West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Thursday 2 March 1950, page 23


THE MOTORING SWORLD Plans For Manufacture Of The Hartnett Interviewed during hie brief stay in Perth before sailing for the United Kingdom and Europe. Mr. L. . Hartnett gave some interesting details about the projected Australian car, the Hartnett.

After an intensive search overseas for a low-priced car suitable for producton in Australia, Mr. Hartnett eventually decided on a design by the eminent French light car designer, J. A. Gregoire. He directed that a few modifications be made and then he acquired the exclusive, rights for its production in the British Empire. Prototypes have undergone a thorough testing over 52.000 miles in Morocco, Switzerland and France and 15,000 miles in Australia. There have not been any major breakages and only minor further modifications have been found necessary. The car's performance has come up to expectations. Although it is practically impossible to quote a price at the present stage of production, Mr. Hartnett said that it would definitely be the lowest-priced car in Australia. The delivery programme was uncertain, but the first cars could be expected here at the end of this year, the rate of supply increasing month by month. Supplies to country and town agents would be made on a basis fixed -by the State distributors. The spare -parts -position had already been provided for so that no trouble was expected in this respect. .At present a considerable portion of the car has to be made in the United Kingdom, UIt as materials and laboor become more plentiful here, the production stages will move closer to the objective of making the whole car in Australia. SPECIFICATIONS. Specifications of the Hartnett, as detailed in the "Road Patrol," are: Engine: Air-cooled' horizontally opposed twin cylinder rated at 6 h.p. (594c.c.) developing 16 b.h.p. at 4,000 r.p.m. Bore and stroke: 72mm. x 73mm. Compression ratio: 6 to 1. Four-stroke cycle, o.h.v. Down-draught carburetter, Coil and distributor ignition. TransmissioL: Front-wheel drive. Single, dry-plate clutch. Spiral-bevel final drive. Fourspeed gearbox. Gear ratios: Top or overdrive 4.46, third 5.71, second 8.79, first 17.58. Brakes: Girling hydraulic front. Girling mecharucal rear. Handbrake to rear only. Suspension: Independent allround. Laminated transverse springs front. Neiman variable coil springs rear. Steering: Rack and pinion. Turning circle, 30ft. . Electrical system: 12-volt. Tyres: Dunlop 4.00 x 15 or 4.25 x 15. Principal dimensions: Wheelbase, 6ft. 6tin.; Track (front), 4ft. (rear) 3ft. 10tin. Length: lift. 41in. Width: 4ft. 7in. Height: 4ft. 8in. Ground clearance: 7in. Unladen weight, 81 cwt. (9661bi). Petrol tank capacity: 4tgal. Oil sump capacity, 4pt. Manufacturers' performance data: Maximum speed, 53.5 m.p.h. Acceleration through gears, 0-50 m.p.h. 30sec. Petrol consumption: 60 m.p.g. at 40 m.p.h.