoda, Tatra and many other. It features a four cylinder water-cooled engine of 1,074cc capacity, developing 23 horsepower. With a weight of 787 kg, it is capable of developing nearly 100 kph on made roads.

The veteran P4 was exhibited in a new guise as an estate vehicle or 'Farmer's Friend".



While much of the motoring press decries the staidness of the P4's design - a simple watercooled four cylinder engine, three-speed transmission and half-elliptic springs at front and rear - it cannot be beat on price - the basic sedan selling for a mere 15,825 dinar (£75). The estate vehicle shown this year carried a slightly higher price tag, but both offerings confirmed the desire of Germany to attain first rank among European motor car manufacturers.

As if to emphasise its ability to fill every available market niche the German manufacturer Auto Union displayed a touring car fit for a king - or perhaps a prince. The Horch 853



was touted as the perfect car to operate on the new highway system to be built in Eastern Europe in the forthcoming years. Featuring a V-8 cylinder engine of 3,823 cc capacity, this car can easily cruise at 140 kph over first class roads. Alas, its price tag of 132,000 dinar (£625) places it far beyond the means but all of the deepest pockets.

Oooooooooooohhhhhhh.

So... shiny... must... acquire...

Not to be upstaged by anyone, the French manufacturer Citroen showed its new front-wheel drive 15CV traction avant.



Powered by a six-cylinder water-cooled engine of 2,866cc this most advanced of automobiles features a torsion bar suspension, full unitary construction with a flat, welded floor, and a three-speed synchromesh gearbox. While Citroen representatives were reticient regarding orders booked during the show, the car itself attracted much favorable comment from the motoring press and those attending the show.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Oooooooooooohhhhhhh.

So... shiny... must... acquire...

His Majesty Tsar Boris probably has very deep pockets!

The Czech firm of Cesckomoravska Kolben Danek, which sells its vehicles under the Praga marque, remains third among Czech motorcar manufacturers. For the new model year it has recast its Piccolo sedan



in a much more modern mould in order to compete with the established Skoda Popular and Tatra 57. The redesigned Piccolo feaures a four cylinder water cooled engine of 1,128cc capacity, and, unusualy for a car of its class, a synchromesh transmission. Competing in a crowded export market, it is likely that the Piccolo will fare poorly in comparison with other Czech marques due to its modestly higher price.

Quoted

Originally posted by BruceDuncan

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Oooooooooooohhhhhhh.

So... shiny... must... acquire...

His Majesty Tsar Boris probably has very deep pockets!

And of course the emperor of China

The decision of the British firm of Austin Motors to invest heavily in a Yugoslav assembly and manufacturing subsidiary surprised many parts of the motoring, not to say the financial, press. The customs and tarriff provisions of the recently concluded Warsaw Pact now gives Austins an advantage in the expanding market of Eastern Europe that only demonstrates the prescience of the firm's directors.

Austins had three offerings at this years Novi Sad show, each of which will be assembled and/or manufactured in its new Priboj plant in the forthcoming year.



The small 8HP sedan is likely to be the most popular of its offerings - indeed, a spokesman for the firm indicated that order book for the car has already surpassed the 300 vehicle mark.



The larger 10HP saloon has proved popular in Britain, and Austins hopes that it may repeat its success in Yugoslavia and the Balkans. Only time will tell if the market will sustain three vehicles in ascending size and cost.



While available as a saloon for the affluent, the Austin 12HP is aimed at the market for taxi cabs in the nation's major cities. In this it is likely to find a viable niche, and could turn out to be an excellent money spinner in the export market.

While primarily a show for the civil auto market, the Zastava Truck Factory availed itself of the opportunity to unveil its new 0.25-tonne light all wheel drive field car.



Designed by Stanko Bloudek to meet the requirements of the Royal Yugoslav Army, the M40 Triglav features a four-cylinder watercooled engine of 3,285cc capacity, a four speed gearbox and a single speed transfer box.

When asked, an Army press officer confirmed that the vehicle had been ordered in quantity for the Royal Yugoslav Army but declined to provide additional details on when the vehicle might enter service.

Intriguing...........I really need to set up a version of the Paris Air Show for Latvia....

Nice idea, lots of good pictures and some interesting stuff here.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
Nice idea, lots of good pictures and some interesting stuff here.

Glad you liked it. While King Alexander would really like being driven around in the Horch, being a good monarch he will probably be riding in a well appointed Austin 12. At least when the press is looking!