Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 8 February 1949, page 2


assist LIGHT CAR TO BE PRODUCED IN AUSTRALIA

; v Details of a small light car which he hopes to produce in Australia this year or early' 1950; at £300 without sales tax; were outlined yesterday to the Prime Minister (Mr. Chifley) ty Well

known businessman, Mr. L. J.

Hartnett. try

Mr. Hartnett will be managing director of the public company which he is floating to produce

the car.

He said yesterday that aluminium would be used extensively in the car which would have these features: 60 miles per gallon average, 85 horse-power and a weight of 980 lbs. <?

The car will probably be called the Hartnett and the first model will be a four-seater sedan.

The engine will be an internal combustion unit of on Sunday-" closed design.

About 315 lbs. of aluminium will be absorbed in each car.

Mr. Hartnett plans to turn out 5000 cars in the first 12 months and 10,000 in each subsequent year. He said that he had inspected three" Sited -one "in' Sydney 'and two near Melbourne, but had not decided: on- any? exact' lo- cation yet. ' ( " - . Mr.

Hartnett' said the ear was

I designed by'^'the-'* well-known Frenchman, J.' 'A.' Gregor.

He said he had disclosed all his plans to Mr. Chifley, who had seemed very interested. He

would not ask the Government for any assistance by way of subsidy or bounty but would; want the same privileges extended to him as given to other motor companies.

All the; capital would be Australian and the company would have world rights to the car, a similar type to which had already been tested in France, India, Morocco, North Africa, America and England.

Mr. Hartnett said the company's use of aluminium would tie in with the Commonwealth Government's aluminium production programme. The company proposed, at first, to take its aluminium from Britain and France.

Already. 360 applications had been received, messages machine

ists.

Mr. Hartnett said he planned to emigrate 600 to 700 British families to assist in the venture. He sought two conditions from the Australian Government: Firstly, to assist in this emigra-tion; and, secondly, to waive duty on housing materials to build homes for workers at the factory I

site.

I Mr. Hartnett said his company would be the greatest single con-

sumer of aluminium Australia. I